Implementation | PANORAMA

Empowering Communities Through Sustainable Livelihoods and Equitable Access to Economic and Environmental Justice

Corruption in the forestry sector continues to undermine the rights & livelihoods of local & Indigenous communities. By institutionalising the use of ForestLink, we empower local communities beyond enforcement - the system has proven critical in tackling this corruption, enabling communities to document land rights violations & illegal activities, defend their territories & secure access to justice, whilst securing sustainable economic opportunities linked to forest resources.

Crucially, ForestLink supports sustainable economic activities & lays the groundwork for payment for environmental services by reinforcing community autonomy & stewardship of natural resources. Through partnerships with local organisations skilled in legal advocacy & sustainable enterprise, communities are supported to develop livelihoods aligned with forest protection. Key enabling factors include understanding current economic practices, ensuring financial support for legal actions & engaging in parallel advocacy to secure land rights.

By actively managing and defending their lands, communities reinforce their autonomy & contribute to long-term, locally driven development. The data collected through the tool also plays a crucial role in supporting access to justice - providing evidence for legal & non-legal actions when communities face human rights abuses or environmental crimes.

Understanding the communities’ current economic activities is essential
Financial means are necessary to support legal and administrative processes
Partnering with local organisations specialised in legal advocacy & sustainable business enhances impact
Parallel advocacy work to secure individual & collective land rights is critical

Awareness-raising on sustainable economic activities must involve all community groups, with targeted efforts for women & girls.
Trained staff in justice, law & sustainable economy fields are vital for success

Implementation

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Strengthening Multilevel Advocacy Networks Among NGOs to Amplify Collective Action

Using a digital tool to collect & analyse data is innovative, but real impact comes from applying that data to support advocacy & law enforcement for the protection of forests & local communities & Indigenous peoples’ rights. To this end, strong local, national & international advocacy networks are needed to take action against reported abuses & to achieve legal & policy changes. By enabling information to be shared between users & opening up data to the general public when consent has been given, the tool facilitates collaborative working for greater impact.

Collaborating with NGOs that share similar values & goals strengthens collective impact
Coordinated data verification & analysis supports timely, unified advocacy.
Partnering with local organisations specialising in legal advocacy enhances impact
Strong relationships with trusted national & international institutions help validate & promote the tool.

While building NGOs networks is important, it is also vital to respect when organisations choose not to collaborate. Supporting each local NGO individually - & avoiding competition - requires flexibility in project design & donor engagement.
To ensure networks’ sustainability, medium- & long-term funding is essential to keep coordination efforts running smoothly (secretariat costs etc.).
Support to local and national NGOs on organisational development is key to allow them to participate effectively in networks.

Implementation

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Co-Designing Solutions with Grassroots & Indigenous Partners: Strengthening Community-Led Action for Inclusive & Sustainable Development

The evidence is building that granting Indigenous peoples & other local communities' control over their territories improves forest protection, as they are directly invested in the survival of forests & want to ensure that future generations can continue to live & thrive in them. Yet a lot of development, environmental & climate-related programs are not created in collaboration with the people who will be impacted by them. Therefore, our solution arose from the challenges that grassroots organisations & Indigenous & local communities brought to our attention. Those communities are the ones living all the forests illegalities & land tenure violations. By directly tackling their challenge it ensures the solution to be genuine & efficient. Working with them directly helps us to better understand the contexts they are facing & adapt the tool in consequence.

Long-term, respectful partnerships with tool users & communities.
Adaptability to react to changing contexts & local needs
Adequate financial resources for operations & engagement’s sustainability

Prior research into local traditions, culture & socio-economic conditions improve tool relevance, acceptance & impact.
Trust & impact grows through deep listening, cultural sensitivity & respectful engagement.
Real impact comes from working with, not just for, Indigenous & locally led organisations. Additionally, it grows when working with local grassroots organisations & not only with national level NGOs.

Planning phase

Implementation

Documentation and dissemination of results

Inclusive Work Opportunity Facilitation

Contour Enviro Group further coordinate and create job opportunities for the MSMEs that have gone through the training programme so that they may practice their acquired skills. All of our MSMEs have acquired work since the inception of the programme and this has brought some sustainability on the model.

The MSMEs work opportunities to date through Contour Enviro Group who coordinates work opportunities in the sector.

The organisations that made this building block possible include but not limited to the following:

City of Cape Town
Cape Winelands Fire Protection Association
Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve
Conservancies

Once again, it was realised that their work is inundated with administrative work which they do mostly on books in field which often get lost. Thus the Grasshopper Project Management tool was developed in order to support them while they are working in field.

