The Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF)

In 15 villages in the districts of Raigad and Pune, AERF has successfully worked to lessen the suffering of these underprivileged communities since 2009. In these villages, AERF has provided 500 LED lamps, and in the Alibaug block resident school for tribal children, 100 LED study lamps. The living conditions in these communities have significantly improved thanks to this project, which has also raised production and—more importantly—confidence in the people's ability to handle difficult situations.

AERF plans and researches to identify workable strategies for protecting biodiversity and interacting with local communities to take action locally.

To improve knowledge of the landscape and, more importantly, to prioritize conservation issues, AERF carries out necessary research. To ensure the long-term, community-based conservation of these cultural places, AERF started research operations as early as 1995 by inventorying and documenting sacred groves. The foundation for action to save the holy groves, organize the restoration, and increase community capacity to resurrect the custom was laid by this research.