Dakshin Foundation

Dakshin Foundation Inform and advocate conservation and natural resource management. Support sustainable livelihoods and social development.

Dakshin Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation and a charitable trust. Our mission is to inform and advocate conservation and natural resource management, while promoting and supporting sustainable livelihoods, social development and environmental justice. We adopt interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches in our research and conservation interventions, drawing from the fields of ecology, conservation biology, sociology, economics, and law. Our work aims at building community capacities for conservation and enhancing community stakes and rights in environmental decision-making, towards strengthening networks and supporting advocacy campaigns. Our goal is to promote ecologically and socially appropriate approaches to conservation and management in coastal, marine and mountain ecosystems in India. The current focus of our work is:

- Applied research in ecology, social sciences and environmental law
- Conservation interventions in coastal, marine, island and mountain ecosystems of India
- Advocacy through networks and partnerships with government and civil society groups
- Education and outreach based on sound scientific research

What if the classroom had no walls?For three days, we swapped desks and whiteboards for a little more curiosity, a lot o...
24/08/2026

What if the classroom had no walls?

For three days, we swapped desks and whiteboards for a little more curiosity, a lot of play, and plenty of time outdoors!

From 20-22 July, Dakshin Foundation hosted a three-day workshop on nature education with Vena Kapoor and Priyanka Prakash from Nature Classrooms (Nature Classrooms), for Training of Trainers as part of our ongoing Ocean Literacy project in the Andaman Islands. 🐳

Nature Classrooms sees nature as the ultimate learning space, blurring the lines between the classroom and the world outside it. And honestly, who better to learn from than nature itself? 🍄 🐜 🌿

Across the three days, we explored different learning theories and pedagogical approaches, and learnt how to use them for age-appropriate nature education. We also experimented with tools and techniques for designing more engaging, context-driven learning experiences. The workshop took us from planning nature education sessions to thinking about assessment, ethical dilemmas, and the many questions that come with being a nature educator. And, of course, there was plenty of learning that was organic and didn't feel like work at all! ✨

A big thank you to Vena and Priyanka for bringing so much thought, energy and fun to the Dakshin office. We came away with plenty of ideas to take forward, and perhaps a slightly different way of looking at the world around us. 🌊

What does it take to turn silence into conversation?On 30 May, in Chouldari Panchayat, it began with a simple but powerf...
18/06/2026

What does it take to turn silence into conversation?

On 30 May, in Chouldari Panchayat, it began with a simple but powerful shift; creating a space where menstruation could be spoken about openly, across generations, without hesitation.

Marking Menstrual Hygiene Day, Dakshin Foundation, in collaboration with the Panchayat, brought together 65 women and girls for a community-led engagement that placed lived experiences at the centre of learning. The presence of the Block Development Officer (BDO), the Pradhan of Chouldari Panchayat, and Zilla Parishad member Ms. Pramila Kumari reinforced a shared commitment to prioritising menstrual health at the community level.

The programme was designed not as a one-way dissemination of information, but as a participatory experience. It opened with an intergenerational Menstrual Health Bingo - an activity that quickly transformed the room into a space of storytelling, reflection and connection. Voices of adolescents, menstruating adults and women in menopause came together, bridging gaps that are often left unaddressed.

Guided sessions led by Dr. Ankita, a women’s health specialist, explored adolescent health, early puberty, menstrual health myths, and sustainable menstrual practices. Equally significant were the questions raised, signalling a shift towards greater comfort and awareness. An expert consultation space further enabled private conversations, with over 20 women seeking personalised guidance.

Learning extended beyond discussion into experience. Interactive stalls invited participants to engage with nutrition, understand menstrual cycles through body literacy tools, explore sustainable menstrual products and reflect on waste management through hands-on games.

The participation of local Self-Help Groups added another layer of community ownership, showcasing grassroots initiatives and strengthening collective engagement.

Conversations on menstruation carried beyond the venue, reflecting a growing comfort and confidence within the community. Because meaningful change begins when we start talking.


A throwback to a solo theatre performance that connected with people 🌊🎭When stories meet the sea, change begins. Stories...
18/06/2026

A throwback to a solo theatre performance that connected with people 🌊🎭

When stories meet the sea, change begins. Stories help people see everyday ocean issues in a way they can relate to and understand.

Theatre is a simple but powerful way to bring conservation topics closer to communities and start real conversations.

A few months back in Kavaratti, Meenakshi from our Lakshadweep Seachange team performed a solo play at Bharat Rang Mahotsav on waste management and marine conservation, focusing on the impact of plastic pollution on marine life. The Rang Mahotsav was organised by Department of Art and Culture, UT of Lakshadweep, in collaboration with the National School of Drama, Delhi.

With support from our community catalyst Hakeema, the performance opened up discussions, built awareness and encouraged people to think about their role in protecting coastal ecosystems.

These efforts show how communication and storytelling can support awareness and action for our oceans.

Building on collaboration, working alongside communities, and exploring pathways toward sustainable futures...At WSSFC 2...
18/06/2026

Building on collaboration, working alongside communities, and exploring pathways toward sustainable futures...

At WSSFC 2026, our Sustainable Fisheries team brought stories from the ground to a global stage, highlighting co-management, dried fish economies, participatory governance, and youth-led action across coastal India.

These conversations reaffirm the importance of community voices, collaborative approaches, and locally rooted solutions in shaping equitable and resilient small-scale fisheries.

Children from Nuagaon, Podampeta and Purnabandha came together at the Cyclone Shelter in Purnabandha for a screening of ...
09/03/2026

Children from Nuagaon, Podampeta and Purnabandha came together at the Cyclone Shelter in Purnabandha for a screening of the film "Bipro - A conservation legacy in the making" by Ishwar Shaw, which tells the story of Bipro Charan Behera, a field staff member with Dakshin Foundation.

