The Foundation
Born from the same principles as Upstream Ecology, Upstream Ecology Foundation (UEF) advocates for ecological restoration in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve.
Why UEF?
The Southern Western Ghats (SWG) of India are historically and ecologically some of the most crucial, vulnerable landscapes on the entire planet. They are older than the Himalayas and are home to vulnerable taxa that are known as living fossils, species which have biologically remained the same from their inception during the Gondwanaland Separation nearly 180 million years ago. Of the multitude of habitats within the SWG, the UNESCO-declared Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve (NBR) is perhaps the most widely known habitat, of international fame.
These wild havens have been subjected to numerous anthropocentric pressures over the last 300 years. Colonial-era monoculture plantations of commercial species have laid waste to vast swathes of native and highly vulnerable forests, grasslands and wetlands, fragmenting habitats and subsequently introducing invasive species that outcompete endemic flora. Post-independence development accelerated the assault; unchecked urbanization, sprawling development of hill stations like Ooty, hydroelectric projects in the Nilgiris, and road expansions have carved through land that is essential for wild habitats. Today, climate change exacerbates these threats, with rising temperatures and erratic monsoons pushing numerous montane species toward endangerment, while intensifying negative human-wildlife interactions throughout the regions.
It is in these habitats that the Upstream Ecology Foundation (UEF) has been actively working to restore community and common-pool lands, nurturing crucial habitats back to health. Apart from restoration, we have also actively been advocating for the land through holistic outreach activities in schools and colleges throughout the Nilgiris.
The Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu has been well-regarded for its biodiversity and vibrant culture, especially since its declaration as a UNESCO hotspot with the notification of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve (NBR) in 1986. The NBR spans the Mukurthi National Park, Mudumalai, Bandipur and Nagarhole Tiger Reserves, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve and other swathes of reserved forests that are further contiguous with territories in Kerala and Karnataka, such as BRT Tiger Reserve, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Silent Valley National Park. Thus, it can be said that the NBR is at the epicentre of biodiversity in the Southern Western Ghats (SWG).
Apart from biodiversity, the Nilgiris are of particular importance to the 25-odd indigenous communities that reside along with the wildlife in these hills. Communities like the Todas and Kurumbas have always held these hills as sacred, revering them through song and spoken knowledge.
Both these landscapes are home to the shola-grassland mosaic habitat, a highly vulnerable type of habitat that is typically found in high-elevation regions (above 1300 m MSL). The shola-grassland mosaics are also referred to as cloud rainforests, due to their tendency to draw moisture from the air and retain cloud cover. The sholas themselves are estimated to be around 2.6 million years old and have largely stayed the same since the Pliocene epoch, making them “living fossils”.
Apart from the montane shola-grasslands, both landscapes are home to tracts of high-elevation wetlands, tropical evergreen rainforests, tropical deciduous forests, and scrub forest interspersed with some savannah grasslands in the foothills.
The Land We Work In
Biodiversity
These landscapes are one of Earth’s largest contiguous hotspots for biodiversity, and are home to flagship mammals like the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) and Nilgiri marten (Martes gwatkinsii). There are also numerous point endemic species such as the Palani Laughingthrush (Montecincla fairbanki), the Nilgiri Pipit (Anthus nilghiriensis), and have also been the centers for discoveries such as the record of a rare liana, Hiptage parvifolia
Plants flourish in these landscapes as well, with a high rate of endemism; over 132 species of plants are found nowhere else but here. The most famous flowering plants from these areas are the kurinjis (Strobilanthes sp), which flower only once every 9-12 years depending on the species. In addition, the wetlands and grasslands comprise numerous species of vital tussock grasses, that grow in clumps and play a vital role in holding onto the soil with their roots. Examples of such grasses include Chrysopogon nodulibarbis, Andropogon lividus, etc. Numerous fruiting trees exist besides these, such as Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Baccaurea courtallensis, Syzygium cuminii, Ficus sp and others.
The Foundation's Work
Currently helping restore over 80 sites, through scientific rigour and principles. All of these sites are now in various stages of recovering thanks to our efforts.
Helped conserve over 35 species of native grasses and 75 species of native shrubs, such as strobilanthes (kurinj) which is now vulnerable to climate change
Propagated over 150 species of plants in total, across two existing nurseries, one in the upper Nilgiris and one near Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Documented over 3500 species in the NBR for knowledge banks, also published material such as books and board games
Provided gainful employment to over 250 local community members across 14 years to subsequently conserve Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)
Advocated for ecological restoration and mindful. appreciation of native plants, through awareness programs and camps throughout the Nilgiris