The Protected Area Management Solution and workflows are built using ArcGIS Online as the foundation. ArcGIS Online is a cloud-based mapping and analysis solution. It gives users access to workflow-specific apps, maps, and data from around the globe, and tools for being mobile in the field. Users can use it to make maps, analyse data, and to share and collaborate. Your data and maps are stored in a secure and private infrastructure and can be configured to meet your mapping and IT requirements.
Organisations can apply for low-cost access to ArcGIS Online through the Esri Conservation Program by filling out the Technology assistance application. Alternatively, licencing can be purchased through a local Esri Distributer.
ArcGIS Online is software-as-a-service (SaaS) cloud-based offering that requires an internet connection. However, tools are designed to work offline by default. Once surveys are downloaded, captured data will be saved in the device so it can be later synchronized.
ArcGIS Online allows you to create a great central destination for all your organisations monitoring data.
ArcGIS Online can be daunting to configure if you are unfamiliar with GIS.
There are rich resources for learning about ArcGIS Online, use them, especially the free Esri Training.
Great Esri Community Forum for ArcGIS Online where you can post questions.
There are several user types available based on the members’ needs and requirements. The user type determines the privileges that can be granted to the member. It is important to have a good understanding of which and how many user types your organisation needs.
Organise your members into well defined groups to organise activities and data access.
Thanks to the Restor.eco platform, we analyze the restoration potential of our reserve, monitoring changes over time with satellite images and geospatial data, thus knowing the local biodiversity and its characteristics, current and potential soil carbon, as well as other variables such as patterns of land cover, soil acidity, or annual precipitation, using machine learning, artificial intelligence, and scientific units of measure.
Access to spatial information.
Updated scientific data and resources.
Increases the impact, scale, and sustainability of restoration efforts.
Restor is accelerating the global restoration movement by connecting everyone, everywhere to local restoration.
Restor connects people to scientific data, supply chains, funding, and each other to increase the impact, scale, and sustainability of restoration efforts.
Is not just about trees or forests, but also about grasslands, wetlands, coastal habitats and all the other places that support life on Earth.
Agency-lead mark-recapture sessions were conducted to assess population status. Population status (i.e., whether the population is stable, increasing, or decreasing) is an important biological indicator of project success. If fish numbers are decreasing, adaptive management strategies can be enacted and try to reverse trends. Conversely, if they are increasing the success can be replicated at other sites.
Mark-recapture sessions are lead by the Nevada Department of Wildlife with assistance from the US Fish and Wildlife Servive, Springs Preserve and Southern Nevada Water Authority staff. Such cooperation leads to better communication and continued project support.
Following a fall mark-recapture session in October of the first year of the project, live fish were collected with a layer of fungus growing over their bodies. A USFWS fish pathology laboratory concluded that “immunosuppressed mature fish were succumbing to opportunistic aquatic bacteria and fungi.” Pathologists speculated that the pathogens were the result of two confounding stressors: (1) environmental – a 7°C degree drop in water temperature (i.e., from 22°C to 15°C between the 1st and 2nd capture sessions); and (2) anthropogenic – trapping, handling, and marking during a mark-recapture survey. Consequently, the timing of mark-recapture surveys was moved from fall to late summer and the issue has not reoccurred since.
Once the ponds were established, tours were given to members of the Nevada department of Wildlife and US Fish and Wildlife Service, State and Federal partner agencies responsible for permits.
Pahrump poolfish trapped and transpoted by truck in aerated and insulated livewells from a much larger refugium located in Spring Valley, Nevada.
Regular updates and tours for members of the federal "Pahrump Poolfish Recovery Implementation Team" resulted in project buy-in and collaboration with State and Federal partners.
Although it took years to reach this point, those years were well spent laying a solid groundwork for success and fostering a sense of community and partnership. This inovative project resulted in considerable positive feedback from local press and social media.
The initial attempt at creating a PVC-lined pond failed because of the lack of aeration and/or filtration and concomittent volume of cottonwood leaves that fell into the stagnant pond in the fall. Once power was brought to the site, concrete ponds with redundant aeration and filtration systems were added.
The pond upgrades were financed with funds from the Springs Preserve and Southern Nevada Water Authority budgets.
Contruction and engineering design plans were critical to obtaining the necessary permits from the City of Las Vegas. Working with a pond design expert resulted in relatively low maintenance, redundant, and passive aeration and filtration systems with biological and mechanical components.
Mr. John Entsminger (left) signs Safe Harbor Agreement
Melissa Trammell
Before the critically endangered Pahrump poolfish could be translocated to an active groundwater well field in the heart of Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Valley Water District required regulatory assurances that normal operations would continue. Consequently, it took three years to ratify a-15 year Pahrump Poolfish Safe Harbor Agreement and associated Enhancement of Survival Permit with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Communication was the key enabling factor that served to alleviate fears from the several internal and external stakeholders. Once the project was approved by the internal executive team, the regulatory portion of the project revolved around drafting a comprehensive legal document that listed in detail the covered activities, beneficial management activities, avoidance and mitigation measures, and responsibilities of both parties.
Although it took just three months to draft the Pahrump poolfish Safe Harbor Agreement, it took an additional three years for internal and external review by biologists, management, legal teams, and to receive unanimous approval from the Las Vegas Valley water District Board before the document was ratifed by both parties.
Coordination Platform for Sustainable Pasture Management
A Pasture Coordination Platform was organized in Armenia as a horizontal management network among relevant stakeholders on national and sub-national level. Each party is represented by a spokesperson, who coordinates the functions of the party within the Platform and ensures information flow. A secretariat ensures the operation of the Platform. The rationale for creation of the Platform was the need to promote effective cooperation, exchange of information, as well as coordination of activities among the projects implemented in Armenia, focusing on sustainable management of natural fodder areas.
Since 2018 the Platform has evolved and now more than 10 organizations, institutions, projects and public administration bodies are involved in the Platform’s activities, aiming to ensure viability of programs and investments in the area of animal farming, increase economic opportunities of communities and support income growth of rural residents in Armenia. Key objectives of the Coordination Platform are:
Coordination, exchange of information exchange and experience, identification of potential cooperation areas
Implementation of joint projects, activities
Advocating and supporting development of relevant state policy and legislation promoting sustainable use and management of natural fodder areas
The platform has a clear aim: "to improve the situation/ livelihood of the rural population which depends on natural fodder areas while sustainably using and conserving these natural ecosystems”.
The need for coordination, cooperation and exchange was felt by parties both from government as well as non-government organizations.
A memorandum was officially signed to establish the platform.
All members have clearly distinguished functions.
Active participation of the community stakeholders in decision making and coordination of the local projects was crucial. Placing the local working groups in charge of the local implementation not only generated a high level of ownership of the project and ensured the engagement of the community.
The coordination with other development organizations on the local scale was a key factor. The harmonization of these different local interventions resulted in a comprehensive, positive change for the communities. Each intervention was complimented by the others and would not have achieved the same results as an isolated activity.
Based on the memorandum of understanding, the common interest and need of all stakeholders in the platform to cooperate increased their commitment and ensured the continuity of the process.
Multi stakeholder advisory bodies face high risks from unforeseen changes in governmental institutions or even within their own parties. The meticulous documentation of agreements and activities has proven to be an important measure for dealing with this risk.
