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| The immediate purpose of applied research is to produce knowledge that will help find real solutions to real problems |
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Introduction:
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Conservation is the practice of solving problems. Problems related to scarcity and diversity within natural systems. To solve these problems, a good amount of knowledge is required and to build good knowledge and understanding, research is essential.
Research is only better if results have scientific credibility and will benefit society or improve the understanding of conservation problems and issues and thereby aid in devising solutions.
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The need for research for practicing conservation relates to the fact that despite the considerable amount of money spent on research relatively little attention is paid to ensuring that the findings of research are implemented in routine practice. Many a times it is important to understand the conservation issue scientifically and to develop a thorough understanding of the ecological concerns.
It is therefore essential to link conservation science and practice. This is firmly based in the growing stream of Evidence-based Conservation. Medical science has devised systems of diagnosing evidence to provide solutions. Many conservation biologists now insist on using a similar strategy to solve local as well as global problems of conserving biological diversity.
The Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF) uses research to make conservation successful on the ground. In order to achieve its goals, the AERF applies a range of research techniques in order to plan, prioritise and manage activities within its Programmes. As a result of our research, the AERF is able to devise better conservation strategies, improve management practices, make informed decisions and aid local people in managing their resources better. |
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Applying Research for Conservation
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Programme objectives & Activities
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The various projects in Applied Research have been used as baselines, understanding problems, planning inputs and assessments within our existing programmes. Our core research themes are:
Applied ecology and rehabilitation
Conservation ecology of rare trees within forest fragments
Conservation planning
Identifying priority areas for forest conservation in the north Western Ghats
Traditional resource management systems
Resource assessments |
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Applied Research and AERF Programmes
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AERF takes a scientific approach to conservation, based on analysis of what is needed to ensure the preservation of the local plants, animals, and ecosystems.
AERF has completed many such conservation research project within last five years and practically used the findings of the research to achieve better conservation on the ground. |
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The Great Hornbill Project.
The forests of Northern Western Ghats support diverse fauna, some of them being endemic to the Western Ghats. However this important forest landscape is facing the challenge of deforestation leading to degradation and fragmentation due to variety of developmental pressures. Mass deforestation has resulted in the loss of old-growth forests and thereby affected nesting and feeding of Great Pied Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) and Malabar Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus). Through this project, the protection and promoting the Great Pied Hornbill and Malabar Pied Hornbills as flagship species will be used as important tool to promote conservation of important plant areas such as Sacred groves as well as rare and endemic tree species such as Antiaris toxicaria. |
Rare medicinal trees.
Based on the in-depth analysis of AERF's Sacred Groves conservation programme, the team has selected four rare tree species found within the Sacred Groves of Konkan for conservation assessment. The focus of the project is to conduct an assessment of conservation status, distribution as well as to study aspects of reproductive ecology of four slow growing medicinal trees of the Konkan region. The four species selected for the study are Strychnos nux-vomica, Hydnocarpus pentandra, Antiaris toxicaria and Saraca asoca. This research project has been a unique initiative towards understanding the ecology and recommending measures for conservation of tree species within sacred groves. |
Identifying important plant areas
Identifying the priorities for conservation has been an integral part of AERF’s conservation planning. AERF has completed the in depth research for prioritization schemes like the Important Plant Area (IPA) programme and the High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF) network in identifying priority areas for forest conservation at a local level in the Northern Western Ghats. This project has resulted in the identification of 17 priority areas in 6 administrative blocks within 2 districts of the Konkan region. |
Protecting the Unprotected
The southern part of the Western Ghats has received appreciable conservation and research interest; the northern section of the Western Ghats is significantly different. As the population is growing in the north, the demand for resources has increased, the rate of deforestation has escalated and the shift towards intensive land use practices is having an adverse impact on biodiversity. With barely 3 statutory protected areas in the region, up to 80% of the region's forests remain unprotected.
Research is only better than no research if results have scientific credibility and will benefit society or improve our understanding of the different environment related problems. The dissemination and adaptation of research results, however, pose other problems. The need for research on practice relates to the fact that despite the considerable amount of money spent on research relatively little attention is paid to ensuring that the findings of research are implemented in routine practice. Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF) is a non-government organisation (NGO) that goes beyond research to find practical ways in biodiversity conservation and community development. |
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