Program Areas
The operational action areas of SAFE works at climate and community interface, and the program interventions span through global south, in countries like India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Philippines and Nepal and the spread extends beyond boundaries to promote climate smart agro-environmental practices through technology cooperation towards less water intensive and low chemical intensive farming, agro-waste management, agro-biodiversity conservation and water banks projects. Formation of carbon-neutral organic villages in India and Nepal, integrated aqua farming in inundated coastal areas of Sundarbans in India and Bangladesh and climate adaptation in traditional practices of forest communities in Hindukush Himalayas of Bhutan and India are some of the appraised interventions of SAFE.
In urban cities, SAFE is working with local communities; bringing innovative entrepreneurial solutions for municipal solid waste management that creates recycling community based micro enterprises and reduces landfill emissions. [SAFE program Titled, ‘Resolve Trash2Cash’ received UNFCCC Momentum for Change, Lighthouse Activity Award in year 2014 and currently is being scaled up in India, Bhutan and Bangladesh] SAFE is carrying out Sustainable Lifestyle and Education (SLE) program under UNEP 10YFP in India and Bangladesh, and Cottage enterprise on recycling is supported by Indian Bhutan Foundation.
Conservation of wetlands is a flagship program of SAFE and has been implemented at the regional level with special emphasis on trans-boundary Ramsar wetlands. A neo-economic conservation paradigm for wetlands entitled “Biorights of Commons” has been propounded by SAFE that has been accredited and documented in the 4th TEEB Report of UNEP. SAFE has been running two CRACK (Community Resilience & Adaptation with Climate Knowledge) centres in India and has the onus of a functional network PENTA-C (Cross Country Consortium for Climate Change) in South Asia.
REDD plus implications through community based interventions in Indian mangroves and broadleaf forests by promoting non-timber organic forest products by building capacities of communities in micro retailing creating alternative livelihood opportunities.
