Integrated Land Use Planning

Integrated land use planning strategically allocated land for agriculture, conservation, and human settlements, balancing the needs of both people and wildlife. After training on climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and continued sensitization on wildlife and habitat conservation during monthly community meetings facilitated by the BIOPAMA project, the integrated land use approach was on its way to being achieved. The beneficiaries of the 10% Fence Plan maximized the allocated 10% for agriculture by planting certified seeds best suited for the climatic conditions, resulting in high yields. At the same time, the remaining 90% of the land was effectively utilized by wildlife and livestock, creating the much-needed balance in Kamungi Conservancy. This approach benefited both the communities and wildlife by promoting sustainable land use that supported livelihoods and conservation efforts.

  • Collaborative Planning:
    A multi-stakeholder approach was essential for the success of integrated land use planning. Community members, conservationists, agricultural experts, and government officials were actively involved in the planning process, ensuring that the needs of all parties were considered. The inclusion of indigenous knowledge and the contributions made during monthly community meetings, facilitated by the BIOPAMA project, fostered a sense of ownership and commitment from local communities. This collaborative approach ensured that land was allocated for both agricultural and wildlife purposes, balancing the coexistence of people and nature.
  • Sustainable Land Management Practices:
    Training on climate-smart agriculture (CSA) empowered community members to adopt practices that enhanced agricultural productivity while conserving the environment. Certified seeds were used to optimize crop yields in the 10% of land allocated for agriculture under the Fence Plan. Simultaneously, sustainable grazing and habitat management ensured that the remaining 90% of the land was beneficially used by wildlife and livestock. This approach helped maintain biodiversity, supported ecosystem resilience, and contributed to soil health and water conservation.
  • Zoning and Mapping:
    Clear zoning and mapping strategies were implemented, designating areas for agriculture, wildlife, and livestock use. The 10% allocation for farming was carefully selected based on land suitability for crops and climatic conditions, ensuring maximum productivity. The remaining 90% was preserved for wildlife and grazing, providing a balanced and functional land use system. Community land mapping allowed for real-time monitoring of land use, helping to maintain the ecological integrity of Kamungi Conservancy.
  • Economic Incentives:
    Economic benefits played a critical role in ensuring community participation and adherence to the land use plan. The high agricultural yields from the 10% Fence Plan, achieved through the use of climate-smart practices and certified seeds, provided direct financial benefits to the local communities. Additionally, Tsavo Trust’s community support initiatives—such as the provision of solar home systems, energy-saving cook stoves, dam liners for water conservation, scholarship and education support, and health support—further incentivized communities to maintain the balance between conservation and development. These incentives significantly contributed to the overall success of the integrated land use approach by improving livelihoods while promoting sustainable land management practices.
  • Capacity Building and Training:
    The capacity-building initiatives led by the BIOPAMA project were instrumental in training community members on climate-smart agriculture and wildlife conservation. These trainings, along with continued sensitization efforts during the monthly community meetings, ensured that communities were well-equipped with the knowledge and skills to implement sustainable land management practices. The strong foundation of knowledge led to more effective land use, increased agricultural productivity, and improved wildlife conservation efforts.
  • Inclusivity Drives Success:
    Engaging all stakeholders—community members, conservationists, agricultural experts, and government officials—was essential to the success of the integrated land use planning. The participatory approach ensured that diverse needs were considered, fostering community ownership and long-term adherence to the plan. The inclusion of local knowledge, reinforced by continuous sensitization through the BIOPAMA project’s community meetings, contributed significantly to the plan’s success.
  • Climate-Smart Agriculture is Key to Productivity:
    The use of certified seeds and climate-smart agricultural practices under the 10% Fence Plan led to significantly higher yields, demonstrating that sustainable farming techniques can greatly benefit local communities. The successful integration of these practices allowed the community to benefit economically while simultaneously contributing to the conservation of surrounding ecosystems.
  • Economic Incentives Encourage Community Buy-in:
    Direct economic benefits, such as the provision of solar home systems, energy-saving cook stoves, dam liners, scholarship and education support, and health services, played a crucial role in encouraging community adherence to the land use plan. These livelihood projects, supported by Tsavo Trust, reinforced the balance between conservation and development, ensuring that communities saw tangible benefits from their participation in conservation efforts. This linkage between conservation and improved living standards fostered long-term support for the plan.
  • Balancing Land Use Enhances Coexistence:
    By designating 10% of the land for agriculture and reserving 90% for wildlife and livestock, the land use plan successfully created a balance that supported human livelihoods while maintaining wildlife habitats. This careful land allocation reduced human-wildlife conflicts and ensured the sustainable use of natural resources, promoting long-term coexistence.
  • Policy and Legal Frameworks Provide Stability:
    Strong policy backing and legal support were instrumental in enforcing the integrated land use plan. The collaboration with local governments ensured that land use boundaries were respected and violations addressed. This legal framework created a foundation for sustained conservation efforts and development.
  • Adaptability is Essential for Sustainability:
    The continuous monitoring and evaluation of land use through GIS mapping and community feedback mechanisms allowed for adaptive management. This flexibility ensured that the land use plan could respond to changing environmental conditions and socio-economic needs, making it more resilient and sustainable in the long term.
Breeding and Husbandry Techniques for the Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus)

Breeding technology for broodstock selection involves choosing individuals of different sexes and origins from the same region as parents. The feed suitable for breeding should be diversified, mainly consisting of feed that is high in protein, low in fat, low in calories, and rich in trace elements. One month before and after the breeding period, feed that is high in protein, high in fat, and high in calories should be provided.

