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Anti-poaching team

Figure 1. Annual patrol coverage of Pu Mat National Park between 2020-2021 recorded by SMART mobile.

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Figure 2. Effectiveness comparison of anti-poaching team members and forest rangers Pu Mat National Park, Nghe An, Vietnam.

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Anti-poaching (AP) teams are hired and funded under Save Vietnam's Wildlife, and approved by protected area managers where they sign a joint contract between the two. They undergo approximately one month of training in Vietnamese forestry law, species identification, self-defense, field training, first aid, and using SMART.

AP patrols stay with forest rangers for 15-20 days of patrolling at various ranger stations each month, and an assigned Data Manager typically processes, cleans, analyzes and reports SMART data for all patrols to the park director and SVW coordinators. At the beginning of each month, a SMART report is generated by the data manager; based on the intelligence from this report, a patrol plan will be discussed with the ranger and anti-poaching members, and then submitted to the protected area director for approval; mobile units are on standby and led by forest rangers to rapidly respond to any emergencies, locations outside of planned patrol areas, or situations accessible by road.

Rangers were trained to use SMART mobile through vertical knowledge transfer in the field, and by the end of 2020, 100% of the forest rangers (73 people) were all effectively using SMART, increasing patrol data coverage across the entire protected area (Figure 1).

Collaboration between NGO-based law enforcement assistants (the SVW anti-poaching team) and protected area managers and forest rangers
Willingness for forest rangers with senior status and position to take advice and adaptive direction from newly trained younger staff
Willingness for rangers and anti-poaching team members to adapt to new technologies and operational systems to achieve a shared goal.

We have learned through the patrol observations, local information, and data trends that there are primary periods of poaching activity in the park which correspond to bamboo/honey harvesting seasons and months proximal to Tet holiday (Lunar New Year), whereby locals have a high demand for wild meat as a special gift to family and friends.
When directly compared, joint patrols with rangers and anti-poaching team members were shown to be substantially more effective than ranger-only patrols in terms of illegal activity documented and mitigated. This is probably due to the effectiveness of SMART data collection (Figure 2).
Since anti-poaching members are not government employees like rangers, they do not have the power to make arrests, when necessary, therefore patrols with only anti-poaching members are only able to document but not mitigate active human threats to wildlife.

Documentation and dissemination of results

Review phase

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Assisting the Community: Alternative Livelihood Measures

Preparing soil for Ginger plantation

yes

With the forest left undisturbed, forest-dependent communities have few options for their livelihood sustenance. Therefore, the LEMSACHENLOK Society started to introduce alternative livelihood measures for the economically downtrodden. Income generation activities such as piggery promotion, ginger plantation, packaging and sale of certain products are initiated on our own small scale.

Acceptance of one’s specific role in a community-initiated work. We needed to prepare for possible livelihood alternatives, even including contributions from our own organisation. The Society’s management team had extended economic assistance by integrating income generation activities.

Global communities should recognize the indigenous communities that are involved in nature conservation, and facilitate to empower them to be an agent of change towards creating a healthy sustainable environment.

Construction of Innovative Watch Tower

Construction of Innovative watch tower at YCBCA

yes

For many years, the Biodiversity Conservation initiative created a favourable environment and healthy ecosystem in the area. As a result, the migrating Amur falcons saw the area as a haven for roosting. The communities continue to provide a suitable environment for these visiting raptors. With many tourists visiting to see the Amur falcon roosting, the community constructed an innovative wildlife Watch Tower in strategic locations to provide a beautiful view of the roosting falcons.

A Community willing to learn and accept ideas relevant to the present context and at the same time also voluntarily contribute their own resources and time whenever necessary.

Working together as a community can be a learning experience and many great things can be achieved through teamwork with limited available resources.

Sensitization, Capacity Building and Field Survey for Data Collection and Monitoring

Documentation of species diversity

yes

Data collection and Monitoring

yes

Lack of awareness due to poor sensitization is often the main reason for little understanding of environmental issues. Sharing proper information supported by valid scientific/practical proof will convince communities that are unfortunately less educated, economically deprived and directly forest dependent. Equip them not only with true information but also with tools such as camera trapping, and support for species identification and naming. Such an approach will develop a sense of belonging and inculcate ownership of the cause/purpose.

