Multi-national | PANORAMA

Strengthen cooperation in scientific research and continue to carry out scientific research monitoring

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.

1.Continue to carry out field monitoring;
2.Strengthen cooperation with universities.

1.Monitoring equipment should be updated in time;
2. The professional level of monitoring personnel should be continuously improved.

Multi-Sectoral Stakeholder Approach to Addressing Gender Equality and Environmental Sustainability

Stakeholder from Zambia and Namibia after a first formal conflict resolution arising from lack of harmonization of policies such as the fishban period.

Multi-Sectoral Stakeholder engagement

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Stakeholders from different departments during a " who holds more power" exercise to understand how power dynamics disadvantegs vulnerable people in communities such as women and girls.

Multistakeholder Engagements.

Action Aid Zambia, by Samantha Mungan'andu

Stakeholders pausing for a picture after a 2 days Fisheries Act review in Mongu District, Western province.

STakeholder engagements and policy review.

Action Aid Zambia, Wezi Nyalazi

This building block fosters collaboration among diverse stakeholders to address the structural and systemic issues intersecting gender equality and environmental sustainability. Through activities such as training sessions, conflict management meetings, and leadership support, stakeholders from the gender sector (led by the Division of Gender) and the environmental sector (led by the Ministry of Fisheries) engage in cross-sectoral discussions to align objectives and integrate solutions. For example, fisheries stakeholders provide insights into resource management and illegal practices, while gender sector members contribute expertise on GBV prevention and response mechanisms. The initiative also influences policy by advocating for and supporting the revision of legal instruments like the Fisheries Act and the Anti-GBV Act of 2011, ensuring they address the unique challenges at this intersection. Additionally, technical support is provided for mainstreaming gender considerations in other sectors and integrating cross-cutting issues into broader policy frameworks. By aligning community-level efforts with institutional policies, this approach ensures scalable, sustainable, and contextually relevant interventions.

Policy and Legal Advocacy: Engaging stakeholders in revising key policies, such as the Fisheries Act and Anti-GBV Act, ensures the alignment of national frameworks with the realities of community-level challenges.
Cross-Sector Collaboration: Inclusion of diverse stakeholders—district committees, line ministries, community leaders, and local institutions—promotes synergy in addressing interconnected challenges.
Institutional Support for Integration: Providing technical assistance for mainstreaming gender across sectors ensures that interventions align with broader national development goals.
Accountability Mechanisms: Regular reporting and feedback loops between community actors and state-level stakeholders strengthen coordination, transparency, and long-term support.
Contextual Awareness: Recognizing the socio-political and cultural dynamics, such as cross-border issues in Sesheke, enables flexible and tailored solutions.

Policy Influence Requires Persistence: Revising laws and policies to reflect grassroots realities, such as integrating "sex for fish" dynamics into the Fisheries Act, is a gradual but essential process.
Integration Enhances Impact: Addressing GBV and environmental issues in isolation is less effective than integrating these efforts into other sectors, such as health and education, to reflect the interconnectedness of societal challenges.
Collaboration Fosters Sustainability: Strong partnerships between gender and fisheries sectors help stakeholders appreciate mutual dependencies, resulting in better coordination and ownership of interventions.
Respecting Local Dynamics Is Critical: Communities dependent on resources may resist government interventions due to historical or systemic inequalities. A participatory approach rooted in respect and understanding is essential.
Adaptability in Complex Contexts: Addressing intersectional challenges which are deeply embeded in neoliberal systems and structures such as intersectional inequality, rural marginalization and cross-border security issues, requires flexibility and innovative resource use to sustain project momentum.

Implementation

Documentation and dissemination of results

This document was a news feature about our interventions in the fisheries secot in Zambia

Awareness Raising and Gender Training on the Interlinkages Between GBV and Environmental Degradation in the Fisheries Sector

The picture shows Breaking news caption in Zambia which was misinterpreted by masses but later became a powerful tool to help masses understand existing Gender challenges in the environmental sector.

