For many conservationists, including our participants, the knowledge to effectively use conservation technology is not enough without the funding to access the tools. Recognizing this barrier, we provide each participant with USD$500 in seed funding to support the implementation of their conservation solutions. Participants are required to propose and carry out projects, which have ranged from building predator-proof bomas and underwater camera traps to developing AI tools, mobile apps, and community-driven citizen science initiatives. Each participant is required to report on their project’s progress over the following year, fostering accountability and impact tracking.

To ensure long-term sustainability, we also deliver training in grant writing, proposal development, and funder engagement to equip participants with the skills needed to secure sustained future funding. Ongoing mentorship and support also continue beyond the initial training. Our team, along with a growing alumni network, provides guidance on grant applications, reference letters, and professional development opportunities. Many of the projects and collaborations initiated during the program have led to graduate study, published research, and conference presentations, reinforcing participants’ continued growth as conservation leaders. 

Our technical training emphasizes experiential learning by giving participants direct, practical experience with conservation technologies. Whenever possible, students are encouraged to set up and deploy tools themselves in safe, low-pressure environments, creating space to experiment, make mistakes, and learn by doing. For instance, students may choose camera trap locations based on the classroom training module, then evaluate the effectiveness of their decisions by analyzing the resulting data. This process helps bridge theory and practice while building confidence in problem-solving and tool use.

In cases where participants cannot operate the tools directly, trainers and field practitioners from host institutions provide live demonstrations, such as tracking wildlife using GPS or operating drones, ensuring students still gain exposure to how these technologies function in real-world conservation settings.

We select participants who are at the beginning stages of their careers, such as those who have completed their bachelor’s degrees and are entering the NGO or conservation workforce or embarking on higher education.The goal is to identify participants whose careers would benefit the most from the type and amount of training, funding, mentorship, and support we provide. Over the past two years, we’ve recruited at least one participant from a non-academic background who nevertheless possesses extensive on-the-ground experience. These individuals have thrived in the program, highlighting an opportunity to further cater to this audience in future iterations.

Host institutions are selected based on their capacity to support both classroom and field-based instruction, and on their engagement with active conservation challenges where technology plays a meaningful role. For instance, the RISE Grumeti Fund in Tanzania is an ideal training site, offering educational facilities, student accommodations, and running active, tech-enabled initiatives such as anti-poaching and rhino protection programs.

Furthermore, we prioritize institutions that share our commitment to advancing education for women and early-career conservationists, have strong ties to local conservation and research communities, and demonstrate leadership in integrating technology into conservation practice. These partnerships are essential to ensuring our program is both sustainable and deeply embedded in the communities it aims to serve.

Project findings were disseminated through multiple academic and public platforms, including:

• An academic article in Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research (a Science Partner Journal).
• Featured content on the AAASScience WeChat Public Platform, the official media of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in China.
• A case study contribution to the Yangtze River Delta Pilot Site.
• Integration into major NSFC-supported oceanographic research projects.

GBF Alignment: Aligns with GBF Target 20.
Contribution: Enhances global conservation efforts by sharing scalable methodologies.

Results were disseminated via an academic paper in Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research (a Science Partten Journal) and shared in AAASScience WeChat Public (Official Media of American Association for the Advancement of Science in China). The findings were also included as a case study in the Yangtze River Delta Pilot Site and included in the support of major research projects on oceanography by the National Natural Science Foundation (NSFC).

By systematically integrating remote sensing data, deep learning, and ecological analysis, the project has significantly advanced wetland conservation methodologies, offering scalable solutions for biodiversity preservation,  biological invasion control,  and ecosystem management globally.

Based on results from monitoring data and facilitated feedback discussions with the village grazing committees, rangeland restoration activities are identified as appropriate. This often requires the existing village grazing plan to be adapted and evolve with the changing state of the rangelands. For example, in Ngoley village, data collected over two years indicated one particularly problematic species (Sphaeranthus - locally called “Masida”) that proliferated significantly during a prolonged dry season and limited the regrowth of palatable species after the rains. To prevent further proliferation, an uprooting plan was designed and implemented based on the best practices for removing this particular species. Immediately after the first round of uprooting, the data show a drop in the species frequency and subsequent months of monitoring provide further evidence to suggest that native, palatable grasses are recovering in the treated plots. These targeted interventions directly contribute to GBF Target 1 by integrating biodiversity considerations into local planning and land use, and Target 2 by restoring degraded ecosystems. Furthermore, by improving ecological function and resilience, these efforts enhance the rangeland’s capacity to withstand climate variability, supporting both biodiversity and the well-being of local communities.

Our team analyzed the data with the combined expertise of our partners and in collaboration with a local NGO dedicated to reforestation efforts. This NGO is using our scientific findings to guide practical restoration actions, including the selection of plant species that attract and support local wildlife. This partnership ensures that our research is directly applied to enhance reforestation efforts, promoting self-sustaining and resilient forest ecosystems

Given Lebanon’s unique climate and sample conditions, we tailored our field and lab methodologies to optimize DNA extraction from local animal scats. This customization involved developing protocols specific to the Mediterranean environment and sample quality, ensuring accurate results and maximizing the data yield from each sample.

This building block emphasises community participation in monitoring, utilising citizen science and accessible data platforms to ensure local knowledge informs adaptive management and contributes to the long-term success of mangrove restoration.