Work with different actors at the local, national, and international levels, to contribute to the design of a fiber value chain that can trigger the activity. The work will consist of the identification of key public and private actors in order to provide tools for the commercialization of the product. The activities that will be developed in this stage of the project include meetings with the textile sector, application authorities, and various important local actors in this area.

The annual shearing of guanacos by the Payún Matrú Cooperative is being closely supervised by the Mendoza Department of Renewable Natural Resources to ensure that the potential economic income provided by guanaco wool is feasible and sustainable. At the same time, Cooperative members understand that by making "good practices" they receive "good benefits". CONICET has tested and developed methods for minimizing the stress of individual guanacos during capture and handling, that reduce negative impacts at the population level.  Our knowledge of ecological, physiological, and behavioral processes that "constrain" these camelids in La Payunia, based on more than 10 years of study, put us in a unique position for advising and teaching the cooperative and government stakeholders how to minimize impacts of live shearing on this population. We will continue training members of Payún Matrú Cooperative in "good practices" to make capture and shearing of wild guanacos within Wildlife Friendly Actions. The following activities will be carried out at this stage:

Early warnings are delivered through multiple channels, including a mobile app, smart broadcasting, phone calls, and text messages. The app is the most widely used, and monitors also share alerts via WeChat groups or personal networks for broader reach. To expand user coverage, field teams conduct door-to-door awareness campaigns in elephant-affected villages. As a result, the app has been downloaded by more than 246,660 users.
This module has strengthened public engagement and built community capacity by combining face-to-face outreach with digital tools. It also improves public understanding of wildlife protection and encourages participation. These efforts directly support GBF Targets 20 (capacity-building) and 21 (public awareness and education).

All data from drones and infrared cameras is transmitted to an early warning platform in real time. The system automatically matches location information and generates warning messages, which are sent to end-users through apps, WeChat, text messages, and phone calls. This ensures that residents can respond quickly and stay safe. To date, over 130,000 warnings have been issued.
The platform improves access to information, especially for rural and vulnerable communities. This inclusive communication system fulfills GBF Target 21 by enhancing public access to biodiversity-related information and strengthening the community’s ability to respond to human-wildlife risks.

The infrared system collects a large number of images daily, including many that are unrelated to elephants. With AI technology, the system has learned to automatically identify and filter out non-elephant images with over 99% accuracy, even detecting partial figures or shadows. Warnings are generated within 13–15 seconds through a fully automated process, reducing the need for manual review and enhancing the efficiency of elephant management.
So far, the system has captured over 3 million images and issued more than 12,000 automated warnings. All data is uploaded in real time to a centralized platform and shared with relevant agencies for research, management, and decision-making. This contributes to GBF Target 20 by promoting knowledge systems, technology, and innovation in biodiversity protection.

1.  Drone Monitoring
   Since 2017, the project has assigned dedicated drone monitoring teams to each elephant herd or individual active outside protected areas. Each team operates around the clock and currently includes over 70 trained personnel, all capable of locating elephants quickly and accurately.
2.  Infrared Camera Monitoring
   To address the limits of drone coverage—such as shift changes and blind spots at night—the project deployed a custom infrared monitoring system. A total of 600 infrared cameras with real-time data transmission, 21 video cameras, and 177 smart broadcasting devices have been installed in key zones, including roads, elephant corridors, and villages.
   Deployment is based on elephant activity hotspots. This supports space-use planning and the safe coexistence of people and elephants, while also informing corridor design and habitat protection. It aligns closely with GBF Targets 1 and 4 by applying technology to biodiversity management and species conservation.In addition, the project is exploring options for recycling and reusing monitoring equipment to ensure long-term ecological and environmental sustainability.

Effective monitoring relies on well-structured teams with clear responsibilities and close coordination. Based on elephant distribution, the project has built specialized drone monitoring teams following a “one herd, one strategy” approach, and established village-based monitoring groups in key areas. Drone teams track elephant activity with precision, while local teams provide on-the-ground support. This dual system—“follow the elephants” and “local presence”—covers over 95% of the wild elephant population (the remaining 5% are within protected areas). In areas where drones cannot operate, infrared cameras are used for 24/7 coverage. By combining aerial and ground technologies, the system has overcome challenges of nighttime and forest-area monitoring.
The system’s success depends on local personnel. Most monitors are young people from local communities who have received training in drone operation, field tracking, and warning communication. This approach not only improves local skills, but also enhances public awareness and engagement. It contributes directly to GBF Targets 20 and 21 by building community monitoring capacity and encouraging participation.

A network of fishermen who are using the SIREN mobile app

Developing different dissemination methods strengthens communication within the interface of research, policy, and practice. While a study's core findings may remain consistent, the way these results are shared must be tailored to suit the specific needs, preferences, and capacities of different stakeholders. This approach ensures that the information is not only accessible but also impactful, empowering stakeholders to make informed decisions or take appropriate action.

 For example, within the context of accompanying research in FLR implementation, the way results are communicated to implementers and policymakers differs from the approach used for academic audiences. Policymakers and implementers often operate in fast-paced environments where they require clear, concise, and actionable information. Policymakers and implementers benefit most from concise, straightforward communication that highlights actionable insights, often set apart from the detailed and structured format of scientific articles. 

By recognizing and adapting to these differences, our project as accompanying research bridges the gaps between evidence generation and practical application, fostering stronger connections and more meaningful collaborations between the worlds of science, policy, and practice.

The TREES project employs a multi-scale, cross-disciplinary approach to synthesize data from environmental, social, and economic analyses, providing a holistic understanding of FLR impacts across Africa with a key focus on East and West Africa. To achieve this goal, the overall objective is to mitigate the impacts of climate change in Africa through synthesis research that informs FLR policies and practices. This approach allows for a nuanced understanding of FLR practices and their impacts, which are adaptable across different regions. By combining data from various disciplines, including environmental science, social science, and economic analyses, the project provides a holistic understanding of FLR practices and their complex interplay. Therefore, similar research methods are applied in order to look into similar problems under different contexts. The multi-disciplinary research methods applied in different countries are contextualized to come up with research based tailored solutions to the context of the country.