Founded in 2001, the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) empowers rural communities in India to secure land rights, strengthen local governance, promote sustainable livelihoods and restore ecosystems. Their focus is on degraded or deteriorating common lands, such as pastures, forests, uncultivated land and water bodies, which not only are used for food, water, livestock and fodder, but also provide carbon sequestration, groundwater recharge and other essential services. As these threatened lands account for nearly one-quarter of the country’s territory – and significantly contribute to climate change and its resulting socio-economic impact – FES is working directly with local and government partners, using policy, open data, technology platforms and deep community ties to scale impact.
We partner with FES as part of LGT Venture Philanthropy’s environment strategy to scale up the protection and regeneration of threatened and destroyed ecosystems and elevating the role of Indigenous People and Local Communities (IP&LCs) as stewards of ecosystems. We provide comprehensive support across three areas:
lives impacted
acres restored
village institutions reached
women in leadership roles in local governance institutions
“Community-led stewardship, rooted in traditional knowledge and shared responsibility, plays a vital role in protecting forests, grasslands, wetlands, and other Commons. Through our partnership with LGTVP, these efforts have been strengthened through pilot interventions, knowledge exchange, and the growing momentum around community stewardship, including the adoption of IUCN Resolution on Community Stewardship.”
Learn more about how FES works in the field