Implementation | PANORAMA

Impact brief on DryDev's women's economic empowerment

Subnational

Impact brief on DryDev's water management

Hardscapes: Constructed Landscaping Elements

Fountain

@ Flora Green Fields

Gazebo structures

@ Flora Green Fields

Jogging tracks view

@ Flora Green Fields

Jogging tracks & sitting areas

@ Flora Green Fields

New campus entrance & fountain areas

@ Flora Green Fields

Parking_fountain_areas

@ Flora Green Fields

water_fountains_sitting_areas_jogging_tracks

@ Flora Green Fields

The hardscapes consist of coloured gravels, gazebo structures, barbeque facilities, water fountains, jogging tracks and sports areas. Multi-factors were considered to minimize the landscaping requirements (e.g., irrigation and maintenance) and costs, while creating multi-functional areas that add value to the site (e.g., sports, barbeque, meditation, recreational areas, sitting & walking areas).

The design should maintain a balance between softscapes and hardscapes in order to achieve the desired level of greenery while minimising costs. Also, the design should make good use of the landscape to enhance the functionality of the landscaping area.

There is a real need to use hardscapes in landscapes located in arid regions to reduce dependency on cultivated softscapes & their related requirements (watering, maintenance & costs), while creating interesting features & functional areas in the landscape. One of the key lessons learned is, while planning for a landscape in the desert region, try to best construct & implement hardscaping components (e.g., mulch, colored stones, gazebo, barbeque areas, recycled water fountain) to enrich the diversity & functionality of the established sustainable landscape, while reducing the irrigation water needs, maintainance & total costs. What mostly make sense to the landscapes' visitors is the the general overview of landscape & how it's interesting to the eye, while creating functional areas, & not necessaarly the big number of cultivated plants is the only significant factor to establish a landscape. Thus, best use both hardscapes & softscapes together & alternatly to create a sustainable interesting landscape in arid lands

Collection of Videos for softscapes cultivation/transplanting

Accessing the voluntary carbon market.

Green Petfood staff support the Ntakata Mountains Project

Green Petfood

Access to the voluntary carbon market provides unconditional finance allowing the communities to earn revenue from the protection of their natural resources. Earned revenue results in increased ownership over the project and empowers forest communities to determine how that revenue will best be spent to improve forest protection activities and enhance community development in a way the serves the entire community.

Carbon Tanzania is the project developer who connects the forest communities to the international voluntary carbon market by sourcing clients, organizing verification and registering the certified carbon credits on the respective environmental registries.

For carbon credits to be sold on the international voluntary carbon market they must first be verified by an international third-party certification standard. The Ntakata Mountains project is certified by VERRA’s VCS and CCBA standard.

Access to market must also be established. Carbon Tanzania has an established network within the voluntary carbon market enabling the sale of the certified carbon credits.

Clients purchasing carbon credits need to have genuine carbon reduction strategies to uphold the legitimacy of the project generating the certified carbon credits.

Most clients will also have their own certification and CSR requirements that can determine which certification standard they need their credits to be verified by.

Josera pet food supports the Ntakata Mountains Project

Global

Who buys carbon credits

A results-based payments for conservation system measured and monitored using a REDD (avoided deforestation) project methodology.

Village Game Scout patrolling the forest

Carbon Tanzania

Carbon baseline survey conducted in the Ntakata Mountains

Carbon Tanzania

REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) projects can link sustainable management of biodiverse forests to economic and livelihood improvements. Using the REDD monitoring framework and methodology for carbon accounting, the forest communities of the Ntakata Mountains are empowered to earn carbon revenues through achieving reduced deforestation rates in the wildlife-rich forests of western Tanzania.

Once a REDD project has been developed and verified it must undergo regular certification to prove that deforestation has reduced and that the resulting carbon credits are real, measurable, permanent and additional. Without certification the carbon credits cannot be sold, putting an end to this revenue stream.

Ownership of the project by the forest communities conducting the forest protection activities is critical to the success of the results-based REDD project.

A team dedicated to the lengthy development and certification process of the REDD project and commitment from the forest communities to uphold their responsibilities for the duration of the contract is fundamental to the success of the project.

Transparency and mutual accountability between project developer and the communities is imperative throughout the development of the project and throughout the execution of project activities.

VCS REDD methodology document

Explanation of REDD

Overview of Carbon Tanzania's approach to REDD

Collaboration with landscape partners including Village and District governments, TNC and Pathfinder International (Tuungane).

Meeting between Tuungane, Carbon Tanzania and Village official

Carbon Tanzania

Mpanda District Meeting

Carbon Tanzania

Collaborating and co-operating with local governments and organisations who share a common vision and common goals, yields enhanced results with greater efficiency, both in terms of resources used and funds deployed.

