KAP research (Knowledge, Attitude, Perception)

The start of our information campaign was preceded by a survey among the communities in the project area. We used this approach to objectively assess the attitudes and use of local people's knowledge about the state of the forest, their understanding and perception of the consequences of the current environmental situation, and their willingness to change consciousness and behaviour. First we interviewed 214 respondents in 4 rural districts to determine their level of awareness of the project's thematic areas and their preferences for the choice of information sources/channels/activities that would be effective in increasing their environmental knowledge. 

The target groups selected were: 

1. Representatives of local authorities at the rural district, village level (village administrations, forestry); 

2. Representatives of social institutions (schools, kindergartens, hospitals, first aid points);

3. Representatives of different associations and groups: religious (mosques), pasture committees, water users associations, political parties, NGOs etc; 

4. General population: dependent users of natural resources (focus on pilot communities): forest users, pasture users, product processors, etc.; women, elderly, people with disabilities.

The results of the survey showed that the level of environmental awareness and readiness to change the consciousness and behaviour of the population was below average (on a scale from 1 to 10 it was 4). The planned information campaign should have raised the level by at least 3 points. According to the results of the final KAP survey conducted among 332 residents in the two districts within the project area, the score would be 7. Thus, the level of environmental awareness was 10 points after the end of the project. 

 

The KAP baseline and final surveys were conducted in an open and friendly manner on the part of the local people who participated in the survey. Their attentiveness, careful reflection on the answers and honesty gave an objective picture of the level of public awareness and knowledge of the use and conservation of walnut forests and rangelands. Careful preparation of the study also played a big role, including the design of the questionnaire in local two languages, effective sampling of respondents, inclusion of female interviewers, taking into account local mentality and traditions, etc. This helped us to build and implement an effective information campaign in which local communities were given a central role.

During and after completing the KAP studies, it became clear to us that when interviewing local people, it was advantageous to know their mentality, life, everyday life, conditions that enable them to generate income from renting forest plots, collecting, processing, selling nuts and other forest products. The language and wording of the questionnaires were also important to people. The simpler and clearer the questions are phrased and the more accessible their language, the easier it is to get a clear and direct answer. And another important lesson lies in the behavior of the interviewers themselves, in their politeness, friendliness and willingness to explain or reformulate the question. 

Сommunity-based information campaign

In creating the information events plan, we used the edutainment principle and tried to make the events diverse and interesting for people of different statuses, occupations and ages. The main role in each event or activity was given to local people. They had to take an interest in ensuring that the condition of the walnut forests and other environmental problems in their area was addressed, not exacerbated. For example, in the third year of the March for the Parks, we saw a change in the attitude of the Dashman Nature Reserve staff towards this environmental action. The event, which some time ago was "on duty" and, in their opinion, was only our duty and responsibility, has now been seen by them as the transfer of knowledge to the younger generation and the cultivation of a caring attitude towards the forest in schoolchildren. On the day of the March of Parks, staff members of the zapovednik nature reserve donned their ceremonial Marine Wave uniforms, took schoolchildren on excursions to the forest, told them interesting facts about the flora, recalled practical cases and participated in a litter pickup on the territory of the zapovednik. Our summer school "Chyirak Zhangak" ("Strong Walnut") for high school students has become a place that is impossible to enter without a competition. During the selection rounds, we received 45-50 essays from high school students wishing to attend the summer school. We had to make difficult choices among the best of the best because of the limitation on places for participants. In other events we could often count on the active participation and support of local people. During the filming of short films, they played occasional roles for free and lent their homes as filming sites.

Sustainable Development Programs

In collaboration with the Shangri-La Group and Jinhua Grand Hotel, corporate social responsibility projects have been implemented, resulting in significant support for local industries such as Chinese honeybee farming and Cornus officinalis cultivation, with a cumulative investment of nearly 300,000 yuan. Partnering with Xi'an Pengxiang Driving School, the “Caring for Qinling Mountain Area - Education Aid and Poverty Alleviation” donation campaign has been conducted for several consecutive years, providing financial assistance to 67 university students from mountainous regions, with total donations reaching approximately 300,000 yuan.

Efforts have been made to mobilize local residents to participate in conservation activities, fostering a cooperative approach to maintaining critical habitats for key species and creating a conducive ecological environment. The reserve has hired 30 residents from surrounding communities as forest rangers, sanitation workers, and security personnel, many of whom come from impoverished households. By addressing employment needs within the community, the relationship between the reserve and the surrounding communities has been significantly strengthened.

