The context: the Valaiyar Community of Ayyalur
Ayyalur, nestled at the intersection of the Western and Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu, is home to the Valaiyar community, renowned for their traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Their livelihoods are intricately linked to the surrounding forests, where they gather Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) such as honey, tamarind, and medicinal herbs, all of which have significant market demand.
Despite their deep-rooted knowledge and skills, the Valaiyars are facing pressing challenges. Unsustainable harvesting practices and rising living costs have led to severe forest degradation. Additionally, many men have turned to seasonal migration for work, placing increased responsibilities on women and contributing to poor nutrition due to shifts in dietary habits. The recent establishment of the Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary has further restricted access to vital forest resources, pushing the community to seek alternative income sources and threatening their traditional way of life.
The project
Since the early 1990s, the Valaiyar community has embraced agroforestry as a sustainable solution to their challenges, achieving significant success in the process. This project seeks to leverage their traditional knowledge by establishing a comprehensive planting layout of multi-use trees, shrubs, and tubers, complemented by income-generating activities. Covering 8,000 hectares of arable wasteland, the initiative aims to enhance income and nutritional diversity while generating 1.5 million tons of carbon credits over 20 years.
To implement this ambitious plan brought together by the third Livelihoods Carbon Fund (LCF3), Livelihoods is partnering with SEEDS Trust, a trusted local NGO with 25 years of experience in social and environmental development. SEEDS Trust has been pivotal in community outreach and wildlife conservation, notably in the establishment of the Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary. Their proven technological model will be expanded to benefit more households in the Valaiyar community, ensuring a diverse selection of plant species that provide year-round flowering for native apiculture and consistent income from Non-Timber Forest Products collection. This collaborative effort aims to strengthen both the community’s livelihoods and local biodiversity.
Social, economic & environmental impacts
The project aims to provide significant socio-economic benefits through several key initiatives:
Agroforestry Development: Establishing a large-scale agroforestry model on 8,000 hectares will involve planting 4.5 million native trees, generating 1.4 million tons of carbon offsets. This approach will reduce forest dependency and diversify income by integrating Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) within farmers’ plots.
Economic Empowerment: Beneficiaries will receive training in sustainable harvesting, value addition, and forming Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to improve marketing. Additionally, subsidized bee boxes and apiculture training will enhance local beekeeping efforts.
Nutritional Improvement: The agroforestry layout will include diverse fruit-bearing trees and intercropping with millets, vegetables, and pulses. Training in the propagation and cooking of about 15 unique ‘Wild Foods’ will further enhance nutritional security.
Biodiversity Conservation: Increased tree cover will promote the habitat for the Gray Slender Loris, potentially expanding its occupancy beyond protected areas, highlighting the connection between community livelihoods and environmental health.
Overall, the project fosters sustainable development, empowering the Valaiyar community while preserving local biodiversity.
Our partner
Founded in 1997 with operations centered in Tamil Nadu, SEEDS Trust is an NGO focused on working in ecologically sensitive areas to enable marginalized communities to become self-reliant through an integrated approach encompassing WASH, Education, Livelihoods Generation, Women Empowerment, Environmental Restoration and Conservation.