Establish a Monitoring System

Implement a "sky-ground-air" three-dimensional patrol system, utilizing high-tech and information technology to enhance the intelligent capability of animal monitoring, improve patrol efficiency, and effectively address issues such as wildlife hazards faced by manual patrols.

  1. Sufficient financial budget: An investment of 70 million yuan has been allocated for the construction of the Smart Management System Platform and the Nanshan National Park Perception System Platform.
  2. Management support: The management believes this initiative to be essential, having conducted multiple internal discussions and research within the administration bureau, and has entrusted relevant technical units with the development of the system.
  3. Included in the annual work plan: The task has been incorporated into the management bureau's annual work plan, with a dedicated department responsibly advancing the work in an orderly manner.
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.

Vultures on Camera Trap

Several preselected sites with permanent camera traps installations have been chosen for vulture data collection, including six watering holes and one vulture feeding site. The data collected from camera traps can be used to estimate DDCR’s vulture population size, distribution, and record certain behaviors such as social interactions. 

The entirely fenced off natural reserve provides vultures an area with an abundant source of antelope carcasses and a refuge from harmful human activity. The increasing number of vultures recorded by Camera trap within the DDCR can be attributed to several reasons including DDCR policies on protecting the reserves natural habitat, limiting human activity within the reserve, and promoting natural ecological processes to occur such as not removing the carcasses of oryx and gazelle from the desert. 

  1. Ensure camera traps are not in front of moving vegetation in order to avoid the camera trap from getting triggered often and depleting the batteries. 
  2. Exchange the SD card in the camera trap regularly in order to avoid that the memory space gets full. 
Monitoring System: Farmer Institution Real Time Monitoring System (FIRMS)

The SAFAL project has co-created a Farm Record Book (FRB) for effective monitoring and enhancing a fish farm’s productivity by understanding input cost and profitability of the farming business, disease cycles and risks involved.

As an additional feature, the FRB comes with a cutting edge open-source based QR-code (quick response) digital monitoring solution, the Farmer Institution Real-time Monitoring System (FIRMS) for individual farmers to share records with their farmer institutions. Farmers, Farmer Institutions, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as well as Government institutions benefit from this digital innovation.

Each FRB is equipped with a unique QR code which helps in identifying and accessing information about individuals using the FRB for maintaining the records. The QR code helps to register their information online into a digital monitoring system to ensure that only designated representatives of the FIs as well as with the Government organisation (for example, Department of Fisheries) to have access to aggregated data of the district consisting of multiple farmer institutions helping to simplify resource management and record-keeping processes through data driven decision making. 

By enabling farmers to make informed decisions through effective resource management and for example early disease detection they can explore options to improve their productivity. Farmer Institutions can also benefit from detailed information on their members' livelihood activities, allowing them to develop aggregated business models and improve service delivery such as negotiating better prices for bulk sales or the purchase of feed. By analysing trends and identifying issues using the collected data, CSOs can provide targeted support and advice to farmers, enabling them to tailor interventions to specific needs and adapt to the ground. Access to data can enable Government Institutions to plan for resource allocation and program interventions, formulate evidence-based policies, and gain detailed information about stakeholders. 

 To learn more about the FRB and FIRMS have a look into the brochure. 

Improved decision making: Providing access to accurate and timely data helps farmers make informed decisions. This includes using data analytics tools and dashboards to interpret data trends, leading to better aquaculture practices.

Tailored Advisory Services: 

  • Customized Recommendations: Offering personalized advice based on individual farm data and specific needs helps address unique challenges faced by each farmer. This might involve using farm management software that analyses data to provide tailored recommendations.
  • Personalized Support: Providing direct support from experts who understand local conditions and individual farmer needs increases the relevance and effectiveness of advice.

Better monitoring: 

  • Real-Time Monitoring: Implementing technologies like sensors and IoT devices allows stakeholders to monitor aquaculture conditions in real-time. This helps in tracking the impact of interventions immediately and making necessary adjustments.
  • Performance Tracking: Regular monitoring and reporting systems enable stakeholders to evaluate the effectiveness of practices and interventions continuously.

Optimum Resource Management: 

  • Efficient Resource Allocation: Using data and analytics to optimize the use of resources (such as feed, water, and energy) ensures they are allocated where most needed, reducing waste and improving efficiency.
  • Sustainable Practices: Promoting resource-efficient practices that minimize environmental impact while maximizing output.

