While communities play an important role in conservation, the beneficial impacts of their efforts will be limited if counter-productive public environmental policies remain unchanged. Thus, AFDC plays an advocacy role in trying to bring about desirable changes to these environmental policies.

These include public awareness initiatives, including writing in the press and networking with the concerned officials, amongst other things. AFDC’s policy recommendations are based on studies the NGO has conducted, scientific information, conditions on the ground and the best practices for sustainable development.