The Equator Prize, organized by the Equator Initiative within the United Nations Development Programme, is awarded annually to recognize outstanding community efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company Limited was awarded the 2021 Equator Prize. Overview of Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company Limited (APPCL) is a community-owned enterprise built by the indigenous people of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Formed in April 2013 with support from Keystone Foundation, Aadhimalai was created to strengthen the livelihoods of tribal communities through fair, sustainable, and locally rooted economic opportunities. This 1800+-member cooperative, managed and run entirely by Indigenous people from the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Southern India, has improved livelihoods across 147 villages by processing and marketing a diverse range of forest products and crops. Through local value addition, members earn premium prices on a wide range of products including those collected sustainably from the Reserve such as honey, soap nuts and berries, phoenix leaves and others, as well as those cultivated organically such as coffee, pepper, silk cotton, cereals, spices, fruits, and many others. Shareholders regularly monitor harvesting and agricultural practices to ensure product quality and prevent overuse of resources. The company has a gender-balanced membership and a women majority among its employees, and provides hands-on training for shareholders and social enterprises across the region. Source : Equator Initiative