The AIGWES Institute seeks to make its contributions to the achievement of these goals through research, teaching, training and consultancy in the following thrust areas: 

1. Climate change mitigation and adaptation primarily, but not exclusively in the land use, land-use change and forestry sectors

2. Vulnerability of food crops in the major food growing areas as a result of increased pest and tropical diseases

3. Effect on biodiversity and wetlands of the entire Himalayan and sub-Himalayan ranges in Asia due to climate change 

4. Effect on coastal zone and mangroves of South and South-East Asia due to global warming 

5. Biofuels as partial replacement for fossil fuels

6. Socio-economic aspects including migration studies due to global warming in South, South-East and East Asia 

AIGWES has rich experience in conducting research and extension programs related to climate change mitigation, adaptation and forestry carbon projects,  Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) including other carbon markets.  It has conducted trainings in these areas for Indian Forest Services (IFS) officers and University Professors under the Department for International Development (DFID) and also conducted several awareness programs.

Accomplishments:

Some of the accomplishments of AIGWES are:

1. EU Supported Haryana Community Forestry Project – Under this project AIGWES has prepared the Project Design Document for the ”Sirsa Small Scale Cooperative Afforestation CDM Project Activity on Private Lands Affected by Shifting Sand Dunes” which has been successfully validated and registered with the UNFCCC. This is the first small scale forestry CDM project in the world.

2. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) Workshop on CDM/PDD Preparation- The AIGWES has been commissioned by the International Tropical Timber Organization for training forestry professionals from South Asian countries in Project Design Document (PDD) preparation under CDM.
           

3. The UK Department for International Development (DFID) supported Orissa Forestry Sector Support Project- Under this project, AIGWES has completed a capacity building program on CDM/VCM investment and preparation of Project Design Document for Forestry, Bio-Fuel and Renewable Energy Projects. The AIGWES has also conducted the following activities under the same project:

• Series of workshops across the state of Orissa to educate farmers and other landowners about the possibilities of earning additional income through mandatory and voluntary carbon markets
• Establishing a close links between farmers and prospective buyers of voluntary carbon credits to enable widespread information sharing and networking between sellers and buyers
• Detailed assessment of the CDM/VCM carbon market opportunities for rural communities in Orissa and an overview of current adaptation strategies to extreme climatic events

4. Effects of climate change on man – elephant conflict in the mining affected areas of northern Orissa

This unique project funded by RIO TINTO is possibly the only study that aims to understand the role of climate change on the increasing conflicts between man and elephants due to resource scarcity. This project seeks to develop long term conservation strategies to minimize man-elephant conflicts.

5. Feasibility study for carbon market opportunity for rural community through forestry in Orissa funded by DFID

6. Climate change and global warming awareness campaign for school children funded by JSW Steels Ltd.

7. Development of CDM forestry project in Orissa funded by JK papers Ltd.

8. Various workshops/Seminars for Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Forest Ser- vice (IFS) and Indian Port Officers

AIGWES has worked in conjunction with Amity School of Natural Resource an Sustainable Development (ASNRSD) in organizing several seminars and workshops for senior officers. Some of the themes of workshops are:

•      Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Project Development under Land Use and Land Use
       Change and Forestry
•      Geographic Information System (GIS) Technology in Port Environment Compliance and
        Management
•      Conservation of Asian Elephants in Fragmented Habitat: Issues and Challenges
•      Global Initiatives on Local Efforts to Address Human Wildlife Conflict
•      Climate Change and Indigenous Culture: Vulnerabilities and Adaptation
•      Food Security, Poverty and Land Husbandry: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities
•      Sustainable Forest Management and Forest Certification: Criteria and Indicators
•      Sustainable Natural Resource Development
•      Conservation and Participatory Management of Wetlands in India
•      Forest Tribal Interface
•      Sustainable Rural Employment through Appropriate Land Use Policy: Challenges and
       Opportunities
•      Environmental Impact Assessment of Developmental Projects
•      Conservation of Natural Resources and Indian Culture
•      Harnessing the Potential of Export Market of Medicinal Plants of India
•      Participatory Management of Natural Resources - Latest Trends and Visions
•      Management of Water Resources and Water Harvesting
•      Bio-safety with Special Reference to Cartagena Protocol for Practicing Lawyers
•      Human Rights and Related Environmental Issues
•      Institutional, Economical, Technological and Legal Issues Related to Production Possibilities
       of Bio-diesel from Jatropha Curcas (Ratanjot) and Pongamia Pinnata (Karanja)
•      Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Livelihood
•      Forest Certification - Implications on Forestry in India
•      Natural Resource Accounting System for the Financial Controllers

Ongoing Project:

• Study on Effects of habitat fragmentation on endangered capped langur in Assam.
• Study on effects of shifting cultivation on carbon stocks and carbon emissions in North-East India
• Study on golden langur, TRachypithecus geei threatened by habitat fragmentation in Assam