In the News
Kaadu Nalkum, Jeevitham Thaliridum; DESHABHIMANI, Malayalam Newspaper, Aug 2019
Come to Gaia, Shop for rare wild products, DESHABHIMANI, Malayalam Newspaper, February 2020
Tribal communities in Kerala’s Chalakudy and Karuvannur river basins find new markets for forest produce
Forest Post collaborates with six villages in Chalakudy and Karuvannur, encouraging conservation and resilient livelihoods, to preserve skills and artisan traditions.
Nagamma and Kannamma from Adichilthotti, a tiny hamlet in the Edamalayar valley in Kerala, have been trekking the rain forest in the Western Ghats for over four decades to collect the bounty of the jungle. Crossing swift streams, they walk uphill along fern-covered rocks, returning with bundles of reed bamboo. These are woven into exquisite kannadi paaya (mats with the sheen of mirrors) and baskets for their personal use. For the Muthuvar tribe, which they belong to, reed bamboo weaving is a skill handed through generations.
Now, these traditional mats, along with food, cosmetics and artisan products from the forest are finding new markets thanks to the tribal communities joining hands with village collectives, volunteers and Forest Post.
Shatavari to Queen Sago: How We Used Rare Forest Produce to Double Tribal Incomes
For the last four years, ecologist Dr Manju Vasudevan has worked closely with these communities to secure their livelihood and encourage the conservation of nature. In 2017, she joined the River Research Centre, a Kerala-based NGO, to spearhead various development projects for these tribal groups.
With river rights activist Dr Lata Anantha, Dr Manju, who holds a doctorate in pollination ecology, began working towards empowering tribal communities with forest rights. She would often venture with tribals into the forests to learn about their lifestyles and understand them better.
https://www.thebetterindia.com/272050/kerala-venture-helping-tribal-sell-shatavari-queen-sago-indigenous-products/