Awareness Raising of GBV in the fisheries sector.

Marcus Sakubita, Prime T>V News, Zambia.

Mother Support Group women gathered at Katongo Primary school to discuss the safety planning measures in their community and fishing camps as they conduct awareness raisig.

Awareness Raising.

Action Aid Zambia, by Samantha Mungan'andu

T his building block focuses on raising awareness and providing tailored gender training to highlight the interconnectedness of GBV, particularly exploitative practices like "sex for fish," and environmental degradation in the fisheries sector. With men dominating fish harvesting and women constituting 90% of post-harvest activities, the sector reveals stark gender dynamics. The initiative educates communities and stakeholders on how these transactional relationships exacerbate resource depletion, harm biodiversity, and perpetuate power imbalances between men and women. Using diverse forms of communication, such as roadshows, community dramas, and GBV Watch Committee activities, the project aims to transform perceptions, foster collaboration, and inspire action to address these interwoven challenges.

Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: State actors, resource custodians, and legal systems working together to tackle the dual challenges of GBV and resource depletion.
Diverse Communication Strategies: Using roadshows, drama, community awareness sessions, and GBV Watch Committees to effectively convey complex issues to different audiences.
Local and Cross-Border Contexts: Acknowledging the unique socioeconomic and cultural contexts of communities along the Zambezi River, which spans multiple countries.
Understanding Power Dynamics: Addressing the control and access to resources as central to the exploitation, rather than blaming victims or perpetuating stereotypes.

Lessons Learned

Sensitivity Is Critical: Miscommunication or misrepresentation, such as media captions, can harm awareness efforts; careful messaging is essential.
Continuous Engagement: Awareness raising is an ongoing process that requires sustained efforts and integration into existing platforms.
Community Dynamics Matter: Resource-dependent communities can resist government-led resource management; respect and understanding of their perspectives are crucial.
Challenging Stereotypes: Awareness efforts must emphasize that "sex for fish" is rooted in power imbalances rather than reducing women to instigators or sex workers.
Resource Management Challenges: Disputes over ownership and responsibility for natural resources highlight the need for clear roles and strengthened governance.

Delopment of the SIREN App

Fisher using SIREN

AMMCO

This building block is to explain how I developped an App that allow fishers to contribute to marine science knowledge in Africa.

Initially we gave fishers a pre-printed form to report opportunistic sightings they encountered. However, the form was getting lost most of the time.

We decided to move to a digital solution. The existing App by then required internet to work and was just too complicated for fishers. So we thought we shoud develop an App that will be more userfriendly for fishers.

We wrote the algorithm (workflow) of the App and then contracted an Indian development company to write the code.

Later we had to bring the development of SIREN back to Cameroon to reduce the cost of developement.

We work with volunteer around the world that will continuously support with the development of the SIREN

passion and determination
availability of seed fund to develop an initial version of the SIREN App
Collaboration with local App developpers
Extending the collaboration to international volunteers
understand

The first developper company I contracted for the development of SIREN was a foreign company based in India. The cost of develpment was very high and there was a lot of miscomunication due to language barriers. When we started working with local developpers, the cost of development decreased importantly and it was easier to communicate.
Before giving a smarphone to fisher for data collection you must develop a trust relationship with him before otherwise the phone will never be used by the fisher to report sightings.

Documentation and dissemination of results

Collaborative Partnerships for Conservation

Collecting data on field

creative commons

Selecting data on field

creative commons

Symbolical signature of Tech4nature Mexico Phase 2

creative commons

Collecting data on field

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Training on feline characteristics

creative commons

This building block focuses on the establishment of strong partnerships between academic institutions (Universidad Politécnica de Yucatán), local governments (Secretaría de Desarrollo de Sustentable del Estado de Yucatán), and conservation organizations (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), private sector (Huawei), and local communities (Dzilam de Bravo) to enhance the collection and analysis of biodiversity data, access to technological infrastructure, government program instrumentation and application, and local ownership and execution.