Feed selection and proportioning experiments involve feeding different aquaculture ponds with different feeds, and conducting trials with different combinations to determine the optimal feed plan and the best nutritional structure for the ecological breeding of the giant salamander. By mastering the most suitable feed and nutritional combination for different periods of the giant salamander, the sperm quality of male broodstock can be improved, and the egg-bearing capacity of female broodstock can be increased.
 

Essential factors:

1. Avoid inbreeding. Selecting parents of different sexes and origins from the same region can effectively prevent inbreeding;
2. Choice of feed. Choose feeds that are more easily obtained and have comprehensive nutritional components, such as grass carp, silver carp, loach, shrimp, frogs, pork, and pig liver, etc.
3. Feed processing. Live fish should be freshly killed, and inedible parts such as heads, bones, and spines should be removed; pork and other meats should have fat (if any) removed and cut into long strips weighing about 50 to 100 grams. Dead bait should be soaked in a 30% saltwater solution for 10 minutes; live bait should be soaked in a 2-3 ppm chlorine dioxide solution for 10 minutes.
4. Feeding of feed. Feed should be provided on a regular schedule, with consistent quality, and in fixed quantities. Dead bait should be offered every three days, around 6 pm, with the standard that it should be consumed within one hour. Live bait should be fed at 5% of the total weight of the giant salamanders in each area, with discretion to increase the amount as appropriate.
 

By recording the feeding, weight gain, activity, ovulation, and fertilization of the giant salamander (see attached figures). It was found that Group B had a significantly higher feeding efficiency than the other two groups, indicating that the giant salamander will turn to dead bait with lower predation difficulty when hunting live prey is challenging. Data from Group A show that the giant salamander gains weight quickly when fed a diet high in protein and fat for a long period, but has a low ovulation and fertilization rate. In combination with the analysis of the main nutritional components of various baits, it is suitable for the giant salamander's bait to be diversified, mainly consisting of baits that are high in protein, low in fat, low in calories, and rich in trace elements, such as various fish, loach, shrimp, crabs, frogs, etc. One month before and after the breeding period, appropriately high protein, high fat, and high calorie foods can be fed, such as various fish and poultry meat and internal organs, which is beneficial for the giant salamander to accumulate energy before breeding and to recover and overwinter after breeding.
 

Breeding area mimicking wild habitat environment

Addressing the existing technical challenges, namely the differences between ecological breeding environments and wild habitats, and the low natural reproductive capacity of the giant salamander, characterized by slow growth, late sexual maturity, and low survival and breeding rates. A method for ecological breeding suitable for the giant salamander, based on the environmental factors of its natural habitat, is provided.

The ecological imitation environment is established based on the ecological and environmental factors of the giant salamander's natural habitat, and the selection of the reference object for this ecological environmental factor model is crucial.

After long-term research and discussions among scholars, we have established an environmental factor model based on geographical and climatic factors, river section influence factors, cave environmental factors, and water environmental factors. Based on this model, we have established the best construction parameter system for "ecological stream ditches" and "caves." For example, the surface vegetation coverage of the cave area on both sides of the ecological stream ditch should be greater than 85%; the stream ditch should be constructed in an irregular shape, with a gradient of 30° to 45° extending into the stream, a width of 50 to 300 cm, a depth of 50 cm, and a stream bed covered with a 15 to 20 cm thick layer of sand and pebbles composed of river sand and pebbles, a stream water depth of 25 to 30 cm, and a flow rate of 0.05 to 1 m/s; the cave area ratio should be ≥1.5, and other specific parameter requirements.
 

Biodiversity Monitoring

The establishment of the Golden Monkey Monitoring and Research Base at Northwest University and the Zhouzhi Substation for the National Field Scientific Observation and Research of Biodiversity for Giant Pandas and Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys, in collaboration with various institutions such as the Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Northwest A&F University, Beijing Forestry University, and Northwest University, serves as an internship base for graduate and doctoral students. These partnerships facilitate joint efforts in wildlife surveys and other scientific endeavors, thereby promoting high-quality development within the region.

Research projects have been implemented to conduct extensive surveys, resulting in the creation of a comprehensive database of rare and protected species such as the Giant Panda, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Golden Takin, Himalayan Yew, and Kingdonia uniflora. This has led to the compilation of 13 specialized survey and monitoring reports, including the "Giant Panda and Its Habitat Monitoring Report" and the "Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Survey Report," earning two second-place awards for scientific and technological advancements from the Shaanxi Forestry Department.

