Applied
Environmental
Research
Foundation
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...
Our newest partnerships
Reflections from the field
14 September 2025
Dr. Archana Godbole was invited as a guest to speak at Swayam Talks - a Maharashtra-based inspiration platform that curates talks, interviews, podcasts and blogs featuring achievers across fields like entrepreneurship, science, environment and culture. She spoke about 'sacred groves' as a concept and about AERF's 3 decade long work in conserving and restoring them.
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.
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