TOFT and A&K India: Strengthening Communities and Conservation in Panna Tiger Reserve

At TOFT India, we believe that true conservation goes beyond protecting wildlife – it is about ensuring that the communities living closest to nature also thrive. Our collaboration with Abercrombie & Kent India (A&K) through its philanthropic arm, A&K Philanthropy, is built on this conviction, and together we are demonstrating how responsible tourism can transform lives while safeguarding wild places.

In the heart of Panna, Madhya Pradesh, the Wildpines Block Printing Center tells this story beautifully. What began as a modest community programme is now expanding its vision to embrace the Pardhi and women from other communities living around the tiger reserve. With support from A&K, a new facility is being constructed to tentatively accommodate 20 girls, providing them with training in the traditional art of block printing. This centre will not only create livelihoods but also serve as an experience hub for guests from Abercrombie & Kent – offering them an authentic glimpse into local craftsmanship.

For the young women of Panna, this initiative has already meant far more than just a steady income. It has given them independence, dignity, and the opportunity to keep alive a craft passed down through generations. For TOFT, Wildpines, and A&K, this is more than a livelihood project – it is a pathway to balance, expanding the impact. By offering alternative income streams, the initiative helps reduce dependence on forests, thereby easing pressure on Panna’s wildlife-rich landscapes.

When communities prosper, with women in forefront,  nature prospers too. The Wildpines story is proof of what collaboration makes possible – a story of women finding their voice through craft, families finding stability through sustainable livelihoods, and a landscape finding protection through empowered communities.

Stay tuned on the progress of this initiative.