Archana J.Godbole founded the Applied Environmental Research Foundation(AERF) in 1994 and is Committed to contribute to the process of change; through research, action and implementation in the field of conservation & development. She has developed and implemented Community based conservation projects through out India and worked extensively in North Eastern India and northern Western Ghats of India. Conservatipon practitioner with specilization in community based conservation projects in moutain regions.
AERF is doing research in areas like traditional methods of forest conservation, collection and cultivation techniques for NTFP plants, Habitat management and restoration etc. Her special areas of interest include indigenous knowledge and its application in conservation and development, developing and testing participatory approaches in natural resource management. She has a master's degree in botany. She has done Phd in Ethnobiology .
Membership of Professional soccieties/trainings etc.
*International Society of Ethnobiology :Served as a Board member of International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) from 1996-1998 and secretary of ISE during 2002-2004.
*Society of Indian Ethnobotany;
*Worked as a Review Committee member for National Water Development Agency (NWDA ) for evaluation and assessment of Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment of Damanganga Pinjal Link Tunnel Project during 2003-2004.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE /CONSULTANCY
Assignments completed
1.Grassroots perceptions and experiences on forest governance from Bandhavgad Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh : 2007
2.Case study of Forest governance of Maharashtra : 2006
3.Preparation of Gender strategy for Eco development project at Pench Tiger Reserve, M.P. : 2004
4.Integrating cultural & biological diversity in conservation of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, Kerala , India : 2005
5.Biodiversity Assessment of Proposed Hydro power project in North Goa for NHPC : 2003-04
6.Assessment of community forestry work of NGO in Uttaranchal: 2002
7.Biodiversity studies of Melghat Tiger Reserve :2000
8.Consultant to IPGRI (International Plant Genetic Resource Institute, Italy ) for assessment of participatory research methods for ethno botanical research : 1998
9.Integrated Environmental and Social Assessment of Water resources projects in Maharashtra, India : 2004
Employment
1.Honorary Director , Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF). Responsibilities include project preparation, execution planning and management of research, monitoring and evaluation of work, leading the team , writing research papers and reports . Served as Director from June 1995 - June 2002 and Aug. 2003 –till date . Coordinated various projects of AERF . A representative list is provided below
**Ethno biological Studies of primitive Konyak Nagas from Northern Nagaland
**Study of shifting cultivation practices in Konkan region and their role in bio-diversity conservation
**Study of Nomadic Vaidu Community to understand the role of their traditional medicines in today’s context and its effects on biodiversity.
**Studies of Sacred groves of Northern Western Ghats
**Conservation and development of medicinal plants through people’s participation.
**Eco restoration of sacred groves from Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra.
**Resource assessment of Pongamia pinnata a potential bio diesel species from Maharashtra.
2.Special adviser to the South Asia regional Crop Post Harvest Research Programme of DFID July 2002 –July 2003 .
Additional Information
*June 1987 - March 1988: Worked as the organiser and publication in charge for Save the Western Ghats March , a 100 day's conservation campaign organised by various institutions and voluntary agencies in Western India, to study the environmental problems of Western Ghats and to create awareness among the people. (Western Ghats or Sahyadri is the mountain range running parallel western coast in peninsular India).
*Co-ordination of UNESCO ICIMOD workshop 1997 : Co-ordinated a 4 days workshop on Applied Ethnobotany and participatory research in Kohima for research organisations, NGOs and individuals engaged in the ethnobotanical research in North Eastern region of India.
*Editor of Sakav (Annual in Marathi dedicated to Konkan ( Western Coastal maharashtra ) Environment & Development : Involved in the Annual publication in regional language and created a platform to invol all the stakeholders of the rpocess of conseravtion and development form the region. Edited Sakav for three consecutive years and making it a powerful networking and awareness generation tool.
Publications meetings workshops etc. : Published 24 research papers in renowned journals and 2 books . Presented more than 18 papers in international conferences,
seminars and workshops covering range of topics related to NRM , conservation and development .
Personal profile
1.Fifteen years of broad ranging experience in managing conservation and natural resources management research and action/ implementation projects all over India.
2.Expertise of working at all levels- National policy level to project implementation at field levels, collaborating with GOs , NGOS and people.
3.Worked on varied projects covering forestry, Indigenous Knowledge, traditional conservation systems , EIA of infrastructure projects, water resources projects, NRM based livelihoods and gender and development.
4.Dependable and reliable in supporting and enabling team effort to produce genuine long-term sustainable development.
5.Hands on experience in Project concept formulation, detailed Project preparation,
6.Fund raising , planning and project management.