Conservation MSME Development Programme

MSME Field Teams

Contour Enviro

MSMEs in field

Contour Enviro Group

As mentioned in the previous sections, this programme is meant to achieve the following: “to develop, empower, support and professionalize Conservation MSMEs in the conservation sector in South Africa”.

The programme has trained over 20 MSMEs and created over 400 jobs annually since 2022 based on this programme. This programme is the main building block for the Grasshopper Project Management Tool as it was realised that the MSMEs need some support and a consolidation of their project management efforts, access to basic financial tools such as quoting and invoicing. Furthermore, to manage their assets etc.

The organisations that made the Programme successful have already been mentioned however they are listed below once again:

The Nature Conservancy- South Africa
The Table Mountain Fund
WWF-South Africa
Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Environment
Department of Small Business Development
Tourism and Conservation Sector Education and Training Authority

The focus of the programme is as follow:

Mentorship and coaching
Business support and development
Business, finance, and Human Resources training

MSMEs need to manage their projects efficiently.
The government partners already mentioned above need support to manage their alien vegetation teams and this solution will be a great tool to do so.
Resource wastage

MSME Development Programme YT Video

Baseline study that influenced the programme on behalf of ABI

Technical support and training

CCF is providing training for long-term sustainability, fostering ICT-driven green jobs

CCF

CCF provides a holistic digital ecosystem integrating landscape-scale technology, training and community engagement to drive meaningful change, contributing to GBF Target 20 – Strengthen Capacity-Building, Technology Transfer, and Scientific and Technical Cooperation for Biodiversity.

Launching in June 2025, the Protected Area Technician (PAT) Training Programme has been developed by CCF to empower local communities to protect nature.

This tailored programme is designed to build practical, in-demand skills that create real opportunities—from entry-level technician roles to long-term careers in leadership and consulting within protected areas. Co-developed with industry experts and rooted in local needs, the curriculum blends hands-on field training with applied conservation technology knowledge.

Participants will graduate with job-ready skills to support and maintain vital conservation tech infrastructure. They’ll also have the opportunity to earn a PAT Certification, with a pathway to a globally recognised Cisco Certification—unlocking even broader career potential in the conservation and tech sectors.

By investing in local talent, the PAT programme helps communities take a leading role in protecting the natural landscapes they call home.

Monitoring of impact will take place through the first cohort of learners, focusing on their career journeys and personal development outcomes

Centralising data for management and control

Earth ranger in use at the Mara-Serengeti Ecosystem

CCF

A visualisation platform for real-time protected area management, helping managers make informed, conservation-related operational decisions. A community of users is now sharing best practices and innovative concepts, engaging EarthRanger as it extends beyond just elephant protection to a diversity of wildlife, ecological and community applications.

CCF has a long-term partnership with the AI2 Team, which developed this software.

Data flows seamlessly from field-based hardware through the network into Earth Ranger
Diagnostic information is key to good support and maintenance.

Transporting data from the field to the operations room

Cisco LoRa gateways enable low-power, long range sensors

Madikwe Futures Company

From soil moisture and water levels to animal migrations and habitat health, data from sensors travels via Cisco LoRaWAN gateways and Actility’s ThingPark™ Platform to central operations rooms, where platforms like EarthRanger provide a comprehensive 360-degree view of ecosystem health and threats. Previously, these have been donated by Cisco Inc.
These LoRaWan gateways now support over 800 IoT sensors across protected areas.

When using LoRaWAN, data is transmitted wirelessly to a gateway. The gateway listens for the corresponding signals and transmits them to a LoRaWAN network server, which is connected to the Internet.
Deploying a LoRaWAN network is quicker and much more accessible than setting up a conventional cellular system.
Operation requires minimal infrastructure. Setting up cables and making connections to the power line is not required. Network design and optimisation are also simplified, as with one gateway, you can cover a larger area very effectively.

Reliable and long-term : The gateways are robust and come with a 7-year warranty, offering peace of mind and operational security for protected area managers working in harsh and remote conditions.
Unmatched coverage in rugged terrain: LoRaWAN technology continues to outperform alternatives in remote and rugged landscapes, providing extensive and reliable coverage across challenging terrain where cellular connectivity is limited or non-existent.
Seamless regional asset tracking: The system supports device roaming, allowing for uninterrupted tracking of assets across different regions without manual reconfiguration—an essential feature for mobile wildlife monitoring and conservation equipment.
Cost-effective: By leveraging low-cost, commodity-based hardware and integrating standard radio modules, LoRaWAN devices reduce overall deployment costs significantly. Compared to cellular or Wi-Fi-based solutions, this makes wide-area sensor networks more financially accessible for conservation teams.
A scalable and sustainable alternative: With its low power consumption, long range and minimal infrastructure needs, LoRaWAN provides a sustainable alternative to satellite communication. It enables real-time environmental monitoring in even the most isolated locations.
Widespread adoption for Conservation: Outside of this partnership, over 200 protected areas across the country are now using LoRaWAN to monitor vital resources like water, food, and habitat health. This growing adoption is helping secure a resilient future for wildlife, ecosystems, and the communities that depend on them.