The first step is to identify partners with common goals but with varying strengths to achieve enhanced results. Time then needs to be taken to meet regularly, whereby relationships are developed and nurtured, to gain a deeper understanding of individual needs and to review and update procedures to ensure resources are shared and that strengths are being maximized.

A shared understanding of the importance of forest community land rights, the development and promotion of good governance, and respect for community development priorities is critical for successful collaboration.

The process of collaborating with landscape partners and local government institutions demands a long term approach in order to build genuine trust and mutual understanding. Our relationships with our local partners have generally been positive and mutually beneficial, but we have learned that continued efforts need to be made to ensure that alignment of goals and values is maintained across institutions as it can be challenging for new personnel in the respective organisations to immediately embrace the historical relationships between partners.

Signed MOU between Tuungane & Carbon Tanzania

Partnerships

Partnerships in the Ntakata Mountains

Rangers remove the carcass and deal with poisoning

Once the ranger arrives on site, he has to prepare to remove the carcass from the field usually by calling for the INPA field truck.
If there are injured animals on site these have to receive first-aid and veterinary care quickly.
If the carcass is laced with poison it has be secured to prevent access by more animals.
The site has be searched for more animals further away.
The entire site has to be treated also as a crime scene so investigative and forensic evidence is maintained and then collected carefully.

Proper training or protocols for dealing with poisoning events
Proper radio or telephone system for all areas.
Tractor or 4X4 vehicle capable of removing animal carcass from the field
Veterinarians on-call in all areas to receive poisoned animals

Important to have proper training and practive of protocols for dealing with poisoning events.

National

System links to Telegram app for sending alerts to relevant rangers

After the algorithms determine that an alert is needed, it sends out an alert only to nearby on-call rangers via the Telegram app on their smartphones.

integration of alert system with real-time ranger position and ranger's on-call status (active or off-duty)
integration with Telegram system
Integration with Waze or other GPS-based driving solution app

Telegram is best for sending alerts.

Focusing alerts nly to relevent rangers reduces unnecessary false alarms and improves effcieny of real responses.

National

Algorithms for likelihood of carcass and need for alert

Specific algorithms process the GPS data on position, altitude, speed and temperature and consider all zonation as poisoning-prone areas (based on land use for grazing and previous events) to determine if alert is necessary.

Algorithms need to rule out vulture descending onto a cliff or nest, and to include only descent onto areas where carcass likelihood is highest (based on ground inclination).

Algorithm calculates slope of the land at point of descent and adds this to the poisoning likelihood determination.

need excellent detailed GIS data of ground features and topography
need lots of data of previous poisoning events
need data on land use (for rangeland or crops)

High resolution topgraphy layers are very important to rule out vultures landing on unlikely sites

National

Softscapes: Indigenous Plants

dr_suzan_shahin_irrigating_first_cultivated_tree_date_palm_phoenix_dactylifera_umm_al_quwain_university_new_campus.jpg | Image

@Dr. Suzan Shahin

Ziziphus_spina-christi_right_side_vachellia_nilotica_left_side_Brought to the site for transplanting

@Dr. Suzan Shahin

Example of the softscapes (trees) cultivated

@Dr. Suzan Shahin

cultivated_vachellia_nilotica_umm_al_quwain_university_new_campus

@Dr. Suzan Shahin

dr_suzan_shahin_irrigating_cultivated_Vachellia_nilotica_umm_al_quwain_university_new_campus.jpg | Image

@Dr. Suzan Shahin

Calotropis_procera_new_campus_of_umm_al_quwain_university.jpg

@Dr. Suzan Shahin

Ziziphus_spina-christi_new_camus_umm_al_quwain_university

@Dr. Suzan Shahin

dr_suzan_shahin_follow_up_visit_cultivation_site_new_campus_umm_al_quwain_university

@Dr. Suzan Shahin

The softscapes include indigenous species of trees, shrubs, & groundcovers. Around 19 indigenous plant species are used in the project. Multi-factors were considered to minimize the landscaping requirements (e.g., irrigation, maintenance and costs) while conserving native biodiversity, generating cultural and sustainability benefits, and strengthening climate resilience. This initiative is intended to inspire decision-makers and other landscaping projects in arid lands to take a similar approach.

References related to native plants, and updates on their status.
Native plants suppliers and germplasm conservation of the native species.
Expertise related to native plants, their sustainable use and propagation.
Cultural awareness on the importance of utilizing native plants and enhanced public appreciation of their desert features, shapes and colours.

Value of native plants and the necessity to raise social awareness on their benefits
The need to employ scientific knowledge for the implementation of real projects
There is an opportunity to achieve long-lasting beauty of the landscape by cultivating native plants while minimizing costs and resource inputs (e.g., irrigation, maintenance and fertilization)
Native plants offer authenticity and traditional cultural values
By planting indigenous species of plants, one can foster rich native biodiversity. This can be done by germplasm conservation, propagation & natural restoration. This can significanlty reduce the severity of the desertification & extensive urbanazation activities.