Due to their location near forests that protect water sources and public and private reserves, many agricultural productions are vulnerable to human-wildlife conflicts (HWCs). This vulnerability, combined with a lack or inadequacy of farm planning and the prevalence of outdated livestock management practices, puts at risk productivity in these mountain systems, biodiversity conservation, water resources, and associated ecosystem services

We include renewable energy technologies such us solar panels  to power electic fences, improve livestoc water availability and sensored lights to mitigate economical loses in livestoc farms caused by predation over domestic animales, at the same time, we help rural farmer families to access electricity serveces and improve their food productivity, economicla and food founts

According to IUCN guidelines for coexistence with wildlife, educational approaches are more effective when focused on promoting behavioral change towards wildlife. This can be achieved through well-designed processes targeting key stakeholder groups and addressing specific actions—such as the killing of jaguars or their potential prey, or the implementation of changes in production systems—within a defined time frame.

This approach is grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, which posits that human actions are influenced by intentions, which in turn are shaped by attitudes, subjective (or social) norms, and perceived behavioral control.

Our objective is to develop educational strategies for jaguar conservation that focus on these three key determinants of human behavior. In this way, we aim not only to ensure structural but also functional connectivity for the jaguar by promoting a culture of coexistence with other forms of life

We develop wildcats and potential prey community based monitoring with the families associated with Serraniagua in their private natural reserves by employing a small set of five trap cameras.

Both the expansion of agricultural systems and the declaration of new public and private protected areas contribute to the intensification of HWCs. In this context, the development of regional plans that address territory-specific problems and contexts, and integrate all relevant stakeholders, will enable a preventive,comprehensive and sustainable management of human–jaguar interactions, improving quality of life for both people and jaguars

Advancements in on-board technologies and AI integration hold great potential to further enhance the existing drone-based crocodilian monitoring method. Improvements in drone hardware, such as hybrid models with extended flight times and enhanced camera resolutions, allow for broader habitat coverage and the capture of more detailed imagery in complex environments. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) represents a significant opportunity to streamline image analysis by automating crocodile detection and size estimation using allometric models. These AI-driven enhancements could provide near real-time data processing, reducing reliance on time consuming manual analysis.

This improvements are currently under development. We conducted an experimental study in Cameroon in April 2025 with students and young researchers from the University of Ngaoundéré and local NGOs, using drones equipped with thermal cameras and searchlights, and including AI-assisted automated data processing.

In the context of fisheries and aquaculture, the fish trap represents an evolution of existing harvesting methods. Unlike active fishing gear, such as seines, the fish traps require less labor and energy, which makes them very efficient in terms of catch effort. In addition, the fish traps do not physically harm the caught fish, so the fish can be taken out of the trap alive and in good health. Early experiments on partial harvests in aquaculture in Malawi date back to the 1990s, when different tools for intermittent harvest were tested. However, due to the inefficiency and labor-intensity of the methods, there has been no broad application or further developments.

Based on this knowledge, further literature research, and expert discussions, the idea was born to build and test a size-selective fish trap to regularly harvest the juveniles of the initial fish stock. This innovation is thought to control the stocking density, to optimize the use of supplementary feeds, and to not exceed the carrying capacity of the pond. Ideally, a successful application of the fish trap would result in households increasing their overall aquaculture productivity, whilst harvesting small quantities of small fish much more regularly than has been customary in aquaculture to date. The intermittently harvested fish can be consumed within the household or used to generate small amounts of regular income. Meanwhile, the initial fish stock (parent fish) will be grown to a larger size for the final harvest.

In a fish-loving country like Malawi, where fish is the main source of animal protein, but fisheries yields are in decline, great hope and effort is placed in the development of aquaculture. Better access to and regular consumption of fish, which is an important source of protein and essential micronutrients, can make an important contribution to overcoming development challenges. And food insecurity is one of the greatest in terms of public health. Women and children are particularly affected by malnutrition. The expansion and promotion of sustainable aquaculture represents an important approach to meeting a growing demand for fish.

This development requires – among many other aspects – innovations that contribute to successfully mastering challenges in the sector. With a focus on rural aquaculture, the Aquaculture Value Chain for Higher Income and Food Security Project in Malawi (AVCP), part of the Global Programme ‘Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture’ under the special initiative ‘One World – No Hunger’ of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, is providing technical training to 4,500 small-scale producers in Malawi. Fish farming helps them improve both income and food security.

One of the common and complex challenges in rural aquaculture is the use of mixed-sex Tilapia fingerlings in low-input systems. This means that farmers only have a limited selection and quantity of agricultural by-products available with which to feed a rapidly growing fish population in the pond. This leads to increasing competition for oxygen and food, which leads to poor growth rates and often an acceleration of sexual maturity. Accordingly, final harvests often consist of rather small fish, which does not meet the widespread expectations of harvesting edible – “plate filling” – fish from aquaculture.

Given the unavailability or prohibitiveness of mono-sex fingerlings, fish feed and aerators in rural aquaculture, the project was challenged to find an alternative solution to improve the productivity of rural aquaculture and its contribution to household nutrition.

Our standardized training curriculum is delivered by female experts (academics, practitioners, and government professionals) working in conservation and conservation technology within the local region. These women serve not only as instructors, but also mentors and collaborators. By centering local female role models, we help participants envision pathways for their own careers while strengthening their ties to regional research and conservation communities. We strive to foster an inclusive environment for honest dialogue around challenges of being a woman in conservation technology and encourage lasting mentorship relationships beyond the formal training period.

However, the gender gap we seek to address can make it difficult to identify and recruit female trainers in certain technical fields. In response, we have defined three distinct roles to broaden the support system for participants:

• Mentors: Local female role models who lead sessions and provide ongoing mentorship.
• Allies: Male trainers and facilitators who actively support our commitment to gender equity and inclusive training spaces.
• Trainers: Members of the international organizing team who provide additional instruction and logistical support.

Together, these individuals play a critical role in delivering content, fostering participant growth, and modeling diverse forms of leadership across the conservation technology landscape.

Host institutions are selected based on their capacity to support both classroom and field-based instruction, and on their engagement with active conservation challenges where technology plays a meaningful role. For instance, the RISE Grumeti Fund in Tanzania is an ideal training site, offering educational facilities, student accommodations, and running active, tech-enabled initiatives such as anti-poaching and rhino protection programs.

Furthermore, we prioritize institutions that share our commitment to advancing education for women and early-career conservationists, have strong ties to local conservation and research communities, and demonstrate leadership in integrating technology into conservation practice. These partnerships are essential to ensuring our program is both sustainable and deeply embedded in the communities it aims to serve.

In all of our endeavors, we deploy our signature ACTIVE™ (Access, Connect, Team, Implement, Verify, Evolve) Community Engagement approach. Guided by this community-driven and adaptive approach, we prioritize a deep, holistic understanding of the political, economic, ecological, and cultural factors that shape how each community interacts with and manages its natural resources. This ensures that our conservation efforts are tailored to the specific needs and aspirations of the community, creating a strong foundation for sustainable, inclusive, and innovative solutions. We begin with preparatory activities, including a pastoral livelihoods and rangeland management dialogue, which fosters open communication and builds trust. Focusing on understanding the unique governance structures and rangeland management practices already in place, we conduct a participatory mapping exercise to identify critical pastures used by the community and wildlife alike. A plot ID – coded with both indigenous and scientific names – is designated for each pasture and baseline quality data are collected using a customized Survey123 form for site selection and assessment. The data include both ecological metrics (e.g., grass height, soil type) and social factors (e.g., cultural significance, accessibility).