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Surya

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Surya

Protecting Biodiversity, Empowering Indigenous Communities

Surya reflects the radiant connection between biodiversity management and community empowerment. Anchored in MSSRF’s deep commitment to conservation, Surya illuminates how we sustainably use natural resources to address climate change, food security, gender equity, and livelihood development.

At our Community Agrobiodiversity Centres (CAbCs) in Kerala, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu, we promote species conservation, agroecological practices, and biodiversity legal literacy. Through community seed banks, bio-villages, millet parks, and partnerships with grassroots institutions, we link conservation efforts directly to better livelihoods.

In biodiversity hotspots like the Western and Eastern Ghats, our participatory models safeguard Rare, Endemic, and Threatened species (RET) while enhancing the well-being of local communities.

Surya celebrates the spirit of resilient communities nurturing our planet’s precious biodiversity for generations to come.

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Stories of Change

Women became Village Health Stewards

Women became Village Health Stewards

Programme Area: Biodiversity Management, Gender
Impact Platform: Surya

Capacity building programme held for BMC members

Capacity building programme held for BMC members

Programme Area: Biodiversity Management
Impact Platform: Surya

For improved seeds through participatory seed system delivery

For improved seeds through participatory seed system delivery

Programme Area: Biodiversity Management
Impact Platform: Surya

Story 2 – Use of improved practices and seeds in Fingermillet

Story 2 – Use of improved practices and seeds in Fingermillet

Programme Area: Biodiversity Management
Impact Platform: Surya

More than 70 landraces of paddy varieties have been conserved by Tulasa

More than 70 landraces of paddy varieties have been conserved by Tulasa

Programme Area: Biodiversity Management
Impact Platform: Surya

Women are neglected in Millet!

Women are neglected in Millet!

Programme Area: Biodiversity Management, Gender
Impact Platform: Surya

Atappadi small grain village

Atappadi small grain village as a model for the world

Programme Area: Biodiversity Management, Institutions Buliding
Impact Platform: Surya

A migrant farmer

A migrant farmer then, a company director today - the success story of an accomplished tribal woman

Programme Area: Biodiversity Management, Gender
Impact Platform: Surya

Kerala’s tribal farmers

Kerala’s tribal farmers sow success with millets

Programme Area: Biodiversity Management, Climate Resilience
Impact Platform: Surya

Women at the forefront

Women at the forefront of preserving of traditional millet varieties - Role of community seed bank in preserving and aiding millet cultivation and consumption in Kolli Hills, Namakkal

Programme Area: Biodiversity Management, Gender, Institutions Buliding
Impact Platform: Surya

Millet empowerment

Empowering Rural Women through Millets: Odisha's Mission Shakti Revolution

Programme Area: Biodiversity Management, Gender, Institutions Buliding
Impact Platform: Surya