Encourage the generation of a chain that increases the commercial value of the guanaco fiber by linking the primary production sectors with the national and international textile sectors.

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.

-Meetings with representatives of national organizations to evaluate background, regulations, marketing, and support possibilities for wild guanaco management experiences.

-Meetings with selected fashion designers at the national (i.e Buenos Aires) or international (i.e Canada) scale, to generate a fair value chain and promote WFA experience.

-Value-added options will be identified at the national/international level through meetings with actors from the public and private sectors, to expand WFA as a “Based nature Solution".  

Wildlife camelid management actions began in the 80s, based on the philosophy of the "ICDPs", seeking to link biodiversity conservation with improving the life quality of life of local people. These projects, which initially focused on the vicuña, were based on the application of economic incentives to promote the use of wildlife. We prove that wild guanaco use could improve the numbers of those initiatives because of the wider distribution range of the species. In Argentina, the production of SAC fiber could easily double due to an increase in the number of sheared populations and an increase in the frequency of shearing. This would clearly lead to a change in the production paradigm in contrast to the current one. Guanaco fiber is amongst.The Cooperative decided to add value to the raw fiber in order to increase the value. By 2010, most of the projects had stopped due to difficulty in marketing guanaco fiber with a price of USD $40-60 per kilo. The "problem" is there are only two trade companies that buy raw fiber that is exported mainly to Italy and control the market prices. 

Module 5: Community Awareness and Early Warning Promotion

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).

  1. Villagers in elephant-affected areas have a strong need for personal safety.
  2. Monitoring staff conduct door-to-door outreach in local communities.
  1.  Continuous Training: Regular training sessions are essential, particularly for transient populations and vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and individuals with disabilities.
  2. Impact of Targeted Warnings: Precise delivery of early warning messages via phone calls and SMS has significantly influenced community residents’ ability to take timely protective actions.
Module 4: Supporting Monitoring and Early Warning Platform

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.

  1.  Automated Data Matching: The platform’s database features an automated matching function that ensures efficient and accurate early warnings.
  2. Comprehensive Distribution Channels: The use of various channels (mobile apps, SMS, phone calls) ensures the coverage of different community needs, catering to diverse user groups.
  1.  Platform Optimization: The database must be regularly optimized to maintain the speed and accuracy of early warning information matching.
  2. Multi-Channel Delivery: Expanding distribution methods, such as incorporating intelligent broadcasting, can significantly improve community residents’ reception and responsiveness to warnings.
Module 3: Optimization of Big Data and Intelligent Recognition System

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.

  1.  Advanced Artificial Intelligence Algorithms: The implementation of powerful AI algorithms ensures high-precision image recognition and efficient data processing.
  2. Unified Data Aggregation: Data from various regions is consolidated, supporting big data analysis and providing a foundation for long-term conservation planning and decision-making.
  1.  Algorithm Updates: The monitoring and recognition system requires regular algorithm updates to adapt to environmental changes and improve recognition accuracy.
  2. Efficient Database Management: A robust and efficient database management system is essential to ensure that data can be easily analyzed and utilized for conservation purposes.
Modular Drone Technology

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.

Results

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)

Methodology
  • Involvement of the local community
  • Responding to community needs 

The openness of the community to learn and adopt the toolkit.

The financial support for the project.

The effectiveness of the toolkit in deterring the wildlife from farms. 

Unlocking future impact: Funding and professional development

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. 

  • Support from donors who fund seed grants
  • Ongoing dedication and investment of trainers and mentors
  • Students are required to submit two updates and a financial report for their grant. Ensuring follow-up on these submissions requires dedicated effort and engagement from the core team 
  • Students have reported that being able to list the seed funding received through our program on their CVs has helped them secure additional funding opportunities in the future.
Focusing on hands-on engagement

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.

  • Access to technology tools at host institution for practical use 
  • Opportunities for students to trial and test tools themselves
  • Experience instructors to provide guidance and support 
  • When paired with supporting background information, we have found these hands-on experiences to be more impactful than traditional lectures or merely observing technology in use 
  • Providing opportunities to engage with the entire lifecycle of a technology (e.g., from set up and deployment to data collection and analysis) better prepares students for using these technologies in their own projects
Strengthening early career potential

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.

  • Strong networks with local academic institutions and regional NGOs help us attract a large pool of qualified applicants (~200 applications per year)
  • Tailored educational materials that align with the needs of early-career participants
  • Community of same-stage participants form strong and enduring connections 
  • Initially, we included participants at various career stages, but we found that older, more experienced individuals have different needs and require a distinct program tailored to their experience level
  • Our entry-level training materials were less useful for women with more experience in the field