Having grown up helping his father, Dambru Behera, with turtle conservation work, Bipro went on to join Dakshin formally in 2010. Today, he is a key member of the turtle team and leads night walks during the turtle nesting season. Follow his work at

The screening ended with an interactive Q&A session, where participants answered questions about the film and received postcards brought by filmmaker Ishwar Shaw, making it a fun and memorable learning experience for the children.

Are Odisha’s olive ridleys truly in danger? In Orissa POST, Kartik Shanker (Faculty at IISc and Trustee, Dakshin Foundat...
09/03/2026

Are Odisha’s olive ridleys truly in danger?

In Orissa POST, Kartik Shanker (Faculty at IISc and Trustee, Dakshin Foundation) reexamines the conservation narrative around mass nesting, bycatch and long-term population trends; urging a science-based, balanced approach that also safeguards coastal livelihoods.

Read the full article in Orissa POST. Link in our bio or copy the link below.

https://www.orissapost.com/ridleys-reloaded-rewriting-the-conservation-narrative/

Illustration credits - Karunya Baskar

A proud moment for Dakshin!We’re delighted to share that the 5th Samir Acharya Memorial Award for Conservation of Coasta...
09/03/2026

A proud moment for Dakshin!

We’re delighted to share that the 5th Samir Acharya Memorial Award for Conservation of Coastal and Island Ecosystems has been awarded to Madhuri Mondal - Partnerships, SeaChange and Policy Lead at our Andaman & Nicobar Environment Team.

The award recognises Dakshin’s work on sustainable menstrual waste management in South Andaman, led on the ground by Madhuri and the ANET team in partnership with the Wandoor Panchayat.

Menstrual waste is rarely talked about, yet it is a growing environmental challenge for small and ecologically sensitive islands. By working closely with the community and training Youth Ambassadors, ASHA and Anganwadi workers, the team has helped introduce sustainable menstrual products to more than 1200 women. Today, 400+ women have already shifted to eco-friendly alternatives like menstrual cups, cloth pads and period panties; significantly reducing non-biodegradable sanitary waste in the islands.

What makes this work special is that it brings together environmental conservation, public health and open conversations around a topic that is often considered taboo.

Huge congratulations to Madhuri and the entire Dakshin–ANET team for this wonderful recognition of their work in the islands.

🌊 Dakshin at Gopalpur Beach Festival 2026Four days at the Gopalpur Beach Festival. Hundreds of conversations about the c...
19/02/2026

🌊 Dakshin at Gopalpur Beach Festival 2026

Four days at the Gopalpur Beach Festival. Hundreds of conversations about the coast.

Dakshin joined the festival to bring discussions on marine conservation and the wellbeing of coastal communities into a public, accessible space. Festivals draw diverse audiences and that diversity showed at our stall. Fishers, students, families and local stakeholders stopped by to engage with our work.

Through visual displays and community stories, we spoke about our Coastal Grassroots Fellowship, fishing livelihoods, coastal biodiversity and efforts to protect marine ecosystems including olive ridley turtles. What stood out wasn’t just the footfall; it was the quality of engagement. Visitors asked detailed questions, shared local knowledge and reflected on the links between conservation and communities.

The experience reinforced something we value deeply: conservation conversations are strongest when they are open, grounded and participatory.

We’re building on this with stronger regional language outreach, more interactive formats and continued engagement with coastal communities and the wider public.

Sustained environmental change is possible when communities unite with a shared sense of responsibility. As part of a jo...
19/02/2026

Sustained environmental change is possible when communities unite with a shared sense of responsibility.

As part of a joint campaign with Wandoor Gram Panchayat, the Forest Department and the Andaman & Nicobar Police to strengthen waste management systems at New Wandoor Beach in the Andamans, over 240 kilograms of waste were cleared from the coastline. This beach is not only central to local livelihoods through tourism, but is also located at the intersection of ecologically significant marine protected areas, making its upkeep critical for both community wellbeing and environmental resilience.

A community awareness run reinforced the message of waste-free shores, while a youth-led flash mob sensitised visitors and local stakeholders on proper waste segregation and disposal.

Through collective action, these initiatives have helped build local capacity, promote sustainable waste management practices and encouraged collective ownership towards cleaner beaches.

Together, the community demonstrated that small steps can create a big impact.

Empowering fisherfolk in local governance 🌊✊On 22-23 January in Palk Bay, our Communities and Resource Governance team b...
11/02/2026

Empowering fisherfolk in local governance 🌊✊

On 22-23 January in Palk Bay, our Communities and Resource Governance team brought together 95 participants including fisher representatives, former panchayat leaders, women, youth, self-help groups and oor panchayat members to strengthen their role in local governance. The workshop was facilitated by Nandhakumar Shiva, who works to deepen citizen participation in governance and R. Sivarasu, former Village Panchayat Head of Prathabaramapuram in Nagapattinam.

Through shared learning with experienced panchayat leaders and governance practitioners, participants demystified panchayat systems, bridged critical knowledge gaps and built confidence to engage with formal institutions. By centering fishers’ lived experiences, the workshop forged new networks between former panchayat representatives and fishing communities, amplified the voices of women and youth and reignited collective participation in Gram Sabhas.

The outcome: communities better equipped to claim space, ask the right questions and influence decisions that shape their livelihoods.

From awareness to action, fisherfolk are stepping forward as local leaders.

Address

Dakshin Foundation, No. 2203, 8th Main, D Block, MCECHS Layout, Sahakar Nagar, Bengaluru/560 092
Bangalore
560092

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm

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