Since 2012, infrared cameras have captured approximately 40,000 photographs and 5,000 video clips of rare wildlife activities, including Giant Pandas and Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys. Remarkably, the Zhouzhi Nature Reserve has recorded three leopards foraging together on three occasions, as well as footage of two wild Giant Pandas playing, and the first recorded appearance of a brown Giant Panda. Additionally, images of the Asiatic Golden Cat have been documented in various areas within the jurisdiction. In 2019, footage of the Golden Takin garnered the "Best Video Award" on CCTV's "Eyes of the Secret Realm." In 2023 alone, the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation efforts has been reported 16 times by provincial and national-level media.

Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Family
Biodiversity Monitoring
Scientific Publicity and Education
Sustainable Development Programs
Implementing financial compensation measures.

By purchasing third-party services and cooperating with insurance companies for compensation claims due to wild animal damages, since its implementation in 2020, the insurance company has handled over 900 cases of damages (mainly crop destruction). The affected areas span 8 townships and 40 villages within the national park, with over 500 households receiving insurance compensation, totaling approximately 700,000 yuan in claims.

1.Introduction of Management System: The "Compensation Measures for Damages Caused by Key Protected Terrestrial Wild Animals in Nanshan National Park" have been promulgated, specifying the circumstances, eligible recipients, compensation authorities, and procedures. This provides necessary legal support and enforcement for citizens, legal persons, or other organizations within the national park that suffer losses due to the infringement of key protected terrestrial wild animals .2.Management Support: The management bureau has included compensation work in the annual work plan and budgeted the compensation funds in the annual financial budget.3.Adequate Financial Funding: Compensation payments of more than 700,000 yuan have been made.

Establish Management Systems and Technical Procedures

1.Establishment of Nanshan National Park Patrol Technical Regulations: The guidelines have clarified the purposes, types, procedures, and documentation requirements for patrols. Standards for establishing patrol teams and planning patrol schedules and routes have been defined. Key plots, rare tree species, and endangered animals within the national park are under focused conservation, with any issues being reported promptly. Additionally, the regulations help in disseminating forestry policies and regulations, enhancing the community's awareness and participation in resource protection.   2. Issuance of the "Nanshan National Park Key Protected Terrestrial Wild Animals Damage Compensation Regulations": This policy specifies the circumstances, eligible compensation recipients, compensation authorities, and procedures. It provides necessary legal support and enforcement for citizens, legal persons, or other organizations that suffer losses due to the infringement of key protected terrestrial wild animals within the national park.

  1. Management Support: The administrators recognize the necessity of this work and have organized professional technical staff to develop technical procedures and management systems based on the actual situation of Nanshan National Park. These have been published after several discussions and studies within the management bureau. 2.Technical Support from the Administration: The management bureau has established a department responsible for patrol work and employs professional technical workers to guide and supervise the effective implementation of technical management systems and procedures. There are multiple conservation stations within the national park's boundaries, and several local patrol officers who are familiar with the terrain and knowledgeable about wildlife protection have been hired. 3.Adequate Funding: The management bureau and local government provide funding and subsidies for the patrol work, ensuring that the patrol teams have sufficient financial support.
Establish a Monitoring System

Implement a "sky-ground-air" three-dimensional patrol system, utilizing high-tech and information technology to enhance the intelligent capability of animal monitoring, improve patrol efficiency, and effectively address issues such as wildlife hazards faced by manual patrols.

  1. Sufficient financial budget: An investment of 70 million yuan has been allocated for the construction of the Smart Management System Platform and the Nanshan National Park Perception System Platform.
  2. Management support: The management believes this initiative to be essential, having conducted multiple internal discussions and research within the administration bureau, and has entrusted relevant technical units with the development of the system.
  3. Included in the annual work plan: The task has been incorporated into the management bureau's annual work plan, with a dedicated department responsibly advancing the work in an orderly manner.
Education and Advocacy

- Provide training workshops focusing on sustainable fishing methods, resource management, and the legal ramifications of illegal fishing practices. 

- Work with local authorities to educate them about the role of the associations and the necessity of enforcing regulations that protect their members and the ecosystem. 

Every descent into each village, our team was always accompanied by staff from the regional directorate of fishing and the blue economy (DRPEB). Through fieldworks, they took the opportunity to raise awareness about fishing regulations, reminders of laws and procedures as well as respect for fishing calendars for various fishery resources.

Operational Guidelines

- Create operational guidelines that detail how the association will manage fishing activities, including rules about fishery zones, seasonal closures, and sustainable practices. 

   - Establish a monitoring system to ensure compliance with these rules, reinforcing accountability among members. 

 

 

The fishermen cards, which are essential for lawful fishing, operate as a crucial incentive; those who do not secure membership within their respective associations will be ineligible to receive these cards, exposing them to potential legal repercussions.

Through these associations, local fishermen gain official membership status, which is a prerequisite for obtaining their professional fishermen cards.