JONTU
Our purpose is to build enabling conditions through which people and wildlife can live side-by-side peacefully in a climate-resilient future. We are an interdisciplinary organisation, founded by a human geographer and a behavioural ecologist and run collaboratively and creatively by many.
PEOPLE
Human impacts on nature are tremendous and yet people are crucial for socially just and sustainable solutions. Our grassroots work with people includes mango and ragi farmers in southern Karnataka with whom we explore adaptive approaches to farming alongside elephants. In Tamil Nadu, Kerala and eastern Karnataka, we work with smallholder coffee growers to design and implement biodiversity-friendly farming and climate-resilient practices. Our collective experience with research as well as on-ground action allows us to take thoughtful, inclusive approaches to community-led conservation.
NATURE
Nature is disappearing, degrading and adapting in ways we do not fully understand. Our research, particularly on Asian Elephants in human-dominated landscapes allows for a unique community-led and adaptive approach to mitigating conflict. However, we are equally passionate about tiny creatures and run a participatory ecology initiative with coffee growers to understand the ecology and to ultimately conserve rock bees, earthworms, barbets, barking deer, ficus and jamun trees.
