
Pioneering
Conservation on the Ground
since 1995

The Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF) is a registered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in Pune, India. Since its inception in 1995, AERF has been working towards biodiversity conservation on the ground with community participation and collaboration. AERF could achieve the goal of 'conservation on the ground' through engagement of all stakeholders and by developing direct, tangible benefits from conservation. We work in the Northern Western Ghats (NWG) part of Western Ghats global Biodiversity hotspot. Our work has expanded to coastal Maharashtra for mangroves conservation and developing value chain - based conservation projects in Chhattisgarh since 2019. In the central India landscape, we mainly work with indigenous communities for sustainable use and restoration of CFRs. Team AERF also works across the country for research, training, capacity building and networking for conservation.
AERF'S MISSION
To achieve biodiversity conservation on the ground through use of scientific tools, development of cutting edge solutions and multi-stakeholder engagement

Our main thematic programmes

OUR IMPACT

13000
Acres of threatened privately owned terrestrial forests brought under Conservation Agreements

1417000

1200
Giant trees on terrestrial forests brought under Conservation Agreement

6516
Tonnes of atmospheric carbon sequestered in these forests (based on our on-ground carbon surveys)

1791
Acres of privately owned mangroves brought under long-term conservation management

976095

25293
Giant mangrove trees brought under Conservation Agreements

623978
Tonnes of atmospheric carbon sequestered in these mangroves (based on our on-ground carbon surveys)

9950+
Eco-chullahs distributed among forest-dependant communities

29850
Tonnes of atmospheric carbon sequestered (based on Gold Standard verification studies)

25000+
Forest-dependent people empowered through all our conservation interventions

WHERE WE WORK...

Northern
Western
Ghats
Bhimashankar
Talmachi
Sangameshwar


Mangroves of
Coastal Maharashtra
Alibaug
Mandangad
Sindhudurg

Forests of Central India
Kanker
Deori
Narharpur
IN THE NEWS...
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13 Feb 2025


The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens at Palm Spring California honored AERF Directors Archana Godbole and Jayant Sarnaik as Conservation Heroes for their work of Conservation with Communities over three decades in India.
04 Sept 2024

Dr. Archana Godbole signed a letter of intent to participate in the Nature-based Solutions Asian Hub Cooperation Network with NbS Asia Hub during the IUCN RCF in Bangkok. China. The Nbs Asia Hub intends to cooperate for knowledge-sharing on Nature- based Solutions, sharing practices and case studies and promoting wider stakeholder dialogues. This partnership will help bring visibility to pioneering initiatives ofAERF in the NbS space in South East Asia.
22 June 2024

Dr. Archana Godbole published a marathi book titled 'Devrai Akhyaan', collating 30 years of knowledge and experience in conserving and restoring sacred groves. The book has been awarded the prestigious 'S. N. Joshi Smruti Award by 'Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad' in Feb 2025 for its contribution towards the socio-cultural landscape of Maharashtra.
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