Processing of Numerous Infrared Images Driven by AI Species Recognition

The Mini Program, with AI intelligent recognition as the underlying technology and endangered species as the core targets for recognition, trains a large biodiversity recognition model capable of monitoring such systems as mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands and sandy lands. This recognition model features a powerful “engine” – Species Eye. As the fundamental and general model of “Wildlife Friends”, it is primarily characterized by strong learning capability, that is, multimodal recognition based on no or a few samples. It indicates that it can rapidly recognize the location and species information of multiple wild animals based on a few samples. For instance, it may take thousands of photos to be captured and days’ training for a traditional model to recognize a new species, but Species Eye can complete such mission quickly through a small number of photos, as well as trainings and iterations. In addition, it boasts a high extent of tolerance. It is no longer limited to the training and prediction for specific species with a powerful capability of open vocabulary identification and zero-sample recognition, and is able to accurately recognize and locate species without trained data. For instance, traditional models can merely recognize species based on trained data, such as tiger and antelope; while this new model can discriminate snow leopard and fox at the same time even without trained data of those two wild animals before. Another advantage of “Species Eye” is lower costs. Common AI models rely heavily on high-performance accelerator cards, which cause a high cost in hardware environment and its maintenance.

The underlying technology of this mini program is advanced and complex. Firstly, it has a powerful storage function that can store over 100 million infrared camera-taken photos provided by social institutions. 

WeChat Mini Program Development

WeChat Mini Program is an application accessible without download, near at your fingertips just by scanning or searching. It is very simple to design a mini program, as a mini program development environment and developer ecosystem has been established in nearly two years. WeChat Mini Program is also an innovative achievement which genuinely influences general programmers in China’s IT industry for it involves over 1.5 million developers in its development together with WeChat. Its number has exceeded 1 million, encompassing more than 200 subdivided sectors and accommodating 200 million daily-active users.

1. Use without download: Users can open the mini program by scanning the QR code or searching in no need of download, which saves the storage space for mobile devices and lowers the usage threshold; they can quickly visit the mini program directly through WeChat to meet their temporary usage demands.

2. Low development costs and short cycle: The mini program sets a low technical standard and causes a small learning cost to developers based on front-end technology stacks (HTML/CSS/JS); and is compatible among various platforms and supports iOS and Android after development, which saves human labor and time costs.

3. Powerful traffic inlet and social fission: WeChat boasts 1.3 billion monthly-active users so it is easy to cultivate a sound user base. It supports the sharing channels to chat boxes, Moments, official accounts, and Search. Social dissemination, through sharing, group buying, and bargaining, can rapidly multiply and is suitable for marketing activities.

Wildlife Friends is a mini program on WeChat. As a lightweight application, it boasts the following apparent advantages suitable for quick access for users and enhancement of their use experience: Use without download: Users can open the mini program by scanning the QR code or searching in no need of download, which saves the storage space for mobile devices and lowers the usage threshold; they can quickly visit the mini program directly through WeChat to meet their temporary usage demands.

 

Talent cultivation and inheritance

The Engineers’ Association has established a generational mentoring model, including the Junior Engineer Program, to enhance regional scientific and technological awareness and ensure the long-term sustainability of agroforestry knowledge.

  • For over 26 years of experience, the Association has trained numerous technical experts and developed a successful talent cultivation model in Baisha Village and beyond.
  • Collaboration with universities and research institutions has strengthened knowledge exchange and capacity building.
  • The Junior Engineer Program, launched in local schools, fosters early awareness of sustainable forestry, ensuring future generations are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge.
  • Human resources are key to the long-term sustainability of agroforestry development.
Community participation in collaborative development

A network of community partnerships fostered to promote collective growth, with a focus on encouraging female entrepreneurship.

  • Lin’an has developed a robust network of partnerships, offering one-stop services for organic farming and e-commerce marketing, promoting a culture of collaboration that benefits the entire community.
  • Female participation in bamboo shoot and hickory nut processing has deep roots in Lin’an. The rise of e-commerce has empowered many women to establish their own brands, leveraging their skills and personal competencies. Supported by government initiatives that encourage female entrepreneurship, a growing number of women are emerging as business leaders in Lin’an, setting an example for others in their communities.
  • Create effective community cooperation mechanisms to encourage participation in sustainable farming and collaborative production and marketing models.
  • Use community and e-commerce platforms to facilitate information exchange, improving market transparency and efficiency.
E-commerce branding

The regional public branding helps promote Lin'an's unique agricultural products via e-commerce platforms, build branded products, and enhance product value by setting group standards.

  • The Lin'an Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs launched the "Tian Mu Shan Bao (Teasures of the Tianmu Mountains)", the regional public brand, strictly reviewing local sustainable sub-brands, ensuring quality and market recognition.
  • The government supports e-commerce development, builds infrastructure like fresh bamboo shoot markets and logistics bases, and provides training and financial aid.
  • Use e-commerce data tools to target markets and create a brand that meets consumer demand.
  • Establish strict quality standards and traceability systems to build consumer trust.
. Reframing Relationships between Humans and the Earth: The "Anthropocene", a New Ideology to Justify the Status Quo?