The management authority of Shaanxi Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve actively oversees critical habitats, species, ecological processes, and cultural values within the reserve. Through transparent communication and mutual trust between local communities and/or indigenous residents and the reserve's managers, they undertake projects that enhance community welfare while conserving reserve resources. The local communities and/or indigenous residents actively support the reserve’s conservation efforts. Currently, the major components of biodiversity, ecological, and cultural values within the Zhouzhi Reserve remain well-preserved, and the development of the reserve has brought significant economic benefits to the local communities.

The biodiversity conservation experience of Shaanxi Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve underscores the necessity of extensive community involvement and support. Through education and outreach, public awareness of the importance of biodiversity is heightened, transforming community members into active participants rather than mere spectators. Effective management plans must be grounded in robust scientific foundations. The practical experience of the Zhouzhi Reserve highlights the importance of regular ecological monitoring and data collection to promptly understand the status and trends of biodiversity. Biodiversity conservation demands close cooperation among various departments and institutions, including those in environment, agriculture, forestry, and water resources. One of the key successes of the Zhouzhi Reserve has been the establishment of an effective interdepartmental collaboration mechanism, ensuring the sharing of resources and information among all parties. Additionally, by implementing ecological compensation and economic incentive measures, the reserve has successfully mobilized local farmers and communities, allowing them to gain economic benefits while contributing to biodiversity conservation.

Biodiversity Monitoring

The establishment of the Golden Monkey Monitoring and Research Base at Northwest University and the Zhouzhi Substation for the National Field Scientific Observation and Research of Biodiversity for Giant Pandas and Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys, in collaboration with various institutions such as the Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Northwest A&F University, Beijing Forestry University, and Northwest University, serves as an internship base for graduate and doctoral students. These partnerships facilitate joint efforts in wildlife surveys and other scientific endeavors, thereby promoting high-quality development within the region.

Research projects have been implemented to conduct extensive surveys, resulting in the creation of a comprehensive database of rare and protected species such as the Giant Panda, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Golden Takin, Himalayan Yew, and Kingdonia uniflora. This has led to the compilation of 13 specialized survey and monitoring reports, including the "Giant Panda and Its Habitat Monitoring Report" and the "Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Survey Report," earning two second-place awards for scientific and technological advancements from the Shaanxi Forestry Department.

Since 2012, infrared cameras have captured approximately 40,000 photographs and 5,000 video clips of rare wildlife activities, including Giant Pandas and Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys. Remarkably, the Zhouzhi Nature Reserve has recorded three leopards foraging together on three occasions, as well as footage of two wild Giant Pandas playing, and the first recorded appearance of a brown Giant Panda. Additionally, images of the Asiatic Golden Cat have been documented in various areas within the jurisdiction. In 2019, footage of the Golden Takin garnered the "Best Video Award" on CCTV's "Eyes of the Secret Realm." In 2023 alone, the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation efforts has been reported 16 times by provincial and national-level media.

Conception of one action plan with the Regional Directorate of Fisheries and Blue Economy (DRPEB) of Diana

In close collaboration with the Regional Directorate of Fishing and the Blue Economy of Diana, with whom we developed an action plan for the implementation of all the activity, mutually approved and signed.

It is always necessary to establish synergy with the partners concerned in order to be able to implement the planned activities effectively and efficiently.

Institutional strengthening & sustainability

The ACReSAL project collaborates with three key ministries: Environment, Agriculture, and Water Resources. It operates across multiple institutional levels, including state, national, local, and community levels. This approach ensures that project implementers at all ministerial levels have their capacities strengthened, thereby sustaining the project's investments and efficient landscapes management.

  • Effective collaboration across the three Ministries and the Institutions that are implementing the project through regular stakeholder engagements.
  • Technical support from the World Bank, the team provide support across project activities and ensure impactful project implementation.

The synergy between the Ministries and institutions is key to producing results, because for impactful results for the project it is key that all Ministries must work closely together. The synergy has provided more innovative and collaborative ideas for effective project delivery.

Community  strengthening

Enhance community's capacity to manage the environment, recognizing that over 80% of environmental issues occur in rural areas. This underscores the importance of upskilling and empowering them to improve environmental management.

