Inclusive and participatory mapping of all stakeholders in the mangrove space in the five counties of Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River and Lamu. A series of meetings for sensitization on the National Mangrove Management Plan, and later facilitated formation of the national and five county committees. The committees were then facilitated in developing their workplans and executing some of the activities. This has since been picked up. 

Work with different actors at the local, national, and international levels, to contribute to the design of a fiber value chain that can trigger the activity. The work will consist of the identification of key public and private actors in order to provide tools for the commercialization of the product. The activities that will be developed in this stage of the project include meetings with the textile sector, application authorities, and various important local actors in this area.

Early warnings are delivered through multiple channels, including a mobile app, smart broadcasting, phone calls, and text messages. The app is the most widely used, and monitors also share alerts via WeChat groups or personal networks for broader reach. To expand user coverage, field teams conduct door-to-door awareness campaigns in elephant-affected villages. As a result, the app has been downloaded by more than 246,660 users.
This module has strengthened public engagement and built community capacity by combining face-to-face outreach with digital tools. It also improves public understanding of wildlife protection and encourages participation. These efforts directly support GBF Targets 20 (capacity-building) and 21 (public awareness and education).

All data from drones and infrared cameras is transmitted to an early warning platform in real time. The system automatically matches location information and generates warning messages, which are sent to end-users through apps, WeChat, text messages, and phone calls. This ensures that residents can respond quickly and stay safe. To date, over 130,000 warnings have been issued.
The platform improves access to information, especially for rural and vulnerable communities. This inclusive communication system fulfills GBF Target 21 by enhancing public access to biodiversity-related information and strengthening the community’s ability to respond to human-wildlife risks.

The infrared system collects a large number of images daily, including many that are unrelated to elephants. With AI technology, the system has learned to automatically identify and filter out non-elephant images with over 99% accuracy, even detecting partial figures or shadows. Warnings are generated within 13–15 seconds through a fully automated process, reducing the need for manual review and enhancing the efficiency of elephant management.
So far, the system has captured over 3 million images and issued more than 12,000 automated warnings. All data is uploaded in real time to a centralized platform and shared with relevant agencies for research, management, and decision-making. This contributes to GBF Target 20 by promoting knowledge systems, technology, and innovation in biodiversity protection.

Our modular drones are designed for accessibility, adaptability, and sustainability. Initially crafted using wooden components with fewer than six screws and zip ties, they are simple to assemble, repair, and replicate using local materials, empowering communities to lead restoration projects independently.

As we’ve advanced, we’ve integrated hydrogen fuel cells and hybrid-electric propulsion systems, enhancing flight endurance, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability. These innovations enable drones to cover larger areas and operate in remote environments while reducing their carbon footprint.

The modular design ensures flexibility for continuous adaptation, allowing communities to upgrade drones with tools like cameras or sensors for monitoring. This approach combines simplicity and cutting-edge innovation, bridging grassroots empowerment with scalable, impactful environmental restoration.

Under the application of the trap for intermittent harvest, the best results were achieved with the following combination of variables: maize bran (supplementary feed) x maize bran (trap bait) x O. Shiranus (species) x 2 fish/m2 (stocking density).

The total yields under this combination were 25 percent higher than in the control group with single batch harvest. A higher stocking density (3 fish/ m2) led to a slightly higher total harvest in the control group, but to a lower net profit. The use of pellets reinforced both effects and was the least economical.

Results from the on-farm trials (see Figure 1) have demonstrated the functionality and the excellent catch effect of the traps. Over the three-month on-farm trial period, the trap was used 2 to 3 times a week and a total of 27 times. On average, around 120 small fish – an equivalent of 820 grams – were caught each intermittent harvest. With the use of the trap, all households reported that they now eat fish twice a week. Before that, fish consumption was between one and four times a month.

The benefits:

• Reducing the competition for oxygen and food among the fish in the pond and thus measurable increase in yield.
• Improved household consumption of small, nutritious fish and better cash flow.

Success factors:

• Traps are easy and inexpensive to build (USD 3).
• Traps are easy to use, also for women.
• Directly tangible added value thanks to easy and regular access to fish.

Examples from the field

Overall, the user experience of households engaged in the on-farm trials was very positive:

“As a family we are now able to eat fish twice and sometimes even three times a week as compared to the previous months without the technology when we ate fish only once per month.” (Doud Milambe)

“Catching fish is so simple using the fish trap and even women and children can use it.” (Jacqueline Jarasi)

“It is fast and effective compared with the hook and line method which I used to catch fish for home consumption that could take three to four hours but to catch only three fish and thus not enough for my household size.” (Hassan Jarasi)

• Involvement of the local community
• Responding to community needs 

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.