The success of this approach hinges on the commitment of local communities to the protection of both livestock and wildlife. By involving villagers in co-funding and maintaining the infrastructure, they become active partners in the conservation effort. This sense of ownership helps prevent neglect and fosters long-term support.

A key enabling factor is the active involvement of local residents in the creation and development of CCG. By providing training and ownership, these communities are empowered to become stewards of conservation efforts. 

The workshops are tailored to meet local needs, and regular follow-ups ensure that knowledge is retained and applied effectively. 

Additionally, the financial benefits generated through their participation in the project foster greater commitment.

Regular workshops and educational outreach, including the creation of the children’s book The Web of Life: A Transhimalayan Animal Adventure and self-designed conservation games, increased awareness about the role of top predators in the ecosystem.

The determinant factor to successfully achieve our goals in this block is to account with technology to monitor wolf populations (GPS devices and camera traps). 

The second success key will be the participation of local communities who possess traditional knowledge of the study area helping us in selecting best places to place them, keeping the camera traps working, and safe from theft, and maximizing the camera traps performance. 

Securing research permits is a mandatory factor that needs to be addressed with care.

• The Formosan landlocked salmon serves as a vital environmental indicator; protecting this species contributes to overall environmental improvement.
• Environmental education initiatives include interpretive services and guided tours along Qijiawan River, collaborative community and tribal education efforts, conservation-focused courses and ecological camps designed with schools, and volunteer recruitment for hands-on conservation work.
• Plans are underway to introduce immersive experience classrooms, where participants can wear wetsuits and enter the stream to observe the Formosan landlocked salmon in its natural habitat. These experiences aim to deepen public understanding, foster care, and inspire action to protect stream ecosystems and water resources.

• High-altitude agriculture in the upper Dajia River and its tributaries polluted the ecosystem, with water quality degradation being a primary factor in the near extinction of the Formosan landlocked salmon.
• An intact forest environment supports the three critical conditions for the salmon's survival: temperature regulation, food availability, and clean water.
• In 1997, plans were initiated to install wastewater treatment systems to manage sewage from Wuling Farm and surrounding recreational areas, with the first plant becoming operational in 2002.
• Negotiations with Wuling Farm facilitated its transition toward eco-tourism, reducing agricultural activities and reclaiming farmland for reforestation.
• In collaboration with the Forestry Bureau, 500,000 native trees were planted along the Qijiawan River and on reclaimed farmland to restore the riparian ecosystem.
• In December 2006, the final 8.1 hectares of private land in the Wuling area were acquired, ensuring the Qijiawan River habitat remains free from pollution caused by high-altitude agriculture.

• In 2000, neighboring indigenous communities and partners (Sqoyaw Village and Nanshan Tribe communities) formed informal fish protection teams to protect the Formosan landlocked salmon within their traditional territories.
• After the release of the salmon, monitoring and management efforts became essential, with collaboration from indigenous communities and local neighborhoods being prioritized.
• Shei-Pa National Park's rugged terrain and vast management area make it ideal for indigenous people, who are familiar with the local landscape and can assist in comprehensive patrolling.
• Indigenous communities possess rich traditional ecological knowledge, enabling them to detect habitat changes, identify threats from invasive species, and notice abnormalities in the ecosystem, providing invaluable insights for conservation efforts.
• A co-management mechanism involving indigenous communities and local neighborhoods fosters more effective conservation actions and reduces potential conflicts, such as poaching or illegal activities.
• This collaboration also provides employment opportunities for indigenous communities, alleviating economic pressure caused by the reduction of traditional hunting or farming activities. It integrates conservation efforts into the local economy, creating a win-win situation for both conservation and social development.

• The Formosan landlocked salmon is a keystone species in stream ecosystems, with its presence helps maintain ecological balance. Restoring populations in historically distributed areas promotes the integrity and stability of local ecosystems.
• The three-phase goal set at the 2000 Formosan Landlocked Salmon Conservation Research Symposium aims to restore its natural habitats, expand the species' natural distribution range, and reduce survival risks posed by issues like climate change.
• The 2005 Wuling Stream Long-Term Monitoring Integrated Plan (2005-2013) involved monitoring habitats and species prior to the silt trap improvement plan, laying the groundwork for the restoration of ecosystem balance.
• In 2017, a cross-regional collaboration with Taroko National Park enabled the release of Formosan landlocked salmon into Hehuan and Nanhu rivers, which are at higher elevations than the Qijiawan River.
• Releasing salmon into different streams and different sections of the same stream fosters evolutionary diversity, contributing to the genetic diversity of the Formosan landlocked salmon.
• In October 2023, a breakthrough in reintroduction techniques overcame the challenge of transporting fish over long distances. Through waterless transport, the eggs were transported and reintroduced into the upper reaches of Nanhu River, at an altitude of 2,200 meters in Zhongyangjian River.

• A gene bank was established based on the concept of Noah’s Ark, aimed at increasing the population of the Formosan landlocked salmon through artificial breeding.
• In 2000, the Formosan Landlocked Salmon Conservation Symposium was held, where a comprehensive conservation framework was developed. The goal was to gradually restore the five historical streams in the upper Dajia River, where the salmon originally thrived, within 30 years. A dual strategy of in-situ (on-site) and ex-situ (off-site) conservation was adopted.

Scenarios (Trigger level) <Action Response>

A. Water level too high/ too low (The initial limit of high/low water level will be set with reference to the optimal levels set in the Mai Po Management Plan)  <1. Staff may decide if field check is needed and whether action shall follow. Normally, field check would be arranged. 2. Perform site check to confirm the water level is out of range. 3. If yes, mark the alert as true alarm and arrange adjustment of water level back to optimal range. 4. If no, mark the alert as false alarm.>

B. Water quality out of range (Alerts will be set based on the normal range from past water quality data in Mai Po Nature Reserve) <1. Staff may decide if field check is needed and whether action shall follow. Normally, field check would be arranged. 2. Perform site check to confirm the water quality is out of range.  3. If yes, mark the alert as true alarm and decide if water exchange shall be performed for the sensor at Gei wai #12 For the sensor near Northern hide, record need to be kept and informed to relevant parties if necessary. 4. If no, mark the alert as false alarm.> 

C. Buffalo out of fence (Tracker out of geofence) <1. Staff may decide if field check is needed and whether action shall follow. Normally, field check would be arranged. 2. Perform site check to confirm buffalo is out of fence. 3. If yes, mark the alert as true alarm. Followed by tracking of the buffalo with the assistance of AFCD Cattle Team and identification of reason of escape 4. If no, mark the alert as false alarm>