Strengthen cooperation in scientific research and continue to carry out scientific research monitoring. The application of infrared cameras and other modern monitoring technology for research, in-depth understanding of forest musk deer habits and survival methods, in-depth cooperation with the Three Gorges University, the Chinese Academy of Forestry and other scientific research institutions, with the help of professional forces to improve the level of protection, jointly carried out forest musk deer protection research. More than 160 cameras have been continuously deployed in Dalaoling Reserve for more than 7 years, and the population dynamics and habitat distribution of forest musk deer have been obtained in real time, so as to strengthen the protection of forest musk deer activity sites and reduce the corresponding human interference.

   To enhance economic investment in forest fire prevention, the Dalaoling Protected Area has implemented comprehensive infrastructure improvements. Specifically, the protected area is equipped with three management stations, seven business management offices, one forest fire command center, two sets of forest fire monitoring and early warning systems, 32 surveillance cameras, nine patrol vehicles, two fire engines, nine drones, and 60 patrol terminals. These measures have enabled the reserve to achieve 54 consecutive years without major fires, thereby ensuring the safety of the forest musk deer habitat.

Strengthen patrol and improve the management level of forest resources. The forest musk deer habitat is included in the scope of public service forest protection, and strict protection is implemented. The forest chief system is the general starting point of Dalaoling Reserve, the responsibilities of forest chief are strengthened, the co-construction and co-management mechanism is established with 11 villages and 5 townships around it, and a new model of co-construction and co-management of double forest chiefs of protected areas and townships is explored, and 30 forest chiefs are set up at three levels: bureau, station and plot. Every year, we regularly hold forest ministers' coordination meetings on resource protection, forest fire prevention, and special actions to solve the problems of resource protection and people's livelihood development. Employ more than 20 full-time conservators, and regularly carry out various activities such as fire prevention publicity and education vehicle dispatch, household distribution of various publicity materials, hanging fire prevention publicity banners and colored flags, to protect the living environment of forest musk deer and other wild animals.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Lumo conservancy rangers have partnered and collaborated with key organizations to enhance their operations and conservation activities. The conservancy has worked closely with the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) through join patrols and prosecution of poaching cases. Prompt response by the KWS rangers to calls by the conservancy rangers has been identified as one of the ingredients for high success rates in anti-poaching actions. Additionally, the conservancy rangers have adopted a community friendly approaches to conservancy operations including providing opportunities for the conservancy members to share without any victimization, information on planned/ongoing actions that may pose a threat the wellbeing of the conservancy

Conservancy rangers require a number of skills to be able to effectively provide security to people and wildlife and ensure positive human-wildlife interactions. Some of these skills include foot and arms drills, weaponry, bush craft and minor tactics, map reading and global positioning system (GPS), radio communication and IT, first aid and hygiene, physical training and human rights approaches to ranger operations. While Lumo Conservancy has made tremendous progress in sponsoring some of its rangers to The Kenya Wildlife Service Field Training School – Manyani, a significant number of the ranger population (52%) has not undergone the training in KWS training school hence not adequately equipped for optimal performance. Consequently, the conservancy rangers have undergone basic on-site ranger training offered by Ol Pajete conservancy and delivered by qualified practicing conservancy rangers/leaders. Additionally, the conservancy rangers have received a training on human rights approaches to ranger operations and activities. These trainings have built the capacity of rangers to effectively perform their roles and integrate human rights principles in their operations leading to improved respect and recognition of human rights as well as positive conservation outcomes as evidenced in the 70% reduction in poaching incidences.

Improvement of rangers’ capacity was made successful through provision of necessary equipment to enable their operations and conservation activities. Specifically, two motorcycles were procured during the project period and sufficient fuel allocation provided to enhance conservancy patrols. Other equipment provided included rangers’ uniforms, night vision torches to enhance patrols, and GPS enabled phones to enable data collection and processing.  The rangers’ welfare was also targeted during the period.  Initially, the conservancy rangers shared living spaces which denied most of them the necessary desired living conditions and standards. Six tents were procured to bridge the accommodation shortage. Additionally, rangers part-salaries was supported through the period to bridge the gap occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Following from the six monitoring methods, six databases were also created to collect and analyse the data from these activities. The results have been written up into formal reports in English and Portuguese and shared with the national government. 