  • Ensure community participation and support in all activities.
  • Establish Community Interest Groups (CIGs) elected by the communities to be involved throughout the process.
  • Engage focal NGOs to educate and sensitize community members on environmental issues.

Community ownership of the projects and a thorough understanding of the project objectives have been crucial for the success of this community-strengthening process. By fostering a sense of ownership, the community becomes more interested  in the outcomes, leading to greater engagement and commitment. Ensuring that community members fully grasp the goals and benefits of the projects and contribute to the decision-making process. This collective involvement not only enhances the effectiveness of the initiatives but also builds local capacity, resilience to climate change, and long-term sustainability.

 

Sustainable Agriculture and Landscapes Management

The integration of sustainable agriculture and landscape management practices in land restoration efforts is crucial in conserving soil and water, promoting biodiversity, and mitigating climate change. This approach also improves livelihoods, enhances ecosystem services, and builds resilience. To achieve this, we conducted thorough assessments, engaged local farmers and other stakeholders, developed context-specific plans, provided training, monitored progress, and foster policy support. This ensures a holistic and sustainable restoration of degraded lands, benefiting both people and the environment, including water resources. It's important for the community to collaborate, contribute, and learn effective environmental management approaches to ensure the project's long-term sustainability and unsustainable agricultural practices.

 

  • Prioritizing alternative livelihood options in land restoration.
  • Sensitizing the community to environmental issues and methods to prevent land degradation.
  • Integrating climate smart agriculture in soil restoration.
  • Community Ownership and government support.
  • Emphasizing the importance of community participation to identify their top priority issues.
  • Raising community awareness of all interventions, including gully restoration and reforestation, through comprehensive awareness campaigns.
  • Establishing an interim engagement point, such as collaborating with traditional leaders, to secure community support
Participatory and Inclusive Baseline Survey

The project involved engaging the local community in a baseline survey to assess the hydrological conditions and the appropriate restoration approach. The survey aimed to gather information on water flow, salinity levels and mangrove health, which are necessary for designing effective hydrological restoration strategies.

 

  • We are involving local community members to provide valuable insights into the project. 
  • The provision of diverse perspectives helps in gathering detailed and accurate information. 

 

  • Community involvement is crucial for collecting accurate baseline data and understanding specific local conditions.
  • Ensuring diverse participation enhances the effectiveness of the restoration design by incorporating various viewpoints and addressing all relevant issues.
Review current laws & policies and stakeholder mapping

Stakeholder mapping involves reviewing the diverse interests of stakeholders across various sectors at both local and national levels. This process should be as comprehensive as possible, mapping out existing influence and power structures to determine who to engage directly or indirectly. Prior to stakeholder mapping, a thorough analysis of existing policies is conducted to fully understand the issues and why they matter to the community. This understanding then informs the stakeholder mapping activity, making it clearer who to engage with.

  • A clear understanding of relevant laws and policies related to the issue
  • Identification of specific policy gaps that need addressing
  • Accurate identification of target government organizations and officers
  • Proper selection of partners and civil society organizations
  • Ensuring community support and representation in the process
  • Understanding stakeholder interests and the impact of legal changes on those interests is crucial for effective engagement
  • It’s important to identify ongoing processes related to specific laws and policies to ensure inclusive and thorough mapping
  • Consolidating efforts through coalitions is essential to avoid parallel efforts and enhance impact
  • National coalitions can align efforts for greater policy influence
  • Building and strengthening networks should be prioritized over individual program objectives to achieve broader policy goals
Participatory research to identify local environmental challenges

The first step involves identifying local environmental challenges at the community level, such as water shortages, diminishing grazing areas, food scarcity, soil erosion, landslides, or flooding. NACOFA gathers community input on possible solutions and explores the links between these challenges and forest or environmental degradation.

Next, NACOFA studies the existing laws and policies that could address these issues, identifying any gaps, or determining if enhanced implementation or enforcement is needed. This process allows NACOFA to pinpoint the responsible government institutions, key officials, CSOs, partners, and community groups to collaborate with.

  • Clear understanding of the local or national issue and its impact on people and the environment.
  • Centering community and environmental well-being in the research approach.
  • Engaging with local leaders to ensure full community participation.
  • Collaborating with research organizations to align with current research policies.
  • This approach fosters informed policy development that centers on community needs.
  • Broad stakeholder engagement is crucial for policy advocacy success and enhances government accountability in service delivery.
  • Community ownership of the process is vital, leading to higher participation and long-term success.