Communication, advocacy, public policies, research and teaching programs take in account the general phenomenon in view of the transformation of the dominant paradigms of development, growth, wealth, power and freedom embedded at political, economic, educational and cultural levels. Earth’s regeneration and mankind’s regeneration, as faces of the same coin, are addressed simultaneously, for their mutual support, in view of all dimensions of being in the world, as they combine, as donors and recipients, to induce the events (deficits/assets), cope with consequences (desired/undesired) and contribute for change (potential outputs): intimate, interactive, social and biophysical. In the socio-cultural learning niches, heuristic-hermeneutic experiences could generate awareness, interpretation and understanding beyond established stereotypes, from a thematic (“what” is at stake), an epistemic (“how” to understand and define the events) and a strategic (who, when, where) point of view. 

According the recommendations of the Earth System Governance Project, it is necessary to explore the following questions: How to assess the institutional, political and social context in view of comparative research and meta-analyses to reveal general patterns and trends that vary by context? What are the research topics and questions where the accumulation of knowledge would be particularly fruitful in terms of scientific progress and/or impact on policy and governance? What comparative research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses exist? Which research results are in fact (not) taken up by policy makers, and why (not)? How to develop and use a basic terminology that is widely shared, but nevertheless open to reinterpretations and new concepts? How to coordinate collaborations such as common dictionaries or shared databases? How might the Science-Policy Interface community influence the policies of journals and funding agencies ? How to deal with communication, advocacy, public policies, research and teaching programs in view of research integrity?

Relevant questions regarding knowledge collaborations:

   Beyond Traditional Boundaries: Participatory science projects that cross disciplinary boundaries, leading to more holistic and innovative research. 

   Braiding Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science: Projects that build and reflect different knowledge traditions for deeper understandings and respectful planning.

 

Addressing Global Challenges:

  Developing sustainable technologies, understanding climate patterns, and proposing mitigation strategies; improving disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention; or exploring alternative energy sources, efficient resource management, and sustainable agriculture.

   Expanding Basic Discoveries: Contributing to fundamental scientific advancement, in fields like health, physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, etc., or developing technological advancements that support scientific discovery.

 

Diversity and inclusion:

   Bridging the Gap: Efforts ensuring that projects are accessible to people from diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities and from marginalized communities.

   Community-Based and Boundary Organization Partnerships:Leveraging partnerships to bring project opportunities to new audiences.

 

 

Volunteer Engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility in Protected Areas

This building block focuses on harnessing the power of volunteerism and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to enhance the management of protected areas in Ecuador. By engaging both national and international volunteers and collaborating with tourism companies under CSR initiatives, the project leverages diverse skills and resources to support conservation efforts. These programs ensure the operational sustainability of these areas while providing volunteers with valuable experience and the opportunity to contribute to environmental stewardship in an uniquely beautiful country.

  • Strategic Partnerships with Tourism Companies: Establishing collaborations with tourism enterprises that view CSR as integral to their business model helps ensure ongoing support for conservation efforts. These partnerships often result in financial and in-kind contributions to the protected areas.
  • Structured Volunteer Programs: Developing well-organized volunteer programs that attract both local and international participants. These programs are designed to match the skills and interests of volunteers with the needs of the protected areas, such as monitoring biodiversity, environmental education, and infrastructure maintenance.
  • Promotion and Outreach: Effective marketing of volunteer opportunities and CSR programs to target demographics that are most likely to contribute positively to conservation efforts.
  • Commercial Alignment with Conservation Goals: Tourism companies benefit commercially from the well-maintained and biologically rich environments that attract tourists. Their involvement in CSR ensures that their business interests align with conservation objectives, creating a symbiotic relationship.
  • Skill Development for Volunteers: Volunteers gain significant skills and experiences that enhance their personal and professional growth. The practical experience gained in diverse conservation activities such as species monitoring and environmental education is invaluable.
  • Enhanced Conservation Impact: The energy and efforts of volunteers significantly strengthen the management of protected areas. The diverse tasks they perform, from scientific research to public engagement, amplify the overall conservation impact and ensure the sustainability of these initiatives.
  • Community and International Engagement: The inclusion of local communities and international participants in volunteer programs fosters a greater understanding of global conservation challenges and encourages a collaborative approach to solving environmental issues.
Effective Infrastructure Management in Protected Areas

Effective infrastructure management in Ecuador's protected areas has been essential for enhancing functionality and sustainability. This strategic approach has streamlined the alignment of various projects funded by different sources to improve construction, equipment, and maintenance of essential facilities. Key infrastructures such as high mountain shelters and community-managed souvenir shops have been pivotal in promoting sustainable livelihoods and supporting local initiatives.