Each of the three fieldwork coordinators responsible for the data collection, processing and analysis of the data presented the results to other NGOs, the ministry of environment, Câmara Municipal Boa Vista (CMBV) (town council), Society of Tourism Development in Boa Vista and Maio (STDIBVM), Varandinha Association, Port Maritime Institute (IMP) and National Police including Maritime Police 

We are also hoping to submit the data collected during this project to be published in national scientific journals. 

To complete the surveys, each NGO had a team composed of a coordinator and technicians, the Fundacao Tartaruga’s team was composed of a coordinator and 2 field technicians and 2 drone pilots. Bios.CV and Cabo Verde Natura 2000 had teams composed of a coordinator and 2 technicians. The field teams always consisted of at least 3 members plus volunteers. During this project, they aimed to collect data on biodiversity, pressures, threats, species and climate impacts in the two protected areas, namely: Parque Natural do Norte and Reserva Natural de Tartaruga divided into 6 activities mentioned below:

1. Behavior and abundance of ravens 
2. Collection of fisheries and morphological data of Buzio Cabra
3. Monitoring of introduced and potentially invasive plant species
4. Study of the population of Phoenix Atlantica and Ficus Sycomorus 
5. Recording of human pressures and impacts
6. Collection of atmospheric climate data in communities

Each NGO participated and contributed equally to the field work element of the project. All participants took part in training and field visits to collect data. Each NGO was responsible for entering and processing the data, preparing reports and presenting the results of two of the monitoring methods. The final results were presented to various stakeholders during the IMET evaluation, which took place in November 2024.

A summary of each activity is provided below, and full reports for each activity are available.

A total of 139 trips were made to complete field work during the 5 months. 

• 19 for the recording of human pressures and impacts
• 25 for the study of the population of Phoenix Atlantica and Ficus Sycomorus 
• 28 for the behavior and abundance of ravens
• 19 for the collection of atmospheric climate data in communities
• 38 for the collection of fisheries and morphological data of Buzio Cabra
• 10 for the monitoring of introduced and potentially invasive plant species

All of the materials needed to implement the six defined monitoring methods were purchased. As Cabo Verde is an isolated achepelago, items needed to be brought from overseas. The three NGOs divided this equipment equally so that each organisation has its own set of equipment to be able to implement the six monitoring activities independently. In the planning phase we had defined 15 kits as the indicator value, however in reality, due to there being 6 monitoring activities implemented by 3 different NGOs, the total number of “kits” was 18 – 3 per monitoring activity.

Firebreaks are gaps in vegetation or other combustible material that act as barriers to slow or stop the progress of a wildfire. They can be man-made, for example, cleared strips of land. Firebreaks are strategically placed to protect not only valuable forest resources but also homes and other infrastructure. The effectiveness of firebreaks can be supplemented using early warning systems and predictive modeling. Early warning systems utilize technologies like remote sensing and satellite imagery to detect heat anomalies and smoke, while weather monitoring stations provide crucial data on temperature, humidity, and wind conditions. Ground-based sensors further enhance detection by monitoring environmental changes, and effective communication systems ensure timely dissemination of alerts to authorities and the public. Predictive modeling, on the other hand, uses data and algorithms to forecast fire behavior and spread. Fire behavior models simulate fire dynamics based on fuel type, topography, and weather, while machine learning algorithms analyze historical data to predict future fire occurrences. Coupled fire-atmospheric models integrate fire behavior with atmospheric conditions, offering a comprehensive understanding of fire-environment interactions. Risk assessment tools evaluate the potential impact of fires, aiding in resource allocation and protection prioritization. Together, these technologies enhance the ability to prevent, detect, and respond to wildfires, mitigating their impact on communities and ecosystems.

This involves engaging local communities in forest management and can be effective in any region where local populations depend on forest resources. These initiatives have granted communities secure land tenure and motivated them to manage forest resources effectively. By involving locals in forest stewardship, conditions have improved, and alternative income sources such as agroforestry and eco-tourism have been developed. The programs have increased community control and accountability in forest management, resulting in healthier forests and greater community engagement. Their success is largely due to robust local institutions, favorable policies, and ongoing capacity-building. Community participation in decision-making and resource-sharing has further enhanced forest conservation and improved livelihoods.