Throughout the development and delivery of the Station, mammal keepers at Jersey Zoo were consulted regularly to ensure the resources were both accurate and not disruptive to the animals (e.g. the sound button recordings). This collaboration also allowed the keepers, who were enthusiastic of the idea, to share details of their daily routines and anecdotes of the orangutans which could then be incorporated into the Station's storytelling element. The keepers also helped supply materials and biofacts to use at the Station, along with ideas on how to use them effectively. These elements, including some real orangutan teeth, significantly increased the attraction power and impact of the Station. Feedback from volunteers and those running the Station was also encouraged to ensure the resources met the needs of the educators, as well as the audience. 

The resources at the Station are organised into five themes: 'Sounds & Smells', 'How you can help', 'Could you be an orangutan?', 'What does an orangutan feel like?' and 'Orangutan Observations'. However, the flexibility of the resources means they can easily be mix-and-matched and tailored to both the audience's curiosity and the staff/volunteer's expertise. That is, no resource is dependent on any other. Furthermore, resources from each of the themes can easily be connected together. 

For example, the armspan ropes, handprint and sound buttons could be combined to talk about orangutans' arboreal lifestyle and how they have adapted to their habitat. This can then lead to a conversation about the destruction of their habitat and the need for sourcing sustainable palm oil. Alternatively, the handprint and grip strength dynamometer can be used to create a sense of awe and subsequently a memorable impression on the visitor. 

The different sensory-based elements of the Investigation Station offer alternative pathways for visitors to access conservation messages, away from traditional signage. Interactive methods, such as this, allows information to be conveyed in a memorable and, therefore, more impactful way. It also meant visitors with a variety of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) were still able to engage with the station and learn something new. 

To promote the application of IoT technology on wetland management, this research project and experience learnt has been shared throughout the project by:  

• Organizing webinars for conservation managers and wetland stakeholders  
• Installing outdoor interpretation panels in MPNR  
• Promoting through social media platform and media engagement  
• Producing promotional video  
• Publishing technical report of the project  
• Organizing public and school tours to introduce the application of IoT technology in wetland management at MPNR 

Goal: To lay the foundation for integrating I&T solutions into traditional wetland management

Objectives: 

 - To introduce three proposed IoT applications to wetland stakeholders and I&T sectors 

 - To consult wetland stakeholders and I&T sectors for their views and comments 

 - To review potential IoT applications beneficial to the management of MPNR 

 - To identify and integrating relevant IoT solutions for gei wai operation and wetland research into MPNR  

1. Integrated Technical and Traditional Knowledge

Mussel production combines modern aquaculture techniques with the traditional knowledge of local fishermen. This integration facilitates the acceptance of the practice and its alignment with community routines. 

Enabling factors: proximity to the sea and familiarity with tidal cycles. Lessons learned: valuing local knowledge increases engagement and the effectiveness of adopted practices.

2. Cultivation System with Longlines

Mussel farming in Machangulu involves several meticulous steps that require specific materials and aquaculture techniques. Long ropes, 50 meters long on which sachets with mussel seeds are hung, are prepared and are held fixed by a concrete weight to serve as an anchor on the seabed, a procedure that keeps the longlines stretched and where the signaling buoys are placed. This system keeps the mollusks submerged even during low tides and requires ongoing maintenance.

The main materials include nets, ropes better known as longlines, buoys, mussel seeds, hand tools and sea transport. The longlines, cotton nets are sewn in the form of sachets, where the mussel seeds are placed, with initial dimensions between 1 and 1.5 inches (small mussels). This system ensures that the mussels remain submerged in water, even during the lowest tides, during cycle lasts eight months.

Luego de transcurridos 7 años a la fecha de la intervención del proyecto se pudo evidenciar que se experimentaron cambios en la cantidad de integrantes de mujeres en las asociaciones y cooperativas, en los puestos de toma de decisiones y en procesos productivos, en la gestión de la tierra, protección del bosque y la biodiversidad. Se puedo determinar que aumentó el nivel de empoderamiento personal y productivos de las mujeres con las acciones del proyecto, el nivel de empoderamiento económico particularmente en los casos de las cooperativas de mujeres y en cuanto a la promoción de sus derechos también se incrementó.

En cuanto a las prácticas agrícolas climáticamente inteligentes también se incrementó sobre todo porque conocen y ponen en práctica los conocimientos adquiridos en los procesos de producción de abono, diversificando sus parcelas, participando directamente en la comercialización y transformación de sus productos, lo cual implica en su seguridad alimentaria y reduce las brechas de género. 

El proyecto generó beneficios y mayor participación de las mujeres en procesos productivos, economía familiar, mejores ingresos, comercialización, capacidad de decisión porque ocupan cargos en las directivas.

Partnership with EMSD allows us to utilize GWIN network as a transmission layer for all sensors installed for this project at Mai Po Nature Reserve (MPNR) with no network recurring cost required.

The technology offers several benefits that make it well-suited for wireless data transmission in IoT applications. Its long-range capabilities allow data to be transmitted over a distance, making it ideal for vast rural areas like MPNR. Furthermore, LoRa’s efficient power consumption extends the battery life of battery-powered devices. LoRa data transmission also ensures the confidentiality and integrity of the data through secure protocols.

In this project, four GWIN LoRa gateways were installed by EMSD within Mai Po Nature Reserve (MPNR). The sensors installed at MPNR are connected to gateways via the low-power and private LoRa network and eventually connected back to the GWIN backend via the 4G network. Besides these four gateways specially installed for this project, other GWIN gateways near MPNR can further secure data transmission reliability. 

In return, these four gateways can also help receiving signal from the sensors installed by various government departments in the surrounding area. 

When the harvest season comes, farmers using Deep Bed Farming benefit from crop yields that are more than doubled, starting from the very first year of adoption!  Farmers have reported a ninefold increase in income​ in this first year as well. Healthier soil and diversified crops also provide more nutritious and balanced diets, helping to tackle malnutrition. Many Malawian farmers and their families have achieved food security through Deep Bed Farming, eating an average of one extra meal every day ​compared to their peers using conventional farming. ​Farmers continue to harvest these heightened crop yields year after year.

Weeds are often thought of as a nuisance, but in climate-smart agriculture they have a valuable role to play! Alongside the residue of crops and other plant materials, weeds are cut or pulled up and laid on top of the land as a form of mulch. Mulch is another type of ground cover that helps protect soil by minimising impacts of big raindrops and conserving moisture. Weeding is lighter work than digging, and whole families can help! Meanwhile, other organic materials like crop residues, leaves and grasses, and household food waste are made into a rich compost.
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Farmers may also add animal manure to the compost. To make sure that all farmers have access to animal manure, Tiyeni organises a livestock pass-on programme of pigs or goats to first-time farmers. Animal offspring are passed on to other members of the community, contributing to Tiyeni’s legacy effect that ensures our work is self-sustaining in communities after our departure. Farmers’ interest in the successful breeding programmes brings village communities together and increases uptake of Tiyeni’s methods.
 

Mulch and compost add valuable organic matter to the soil that promote healthy soil microbiomes. They also enable farmers to transition away from synthetic fertilisers by providing the soil and plants with the necessary nutrients for healthy growth. Transitioning from synthetic fertiliser to mulch and compost also benefits farmers economically, as synthetic fertilisers are expensive. Plus, some of the methods that Tiyeni teaches to farmers can produce compost that is ready for use in as little as 21 days!  ​