Realization of the need for a common cause at the local level with broader implications.

To make a connection with nature and the environment, our activities - wherever possible - are carried out in close association with nature. Seminars and other capacity building activities can be conducted in the jungle to create a real-time experience in nature and connect with its rich floral and faunal resources.

Documentation and dissemination of results

Convergence of Village Level Institutions

Each village is known to have a distinct set of rules and functions for social coexistence. The village community is composed of various groups that function independently to manage certain areas for their welfare in the community. However, for a common cause such as Biodiversity Conservation initiatives, these various institutions can be converged and function as a single entity.

A community willing to learn and accept ideas relevant to promote sustainability growth.
Building a good relationship with the community.
A genuine intention of the working members to contribute to a global cause.

It is possible to make things happen if there is a genuine intention.

Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment through Traditional Knowledge

Gaining of knowledge from the elders

yes

One of the keys to identifying habitat loss is through traditional means. During the olden days, the naming of any species happened due to its presence/sightings. But presently, most of the species that have local names are not found in the wild. One of the reasons could be that their numbers are declining or may even have become extinct. Therefore, through the approach of traditional knowledge, species availability and vulnerability assessments can be made.

Elders have an indispensable role in the community. For generations, they have been the source of wisdom and knowledge of various traditions and cultural practices, including those associated with nature. Using such traditional wisdom is an essential asset for many issues that often pave the way for possible interventions. Thus, building a good rapport with the elders, and creating a space for sharing and learning with them, is one of the strengths of the process.

The elders are old but wise; make friends with them and gain knowledge.
Relying only on theoretical knowledge is not sufficient. Therefore, strolling around the jungle with the elders and listening to various sounds of birds and animals has more practical relevance and creates bonding with nature.

Basic digital skills and storytelling training

Basic training on the use of technology.

Creativity and narrative building skills.

Storytelling skills.

Digital media skills.

Video editing skills in software.

Active participation of local youths

Capacity building

Importance of local food systems documentation

Folklore and its significance in our communities

Strengthening of culture and identity is required

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Knowledge exchange, documentation and catalogue

Transmission of knowledge from elders to youths.
Local food plants are documented among youths to increase awareness about the rich biodiversity.
Through documentation, catalogues can be developed in the form of ABD books and recipe books.

Access to technology for documentation.
Strong social media presence for dissemination of information for such activities.
Interactive stories.
Podcast.
Youth seminars and workshops.

Capacity development
Knowledge for investment
Policy support

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Visit to different Food Production Systems

During the Agrobiodiversity (ABD) Walks, youths are taken to nearby biodiversity hotspots within the community. During the ABD walks, the youths and local knowledge holders collect and identify a number of species and wild food plants that make their local food production system.

One local knowledge holder from the community is involved in facilitating these visits in the food production system.
The knowledge holder identifies particular species found in the food production system.
The process is being recorded and stored in archives for future references among the youths in the community.

The youths are required to imbibe this knowledge to understand on how to further enhance our local food production systems.
There is a need to expand local youth networks to strengthen such activities.
Within the youth network there should be capacity building within the framework of such field visits for media documentation.
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials can also be one of the major contributions towards growth and development of interest within the urban youths that can be propagated via different social media channels and field visits.

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Video Documentation skills

Training on various phases of videography is important and is the foundation. Here, training sessions with various modules keeping in mind the importance of local communities’ documentation is needed. Basic skills on the various phases of filmmaking such as story boarding, script writing, shooting and video editing are important for setting the foundation.

1. Experts on the various phases of videography to impart training.

2. Access to equipment.

3. Identification of potential yet passionate implementors who can be trained.

4. Access to stories that cover diverse topics related to culture and biodiversity, such as, indigenous peoples' food systems, traditional songs, traditional knowledge and many more.

5. Sense of ownership among the community youth who will be creating these videos.

Passionate youth from communities have the most potential. They are willing to learn to their full capacities.

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