  • Integrated Project Management: Leveraging funding from diverse donors and coordinating these efforts ensured that infrastructure projects were not only well-supported but also aligned with broader conservation goals.
  • Community Concessions and Engagement: Facilitating concession agreements with local communities for managing facilities like souvenir shops directly linked economic benefits to conservation efforts, ensuring community buy-in and support.
  • Capacity Building and Training: Providing essential training to local communities in managing concessions and maintaining infrastructure was crucial for the successful and sustainable management of these projects.
  • Infrastructure Maintenance Manual: The development of a comprehensive manual for the maintenance of infrastructure across various climates within SNAP has been a critical tool for standardizing maintenance practices and ensuring durability.
  • Management Models for High Mountain Shelters: Implementing tailored management models for high mountain shelters helped in maintaining these crucial facilities, which are vital for both safety and tourism.
  • Contract and Concession Definitions: Clearly defining the terms for contracts and concessions facilitated transparent and effective partnerships with local communities and businesses, ensuring that these agreements support long-term sustainability.
  • Support Mechanisms for Sustainability: Establishing robust support systems for community-led initiatives has enabled these projects to transition into concession-managed enterprises, enhancing their sustainability and economic viability.
  • Legal Framework for Long-Term Concessions: The creation of a solid legal framework for long-term concession agreements with expert firms has been instrumental in strengthening local economies by ensuring that businesses operating within protected areas contribute to conservation and community development.
Competitive Funding Mechanism for Community Initiatives

The competitive funding mechanism within the SNAP project has been a cornerstone in promoting sustainable community-led initiatives across protected areas in Ecuador. This strategic approach focused on diversifying income sources and transforming local challenges into tangible outcomes. By supporting projects related to ecotourism, restoration, reforestation, sustainable livestock farming, organic gardening, and sustainable fishing, the mechanism has improved the quality of life for local communities while enhancing the conservation of biodiversity.

  • Community Engagement: The active participation of local communities in designing and implementing projects ensured that the initiatives were well-aligned with local needs and conservation goals.
  • Diverse Funding Sources: Leveraging funds from various donors, including international grants and private sectors, provided the necessary financial support to kickstart and sustain these initiatives.
  • Training and Capacity Building: Providing communities with training in project management, sustainable practices, and financial literacy empowered them to successfully manage and expand their projects.
  • Economic Leverage: For every dollar invested in these community projects, more than double was leveraged through additional funding and in-kind contributions, demonstrating a high return on investment and the economic viability of conservation efforts.
  • Problem Transformation: By converting local challenges into opportunities, the projects not only addressed environmental and social issues but also fostered a sense of ownership and responsibility among local stakeholders.
  • Network Expansion: The success of the funded projects attracted more partners and fostered a wider network of conservation stewards, expanding the guardianship over protected areas and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Continuously provide agricultural and forestry technology training for farmers in Liziba, encourage and guide villagers to establish characteristic agricultural and forestry cooperatives

Based on the local natural resource conditions, Liziba Village vigorously develops economic forest industries such as walnuts and chestnuts, cultivates and processes tea, fungus, and edible mushrooms, cultivates traditional Chinese medicinal materials such as Tianma and Chonglou, and engages in beekeeping and chicken farming. Some farmers in Liziba Village spontaneously formed a tea cooperative, registered their own tea brand, and built an online trading platform through e-commerce, promoting the vigorous development of the green economy.  Targeted training was provided to village level management and maintenance personnel on fund management, mountain patrol and maintenance, responsibility implementation, safety education, etc., to enhance the villagers' ability and level of independent management and maintenance.                                                                                                 

Collaborate with local governments and organizations to promote community participation
Organize training to enhance villagers' ability and level of self-management and protection
Continuous guidance and follow-up support have achieved long-term imaging
Strong support from the government and forestry related units

Through the continuous efforts of the Protection Bureau and the Liziba community over the years, other villages and communities have been guided to innovate the management and protection mode of the Tianbao collective forest, mobilizing the enthusiasm of villagers. The management and protection measures have been continuously strengthened, resulting in an increase in the area of Tianbao state-owned forests and collective forests, a significant improvement in forest quality, and a dual growth of forest area and accumulation, with significant ecological benefits. The typical case of Liziba Village has been comprehensively implemented in various villages and communities. The people in the jurisdiction of Liziba have benefited from the management and protection of natural forest resources, changed their mindset, and their awareness of ecological protection has significantly increased. Illegal activities such as illegal logging, illegal transportation of timber, illegal purchase of timber, poaching of wild animals, and deforestation and land reclamation have been controlled. The phenomenon of active and spontaneous protection of forest resources, rescue of wild animals, and community patrols and monitoring has been increasing among the nine communities. The edge forest line of the experimental area has shifted from backward movement in the 1980s and 1990s to forward movement, and natural resources and ecological environment have been significantly improved, fully mobilizing the enthusiasm of villagers to love forests and protect forests.