Risk Mitigation: 

  • Early Risk Detection: Technologies and data analytics can help detect potential risks early, such as disease outbreaks, adverse weather conditions, or market changes. This early detection allows for timely interventions.
  • Preparedness Plans: Developing and implementing risk mitigation strategies based on data insights to reduce the impact of identified risks on aquaculture operations.
  • Enhanced Operational Efficiency: Improved decision-making, tailored advisory services, and better monitoring contribute to more efficient and productive aquaculture operations.
  • Increased Resilience: Risk mitigation strategies and real-time monitoring help farmers become more resilient to unexpected challenges, ensuring the sustainability of their practices.
  • Resource Sustainability: Optimized resource management ensures that aquaculture practices are sustainable, reducing environmental impact and conserving resources for future use.
  • Economic Viability: Tailored advisory services and data-driven insights help farmers improve their economic outcomes by making informed choices that enhance productivity and profitability.
Capacity Development: Knowledge Products and Information, Education & Communication material

When SAFAL started reaching out to aquaculture farmers in 2021,  two of the key aspects to enhancing the availability of fish and income through sustainable aquaculture became apparent: the gap on technical knowledge and financial literacy on aquaculture operations and the difficulty of accessing financial support through existing schemes. 

For farmers, harnessing the potential for expansion of their practises required acquiring new technical skills, proper planning as well as investments into their operations. SAFAL set up an inclusive community-based training cascade (see building block: CRP model) which required the development of quality course materials, tailored to the local requirements. Under consideration of reviewing and harmonizing existing material, new state of the art training materials and best practices for sustainable aquaculture were co-created in a participatory manner among scientists, government officials, experts in sustainable aquaculture practices, aquaculture operators and SAFAL technical staff.

The knowledge products and IEC material created under SAFAL are integrated with each other and can be used individually or collectively. While they follow a session schedule covering the whole training cascade and cultivation sesason, learners can also utilize them individually by choosing seasonally applicably chapters or topics of their interest. 

The KPs and IEC material are distributed through the CRP-to-Farmer training (see building block: CRP model) they are also placed in CICs and SCs (see building block: Agroecological Kiosks).  

  1. Holistic Skill Development: Comprehensive, practical guides cover all aspects of sustainable aquaculture, equipping farmers with the necessary knowledge for the entire season.
  2. Integrated Learning: Training materials combine technical, economic, social, and environmental aspects, promoting a balanced and sustainable approach to aquaculture.
  3. Seasonal Flexibility: Modular and adaptable materials allow farmers to learn and apply relevant lessons at any stage, supporting continuous improvement.
  4. Local Adaptation: Culturally relevant content and local examples ensure greater acceptance and practical application of sustainable practices.
  5. Gender Sensitivity: Gender-inclusive materials and role models encourage broader participation and empower women in aquaculture.
  • Enhanced Technical Skills: Farmers gained essential technical knowledge and financial literacy, improving their aquaculture practices and profitability.
  • Practical Implementation: Real-time, step-by-step guidance helped farmers apply sustainable practices effectively, boosting confidence and problem-solving abilities.
  • Cultural Relevance: Customized, locally adapted training materials made it easier for farmers to adopt new practices.
  • Gender Inclusivity: The gender-sensitive approach promoted equal opportunities, empowering more women to participate in aquaculture
Capacity Development & Extension Service: Community Resource Person Model

The Community Resource Person (CRP) model in India is a community-driven approach to development and empowerment, particularly in rural areas. It involves identifying and training individuals from local communities to act as extension service providers, advisers, and mobilizers to address various socio-economic challenges and promote sustainable development. 

Under the SAFAL project more than 140+ CRP trainers (Train the Trainer, ToT) and 500+ CRPs and have been trained between 2021 and 2023 in Assam and Odisha. CRPs themselves are aquaculture farmer belonging to the local farmer institutions who are supporting up to 25 farmers. Up to now, CRPs are providing trainings and extension and advisory services to more than 7.000 farmers in rural areas on sustainable aquaculture practices to their communities. 

The selection process of CRPs involves several step starting from registration, selection among co-created criteria as well as following recommendations from farmer institutions such as Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Self-Help-Groups (SHGs) followed by an intensive capacity building course. 