The purpose of this building block is to foster cooperation among diverse stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of conservation technologies. These partnerships enable the sharing of resources and expertise, empowering local actors to participate in conservation projects and creating a framework for sustainability.

Enabling factors:

Strong engagement and alignment between stakeholders, including academic institutions, government agencies, conservation organizations, private sector and local communities.
Signed agreements that define clear roles, responsibilities, and benefits for all parties involved.
Access to local knowledge and expertise to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of conservation actions.

Transparent communication between stakeholders is crucial to build trust and ensure the long-term success of partnerships.
Including academic institutions fosters innovation and provides opportunities for student involvement in meaningful projects.
Government involvement helps to create conservation policies and facilitates execution in the community.
Partnerships with conservation organisations strengthen the scalability and visibility of conservation initiatives by pooling resources and knowledge.
Community of Dzilam de Bravo provides data on field and by taking ownership of the project, they contribute to efficient project execution
Private sector provides infrastructure and expertise to facilitate the development of the technology

https://www.forclimate.ai/tech4nature

A multi-stakeholder partnership facilitate the successful journey of FFMA

Leveraging diverse expertise from various backgrounds, such as fisheries, technology, and governance, to contribute their expertise and experience. Pooling resources from different stakeholders community, government, technology and knowledge partners including INCOIS and Qualcomm to support the development, implementation, and scaling up of the FFMA. Ensuring the FFMA meets the needs of fishers and other stakeholders, increasing its adoption and impact. All these building a strong foundation for the FFMA's long-term sustainability through shared ownership and commitment.

Continuous engagement with the fisher community

Continuously engage community in development process enables the development of a more user-friendly and relevant Fisher Friend Mobile Application (FFMA) including identifying and addressing specific challenges and requirements, refining the application based on feedback and evolving needs., building trust and encouraging widespread use among fishers.

Engagement with Qualcomm: Sustained support from Qualcomm is also important factor to take application in PAN India

Embedding Fisher Friend within the Fish for All Centre Programme:
MSSRF integrated Fisher Friend into its Fish for All Centre Programme, focusing on sustainable fisheries development. This alignment leveraged existing resources, expertise, and networks, providing a strong foundation for promoting Fisher Friend.

Engagement with INCOIS:
Collaborating with the INCOIS, MSSRF ensured the provision of critical oceanographic data and advisories. This partnership enhanced the app’s accuracy and relevance for fishers.

Engagement with Departments of Fisheries and the Indian Coast Guard:
Closely work with government departments to align Fisher Friend’s services with government priorities. These partnerships also facilitated policy advocacy and integration with existing fisheries initiatives

Partnership with Fisher Associations and Local NGOs:
By partnering with fisher associations and local NGOs, MSSRF leveraged local networks and expertise

Continuous engagement with the fisher community is crucial for developing a user-friendly and relevant application.

Regular feedback and updates are necessary to ensure the application meets evolving user needs.

Collaboration with various stakeholders can enhance the application's impact, sustainability, and reach.

Technology can significantly improve the lives and livelihoods of fishers by providing timely information, improving safety, and increasing efficiency.

Implementation

National

Multi-national

Spatial Intelligence for Wildfire Management

This building block provides the essential spatial intelligence for PyroSense, enabling a dynamic understanding of the geographical landscape. Its core purpose is to identify fire risk areas, pinpoint incident locations, and visualize resource deployment. This is crucial for strategic decision-making, allowing proactive resource allocation, and response planning.

PyroSense utilizes a robust Geographic Information System (GIS) to power this function. The GIS integrates various spatial data layers, including topography, vegetation, infrastructure, etc. Initially, baseline risk maps are created by analyzing factors, guiding the placement of sensors and cameras.

Upon detection of a potential fire by environmental sensors or AI, the system immediately feeds the precise coordinates into the GIS. This real-time location data, combined with meteorological data (local and satellite), enables dynamic risk assessments. The GIS also serves as a central operational dashboard, visualizing the real-time positions of all deployed assets, including drones and first responder teams. This facilitates optimal resource allocation and coordination. This critical information is then communicated via a web application to stakeholders, providing clear visual situational awareness and supporting informed decision-making.

