Launched the special black bear survey

 The Houhe NNR applied for financial support through multiple channels, and the black bear survey project secured 300,000 yuan from the "Green Mountains Public Welfare Nature Conservation Initiative" fund. Subsequently, scientific staff from the Houhe NNR selected 20 high-frequency black bear occurrence sites to deploy infrared camera traps, installing three infrared cameras at each trap point to capture individual identification markers of black bears. Simultaneously, they collected bear feces, hair, and other trace information to assist in population analysis. Using infrared camera traps, they identified and marked a portion of captured individuals, estimated the black bear population size in Houhe via mark-recapture methods, and concurrently conducted surveys through semi-structured interviews, completing a total of 193 questionnaires.

1.Sufficient funding ensured carrying out team investigations, study tours, and fieldwork;
2.Invited relevant experts from the Chinese Academy of Forestry's Forest Ecology and Environment Institute for on-site guidance, enabling reserve researchers to master relatively mature survey and research techniques and methods;
3.An enthusiastic research team ensured the effectiveness of the work;
4.Full cooperation from community residents who truthfully provided feedback completed the questionnaire surveys;
5.The black bear species possesses distinctive traits – the V-shaped chest patch can serve as an identification feature for individuals.

1.Invited community residents familiar with mountainous terrain to participate in fieldwork, and conducted initial technical training for field staff at the project's outset;
2.During the preparatory phase, utilized monitoring data from past years for preliminary analysis, laying the foundation for subsequent field deployment planning;
3.Community survey sample size and representativeness were limited—193 questionnaires could reflect some issues, but coverage of more villages and diverse stakeholder groups (farmers, tourism practitioners, conservation staff) would yield more comprehensive data;
4.Integration of multi-year monitoring data and long-term monitoring mechanisms need improvement; current data primarily supports short-term research; recommends establishing a black bear population dynamics database, combining GIS technology to analyze human-bear conflict hotspots, providing basis for long-term conservation.

Tourism with an awareness approach

Tourists the visit the different nesting beaches had the opportunity to see the nesting process of sea turtles, as well as witness the release of sea turtles first-hand. These experiences were accompanied by educational information, including the species conservation status, the time of release (at dusk since that is when there are fewer predators in the water), and the importance of nesting beaches.

 

During the newborn turtle’s releases, hotel guests were invited to watch the journey of the baby turtles from the dune to the sea. This activity was highly appreciated and was very popular, and the participation of the security team and ropes was essential to maintain order among the people and the safety of the baby turtles. As a reference for its potential economic impactfor the hotel, considering it as a recreational activity, an estimated 150 people participated in each release. 

Enabling factors

Raising awareness among tourists is essential to strengthen conservation processes and to generate conscious communities in the future. Responsible tourists can act as advocates for protecting sea turtles andin turn, helps inspire interest among future travellers who seek meaningful experiences connected to conservation

 Lessons learned  

Public-private partnerships, understood as cooperation between companies and institutions (public or special), allow the structuring of competitive and sustainable advantages where both are benefited and are the undisputed way to achieve the SDGs.

Awareness and Sustainable Livelihoods

Thoughout the whole process, launch clean energy awareness campaigns, produce educational materials, and promote synergies with focus on sustainable businesses to support Community Scouts and enhance community wellbeing.

Regular Patrols and Protection

Coordinate joint patrols between Community Scouts and relevant departments (DNPW/DF) to monitor and safeguard the forest consistently.

Volunteer Mobilization

Support communities to identify and organize volunteers committed to protecting the forest and catchment areas. Close collaboration with local authorities and local governmental structures such as the Department of National Parks and Wildlife or Department of Forestry (DNPW/DF).

Community Consultation

Assess how many GVHs are located in the critical areas. Visit the local authorities to listen to their needs, concerns, and ideas for sustainable livelihoods linked to forest conservation.

Assess the Area and Engage Stakeholders

Identify the mountain’s location, natural and human challenges, and its economic potential (e.g., tourism). Engage existing partners working on the mountain and collaborate to secure funding.

Multi-pronged capacity building efforts is essential for sustain the interest of fishers to effectively utilize and take the Fisher Friend Mobile Application (FFMA) forward.

The adoption of FFMA among fishers through awareness and capacity building using multi-pronged strategies like awareness campaigns at the village level, conducting mass campaigns at the harbour level, promoting community level fisher friend ambassadors and master fishers for peer to peer learning, announcing top users for every month and audio and video visuals to spread the importance of FFMA in day to day fishing activities etc. All these positivly reflect on the adoption of FFMA. 

 

Training fishers on using smartphones and navigating the app ensures they can fully leverage its features.
Capacity building enables fishers to understand and apply the information provided by FFMA, such as weather forecasts, market trends, and fishing advisories.
When fishers are confident in using FFMA, they are more likely to adopt and regularly use the features they want in the application.
By understanding how to use FFMA, fishers can make informed decisions about fishing operations, safety, and market engagement. Capacity building empowers fishers to troubleshoot issues, provide feedback, and contribute to the application's ongoing development and improvement.

 

By investing in capacity building, fishers can maximize the benefits of FFMA, leading to improved livelihoods, safety, and sustainability in the fishing 

Edge AI + LoRaWAN Infrastructure

NOARKTECH’s WildGuard AI uses on-device Edge AI models and LoRaWAN communication to process data locally and transmit alerts even in low-connectivity regions. This low-power, scalable network allows instant wildfire detection, animal tracking, and real-time environmental monitoring.

  • Flexible integration of open-source LoRaWAN technology and compact AI models
  • Low latency communication ensures rapid response in emergencies
  • Collaboration with embedded system experts for optimized hardware-software synergy
  • Local capacity building ensures long-term reliability and system maintenance
  • Intelligent alert routing and data filtering are essential to avoid signal noise
  • Redundant communication strategies strengthen system resilience
WildGuard AI Sensor Ecosystem (Bio-Acoustic + Chemical + Climate Sensing)

NOARKTECH’s WildGuard AI integrates bio-acoustic microphones, air quality sensors (CO, VOC), and hyperlocal climate monitors to detect wildlife movement, forest fires, and ecological disturbances. This system enables real-time environmental intelligence for conservation, climate resilience, and human-wildlife conflict prevention.

  • Deployment of rugged, energy-efficient sensors suited for field conditions
  • Scientific validation in collaboration with academic and environmental institutions
  • Pilot deployments across Western Ghats and Northeast India
  • Sensor effectiveness improves with community-informed placement strategies
  • Continuous environmental calibration enhances precision over time
  • Environmental durability must be prioritized during design and testing phases