The training, likewise, for CRPs and CRP-to-farmers, are conducted in tailored sessions conducted with the help of Knowledge Products (KPs) and Information, Education & Communication (IEC) material, such as the Farmer’s Handbook, a Training Manual for Trainers, the Farm Record Book and various training material. Those were co-created among scientists, government officials, experts in sustainable aquaculture practices, aquaculture operators and SAFAL technical to fit the exact needs of the local farmers. 

The training cascade contains basic and advanced modules using the didactic methodology for easy adoption of adult learning. The program consists of 30 per cent classroom and 70 per cent hands-on training as well as exposure visits to state-of-the arts hatcheries and research and educational institutions within different states. Making it accessible and inclusive to farmers all over, it is translated into local languages and designed in a way that it can be held in remote and rural areas using flipbooks, posters, and pamphlets to teach without access to electronics. 

CRPs are based within their farmer institutions (FPOs, FPCs, SHGs) and are motivated by social, environmental, and financial incentives, including selling goods and services, and facilitating access to finance.

Through this self-financed CRP model, thousands of small-scale farmers are empowered with knowledge and resources. This ground-level approach boosts yields within planetary boundaries while ensuring nutrition and food security.

You can find more information about the training materials (knowledge products and Information, Education & Communication material) and download them in the building block: Knowledge Products and Information, Education & Communication Material. 

  1. Tailored Training: Offering training sessions tailored to the needs and capacities of small-scale farmers, with a focus on practical knowledge and skills relevant to their specific contexts.
  2. Multiplier Effect: Employing a Training of Trainers (ToT) approach to multiply the impact of training efforts, enabling CRPs to train and support a larger number of farmers.
  3. Effective Extension Services: Utilizing a network of Community Resource Persons (CRPs) who act as extension workers, delivering training, knowledge, and support directly to farmers in their local areas.
  4. Participatory Approach: Involving farmers directly in the learning process, allowing for a bottom-up approach that considers their perspectives, challenges, and needs.
  5. Financial Incentives: Motivating CRPs through a combination of financial incentives, such as selling fingerlings, retail opportunities of farming equipment, as well as non-financial incentives like recognition and social impact.
  6. Access to Finance: Supporting farmers in accessing finance through guidance and facilitation e.g., through record keeping, to relevant financial institutions and government schemes.
  7. Government Support and Alignment: Aligning with government priorities and policies, and demonstrating the effectiveness of these models to policymakers, which can lead to increased support, funding, and scalability.

Additionally

  1. Quality Course Materials: Providing high-quality course materials co-created among local stakeholder and experts, ensuring the content is accurate, relevant, and accessible to farmers.
  2. Local Context Sensitivity: Designing training models and materials that are sensitive to the local context, including cultural, social, economic, and environmental factors.
  1. Customization is Key: Tailoring training sessions and materials to the specific needs, challenges, and contexts of small-scale farmers enhances relevance and effectiveness.
  2. Empowerment through Education: Providing farmers with training material to gain practical knowledge and skills empowers them to make informed decisions, improve their practices, and enhance their livelihoods.
  3. Local Ownership and Engagement: Involving farmers directly in the learning process fosters ownership, buy-in, and sustainability of interventions.
  4. Importance of Extension Services: Utilizing a network of Community Resource Persons (CRPs) as extension workers effectively delivers training and support at the grassroots level.
  5. Selection of Multipliers: Optimizing capacity-building efforts to maximize knowledge retention requires a strategic approach in the selection of promising CRPs among the community. 
  6. Financial Incentives Drive Engagement: Offering financial incentives, such as income opportunities, motivates CRPs and encourages their active participation and commitment.
  7. Collaboration Amplifies Impact: Collaborating with Farmer Institutions, SHGs, and other stakeholders enables aggregation of resources, knowledge-sharing, and amplification of impact.
  8. Access to Finance is Critical: Facilitating access to finance empowers farmers to invest in their businesses, adopt new practices, and improve productivity and profitability.
  9. Local Context Matters: Sensitivity to the local context, including cultural, social, economic, and environmental factors, is essential for the relevance and success of interventions.
  10. Training of Trainers Multiplies Impact: Leveraging a Training of Trainers (ToT) approach enables the multiplication of training efforts, reaching a larger number of farmers and communities.
  11. Alignment with Government Priorities: Aligning with government priorities and policies can facilitate support, funding, and scalability of interventions, making them more sustainable and impactful in the long run.
Conservation of endangered and rare wild animals and plants.

Carry out field species population monitoring surveys, artificial breeding, field reintroduction experiments, and environmental factor habitat surveys, etc.
 

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