Accurate and Up-to-Date GIS Data: Access to current geospatial data on topography, vegetation, historical fire activity is essential for reliable risk assessments.
A powerful GIS platform is necessary for integrating diverse data layers, performing complex analyses, and running real-time AI.
Expertise is needed to interpret GIS data, validate models, and use the platform for strategic planning and incident management.
Connectivity with environmental sensors, drone feeds, and meteorological data is crucial for dynamic risk mapping and accurate fire tracking.

The accuracy and utility of geospatial planning are directly proportional to the quality and timeliness of the underlying GIS data. Investing in high-resolution, frequently updated maps and environmental data is paramount. Furthermore, the ability to integrate real-time sensor and drone data into the GIS for dynamic risk assessment proved to be a game-changer, moving beyond static planning to predictive capabilities.

Initial challenges included the significant effort required to collect and digitize comprehensive baseline GIS data for large, remote areas. Data standardization across different sources (e.g., various government agencies, local surveys) was also a hurdle. Additionally, ensuring the GIS platform could handle the computational load of real-time data fusion and complex fire spread simulations without latency issues was a technical challenge.

Before deployment, dedicate substantial resources to acquiring and standardizing all relevant geospatial data.
Choose a GIS platform that can scale with increasing data volumes and computational demands.
Ensure that local teams are proficient in using the GIS platform

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Comprehensive Data Ingestion for Fire Detection

This is the comprehensive intake mechanism for all information vital to PyroSense's platform. Its purpose is to gather real-time data, from multiple origins, ensuring the system has the input needed for accurate analysis and effective decision-making.

PyroSense integrates an agnostic and highly compatible array of data:

Environmental IoT Sensors are strategically deployed, and continuously collect real-time CO2, temp. and humidity data. They are agnostic in type and protocol, compatible with MQTT, LoRa, Sigfox, and NBIoT, ensuring broad integration. For efficiency, they feature long-lasting batteries (up to 10 years), minimising maintenance.
Fixed cameras and drones capture high-resolution images and live video. Integrated Vision AI processes this visual data in real-time to detect anomalies like smoke or fire.
PyroSense gathers data from local weather stations and satellites. Combining granular local data with broad satellite coverage provides a comprehensive understanding of current weather.
GIS provides foundational spatial information, including maps of terrain, vegetation, infrastructure, etc.
Firemen Wearables monitor real-time biometrics. AI enhances data for risk pattern recognition, of fatigue or heat stress. Real-time alerts are sent to nearby teams or control centers, enabling proactive intervention.

Reliable Sensor Deployment: Sensors should be strategically placed, well-installed, ensuring continuous data collection and security.
Data Stream Integration: Integrating data from various sensors, cameras, drones, and meteorological sources is crucial for situational awareness.
Data Quality and Calibration: Ensure all data sources are calibrated and high quality to avoid false alarms.
Secure Data Transmission: A strong communication is vital for secure, low-latency data transfer from remote locations.

The diversity and agnosticism of data sources are critical for comprehensive and resilient fire detection. Relying on a single type of sensor or communication protocol creates vulnerabilities. The ability to integrate data from various IoT sensors, visual feeds (cameras, drones), meteorological data, and even human biometrics provides a robust, multi-layered detection system that significantly reduces false positives and increases detection accuracy.

The platform must be software and hardware agnostic.
Cybersecurity and intercommunication are crucial.

A significant challenge was ensuring seamless interoperability between different sensor types and communication protocols (e.g., MQTT, LoRa, Sigfox, NBIoT) from various manufacturers. As well as, maintaining connectivity in remote, terrains for all sensor types was also an ongoing effort, despite long battery life.

Design your system to be compatible with multiple IoT communication protocols from the outset.
Develop algorithms for data validation and fusion to cross-reference information from disparate sources.
Consider hybrid communication solutions (e.g., satellite for remote areas)