IPSI Case Study Summary Sheet
Basic Information
Title of case study
FairWild certification: An approach for linking biodiversity conservation with sustainable livelihoods in thenorthern Western Ghats, India
Submitting IPSI member organization(s)Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF)

Other contributing organization(s) (IPSI members and/or non-members)
Durrell Institute for Conservation and Ecology (DICE); Rhodes University

Author(s) and affiliation(s)Jayant Sarnaik, Archana Godbole, Umesh Hiremath and Yogesh Giri (AERF); Ian G Bride (DICE); Mallika Sardeshpande(Rhodes University)
Format of case study (manuscript or audiovisual) Manuscript
Language
EnglishKeywords (3-5 key concepts included in the case study)
Biodiversity conservation; FairWild certification; Sustainable livelihoods
Date of submission (or update, if this is an update of an existing case study)
19 February 2018
Web link (of the case study or lead organization if
available for more information)

Geographical Information
Country (where site(s) or activities described in the case study are located – can be multiple, or even “global”)
India
Location(s) (within the country or countries – leave blank if specific location(s) cannot be identified)Western Ghats
Longitude/latitude or Google Maps link (if location is identified)
https://www.google.com/maps/@17.1876784,73.5480701,11z?hl=en
Ecosystem(s) (please place an “x” in all appropriate boxes)
Forestx
Grassland
Agriculturalx
In-land water
CoastalDryland
Mountain
Urban/peri-urban
Other (Please specify)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area
The North Western Ghats is a recognized Global Biodiversity Hotspot, yet has a rather sparse protected area
network, largely because the great majority of the forest landscapes that comprise it are privately owned. In
the five districts of the northern Western Ghats, of the total forest area of 17, 699 km2, 12,043 km2 are owned
and managed privately, while 5,656 km2 of forest area (less than 50% of privately managed land area) is owned
and managed by the government.
Description of human-nature interactions in the area
Land use change due to expansion of agriculture, tourism, and development projects is contributing to loss of habitat andspecies at an alarming rate. Moreover, indiscriminate logging of forests for immediate monetary need is further degrading
forests and habitats. Local extinctions and declines in healthy populations of many economically important medicinal
plants provide sufficient evidence for these unsustainable practices.

Contents
Status (“ongoing” or “completed”)
Ongoing
Period (MM/YY to MM/YY)
2014 Rationale (why activities or policies described, or information shared in the case study are needed)
There is a growing threat to the ecological integrity of landscape, together with a need to develop a strategy
that fulfils monetary expectations of local communities whilst ensuring conservation of key biodiversity areas.
FairWild articulates stringent protocols and requirements with respect to biodiversity conservation, sustainable
harvesting methods, monetary benefits to resource owners, ownership of and access to target resources, andthe equitable sharing of benefits.
Objectives (goals of activities or policies described, or of producing the case study)
Terminalia bellirica and Terminalia chebula were the selected target species based on established demand fortheir fruits in traditional medicines in India and abroad, the potential for sustainable harvesting, theopportunity for improving economic returns, and the associated conservation benefits.
Activities and/or practices employed

AERF implemented the international FairWild certification scheme for the sustainable collection of non-timber
forest products from community managed forests in the North Western Ghats. AERF conducted a resource
assessment of the trees, cost-benefit analyses and a social feasibility study to understand the potential of thiscertification scheme. Selecting collectors and conducting trainings to build their capacity in sustainable
collection and processing of fruits were necessary parts of compliance for FairWild certification.
Results
Successful implementation of FairWild certification has provided direct economic benefits to 100 households
while protecting up to 600 large trees of Terminalia bellirica and nearly 1,000 old trees of Terminalia chebula in
the North Western Ghats.
Lessons learned (factors in success or failure, challenges and opportunities)
This project has had major positive effects on the individuals and communities it has targeted. However, it has
also generated significant additional benefits beyond the pragmatic economic and ecological ones alreadydescribed. In particular, the demand for documentary evidence, together with the intensive capacity-building
sessions and other documentary requirements of FairWild and Organic certification, has helped thesecommunities recognize and act upon the need to put their land records in order so that they can officially claim
the ownership of the trees standing on their land.
Key messages
There was also the realization that these markets are not just local or regional, but extend across the planet,
thereby connecting what is happening on the ground with global processes and understanding - thinkingglobally whilst acting locally. The evidence thereby generated supported the view that certification in general
was unanimously regarded as making a very positive contribution to the marketing of NTPFs.
Relationship to other IPSI activities (if the case study is related to any other IPSI collaborative activities, case studies, etc.)
This case study originally appeared in the Satoyama Initiative Thematic Review v. 3.
Funding (any relevant information about funding of activities or projects described in the case study)
The cost of achieving FairWild certification was in the region of USD 15,000 in pure monetary terms, notincluding the value of the time and other resources contributed by the individuals and organizations involved.
Without the funding and support provided by the Darwin Initiative, the Keidanran Nature Conservation Fund,AERF, DICE-SAC, Pukka Herbs, and TRAFFIC, it is highly unlikely that FairWild certification would have beenachieved.

Contributions to Global Agendas
CBD Aichi Biodiversity Targets (https://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/)
The table below shows based on the self-evaluation by author(s).  and  indicates the “direct” or “indirect” contributions to theCBD’s Aichi Biodiversity Targets respectively to which the work described in this case study contributes to.

Strategic Goal AStrategic Goal C

Strategic Goal BStrategic Goal D

Strategic Goal EUN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs)
The table below shows based on the self-evaluation by author(s).  and  indicates the “direct” or “indirect” contributions to theSDGs respectively to which the work described in this case study contributes to.
