We organized expert workshops to build a common base of the understanding, what ecological connectivity means and how we define it on a landscape level in different sectors (e.g. agriculture, forestry, urban planning).

Only in a second step methods, procedures and data were defined and implemented.

Effective customer service is achieved through the development of an online payment system and customer service enabled mobile app (currently under development). These measures enable clients to interact with the service, submit applications, requests, and payments and even look for any upcoming value chain services.

The Mamirauá Institute provides scientific knowledge inputs to local communities and this is relayed to communities and indigenous peoples, applying Conservation Area governance processes. 

This knowledge arises from 4 lines of action:

1. Environmental education
2. Environmental protection
3. Strengthening the community
4. Communication within the community 

The production of knowledge seeks to create medium and long-term solutions.

Working closely with the community respects the diversity of traditions, acknowledging elements of a backward nature.

The community work must begin with the interests and needs of the community itself; the work should act as the protagonist in the solution to problems.

The purpose of the governance processes that the Institute applies is to facilitate communication processes between the organization and the communities, using methodology based on inclusive management workshops.

In 2017, Guizhou Province formulated the Working Plan for the Full Implementation of the “River Chief System", according to the Recommendation on the Full Implementation of the “River Chief System” issued by the General Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China in December 2016. The Working Plan clarifies the overall requirements and specific work objectives at each stage. The plan emphasizes the five working principles to be adhered to when implementing the “River Chief System”, including i) giving priority to ecology; ii) being led by government and participating in the public; iii) problem-oriented and implementing policies based on actual conditions; iv) overall planning and systematic governance; v) supervision and strict assessment according to law.

Huangguoshu Scenic Area have further refined the work plan, such as establishing Dabang River Basin Management and Protection Plan and Implementation Plan for Law Enforcement Inspections and Popular Science Education, holding several seminars on water supply safety, carrying out a series of work measures on the Dabang River Ecological Day, comprehensive investigating the river ecological status, promulgating the Notice on the Non-governmental River Chief, etc.

SeaSketch has features to develop and deploy spatial surveys that, for example, ask ocean users to identify valued or important areas (locations important for fishing, shipping, diving, aquaculture, traditional uses, etc.). Survey results may be used to create heatmaps that describe the distribution of valued areas. These results may be visualized (or not) and analysed when users draw prospective ocean zones to understand the potential value and impact of zoning scenarios. 

The foundation of any SeaSketch project is geospatial information (maps) displayed as map services. There are no minimum data requirements. You can begin working with whatever you've got. Maps may be published as Esri REST Services (e.g., with ArcGIS Server or ArcGIS online) and open source mapping services (e.g., WMS, WMTS) and then imported into SeaSketch. Example maps include administrative boundaries (e.g., EEZ, territorial sea, existing MPAs), seafloor habitats, bathymetry, human uses, etc.

The maps you choose to include as Data Layers in SeaSketch depend on the goals of your process. If you are planning for marine protected areas, shipping lanes and aquaculture sites, you may want navigational charts, habitat maps, the distribution of fishing activities and other layers that may be used to guide users in the design of their plans. Protected areas are only meaningful if they effectively protect certain habitats, shipping lanes minimize collision and maximize efficiency, aquaculture sites are located in certain depth zones, etc. On a case-by-case basis, you will need to evaluate what data need to be viewed as maps, and what subset of these data need to be analysed.

SeaSketch is designed to be used primarily for collaborative planning. We've focused on Marine Spatial Planning, but the software can be used for terrestrial planning as well. Furthermore, the software is intended to help generate ocean zoning solutions. If these zones are to have a meaningful impact, such as conservation or benefits to the blue economy, there needs to be buy-in to the planning process by the host government institutions. If zones developed in SeaSketch are not legally adopted, they are less likely to have the desired effect. 

In most cases, SeaSketch is used to support large-scale planning efforts where governments have mandated the establishment of a marine spatial plan and where broad stakeholder involvement is essential. In these cases, SeaSketch must be licensed by a lead agency or partner. SeaSketch may be used to visualize geospatial data as map services, collect to information via surveys, sketch and discuss plans. If plans are to be evaluated using analytics, geoprocessing services and reports must be developed in our lab. Note that a free license is available for educational institutions to use SeaSketch for strictly educational purposes.

In January 2022, we will release the next version of SeaSketch which will be entirely free and open source. Just as with the current version, many of the features within SeaSketch may be configured with minimal knowledge of or experience with GIS. The analytics and reports will be run on lambda and encoded using programming languages such as Javascript. Owners of projects may, therefore, set up their own SeaSketch project – from beginning to end – without intervention from our lab. It should be noted, however, that the geoprocessing and reporting framework, though free and open source, will require significant programming experience.

Soqotra is a “must see” tourism destination, all the more so as it is difficult to reach and is hard work when you arrive. Local tourism infrastructure is not well established, and local actors offer very similar and restrictive opportunities to visit a small number of localities.

The Soqotra Heritage Project sought to change this behaviour through documenting sites and practices and compiling a broader itinerary that could offer added value to tourists, local actors and global operators while at the same time increasing the conservation of sites and localities through diversification.

Sustainable heritage tourism is now being discussed again as a potential livelihood enhancement mechanism on Soqotra while at the same time addressing potential mechanisms to input directly into heritage conservation measures.