Filtering data types and onward rooting

Actility LoRaWAN Things Park Network ServerThe network server connects sensors, gateways and end-user applications and ensures reliable and secure data routing all along the LoRaWAN network. Along with the Operation Support System (or OSS), they are the brain that controls the complete LoRaWAN network

Collects data from the LoRaWan Gateways and transports this data from field-based sensors onto Node Red, which sends data to Earth Ranger (a data visualisation software).
It can be self-managed through training.
It is easy to replicable.
It can be deployed on-premise or on the cloud

Today, Actility’s IoT network server supports 131 LoRaWAN gateways with CCF and nearly a thousand sensors across 35 community-led and private conservancies. These networks span iconic landscapes like the Masai Mara, Tsavo and Northern Rangelands of Kenya, forming a digital safety net across nearly 10 million hectares.

Government agencies, including the Kenya Wildlife Service and Uganda Wildlife Authority, have endorsed the LoRaWan approach for expansion across national parks and community lands.

https://www.actility.com/lorawan-network-server/

Strengthening community engagement and expert knowledge

Restoration Community Member

Plant-for-the-Planet Foundation

Top project badge

Plant-for-the-Planet Foundation

With our platform and tools, we not only provide opportunities to raise funds, simplify data collection for monitoring, and detect forest fires earlier to enable faster response, but also foster a sense of ownership for small grassroots projects tackling the globally critical issue of the climate crisis. Each project on our platform is encouraged to share its challenges and success stories with us and the broader community. This engagement happens through regular Community Talks or direct connections with other projects facing similar challenges, fostering meaningful discussions and facilitating valuable knowledge exchange at both local and regional levels.

Our project badges further enhance this sense of belonging, serving as both a symbol of community membership and an official seal of quality for potential supporters. Additionally, our free and confidential advisory service offers Restoration Organizations tailored guidance from our team of experts, empowering them to sustainably develop and improve their initiatives.

Active Community Engagement: Regular opportunities for interaction, such as Community Talks and peer connections, are essential for fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual support among projects.

Training and Support: Providing training and ongoing technical support to project implementers ensures they can maximize the tools' capabilities and interpret the data effectively.

Recognition and Validation: Tools like project badges that serve as symbols of quality and credibility are important for both community morale and attracting potential supporters.

Tailored Advisory Support: Offering accessible, expert-driven, and confidential guidance ensures projects can address their unique challenges and make sustainable improvements.

Accessible Technology and Tools: User-friendly, reliable tools for fundraising, monitoring, and early detection of challenges like forest fires are vital for grassroots projects to operate effectively and achieve their goals.

Global yet Local Focus: Balancing global relevance with local impact ensures that both the broad climate crisis and specific regional needs are addressed comprehensively.

Key Lessons Learned

Community Engagement Builds Long-Term Value
Regular interactions through Community Talks and direct peer connections foster a strong sense of belonging and shared purpose. Projects benefit greatly from knowledge exchange, but these forums require consistent facilitation to ensure meaningful participation.

Recognition Drives Motivation and Credibility
Project badges act as an effective tool to recognize and validate project quality, boosting morale among implementers and instilling confidence in donors. However, the criteria for earning badges must be transparent and consistently applied to maintain trust.

Support Must Be Tailored and Accessible
Free advisory services have proven invaluable for projects facing diverse challenges, especially grassroots initiatives with limited resources. However, ensuring adequate capacity within the advisory team to meet growing demand remains critical.

Challenges and Aspects That Did Not Work

Inconsistent Participation in Community Engagement
Not all projects actively participate in discussions or share their experiences, limiting the potential for mutual learning. Encouraging broader involvement remains a challenge.

Balancing Standardization with Flexibility
While project badges and standards provide structure, some grassroots projects felt constrained by rigid criteria that didn’t fully account for local contexts. Introducing adaptability within guidelines has been key.

Advice for Replication

Foster Inclusive Communities
Actively encourage participation in knowledge-sharing initiatives by highlighting benefits and providing incentives for engagement, such as showcasing success stories.

Invest in Scalable Support Structures
Build a robust advisory team and implement scalable processes to accommodate the diverse needs of a growing project community.

Implementation

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

Global