Inclusive Work Opportunity Facilitation

Contour Enviro Group further coordinate and create job opportunities for the MSMEs that have gone through the training programme so that they may practice their acquired skills. All of our MSMEs have acquired work since the inception of the programme and this has brought some sustainability on the model.

The MSMEs work opportunities to date through Contour Enviro Group who coordinates work opportunities in the sector.

The organisations that made this building block possible include but not limited to the following:

  1. City of Cape Town
  2. Cape Winelands Fire Protection Association 
  3. Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve
  4. Conservancies

Once again, it was realised that their work is inundated with administrative work which they do mostly on books in field which often get lost. Thus the Grasshopper Project Management tool was developed in order to support them while they are working in field.  

Conservation MSME Development Programme

As mentioned in the previous sections, this programme is meant to achieve the following: “to develop, empower, support and professionalize Conservation MSMEs in the conservation sector in South Africa”. 

The programme has trained over 20 MSMEs and created over 400 jobs annually since 2022 based on this programme. This programme is the main building block for the Grasshopper Project Management Tool as it was realised that the MSMEs need some support and a consolidation of their project management efforts, access to basic financial tools such as quoting and invoicing. Furthermore, to manage their assets etc. 

The organisations that made the Programme successful have already been mentioned however they are listed below once again:

  • The Nature Conservancy- South Africa
  • The Table Mountain Fund
  • WWF-South Africa
  • Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Environment
  • Department of Small Business Development
  • Tourism and Conservation Sector Education and Training Authority

The focus of the programme is as follow:

  1. Mentorship and coaching
  2. Business support and development
  3. Business, finance, and Human Resources training
  1. MSMEs need to manage their projects efficiently.
  2. The government partners already mentioned above need support to manage their alien vegetation teams and this solution will be a great tool to do so.
  3. Resource wastage
Community engagement

Communities must benefit from the data collected, and we ensure they do.

We support quarterly data-sharing meetings between Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) community conservancies and Big Life Foundation, creating an open forum where data informs collaborative decision-making. This includes town planning, land-use strategies and community-led conservation initiatives.

By sharing insights on wildlife movements, environmental conditions and human activity, communities can plan together for peace, security and the prevention of human-wildlife conflict (HWC). These sessions empower conservancies to co-develop solutions across landscapes, strengthening cross-border cooperation and ensuring that data drives action where it’s needed most.

Control over data sharing or privacy.

Community stewards are empowered and trained to collect data through different sensors, using the IoT network to feed data into control rooms and Earth Ranger. 

 

Technical support and training

CCF provides a holistic digital ecosystem integrating landscape-scale technology, training and community engagement to drive meaningful change, contributing to GBF Target 20 – Strengthen Capacity-Building, Technology Transfer, and Scientific and Technical Cooperation for Biodiversity.

Launching in June 2025, the Protected Area Technician (PAT) Training Programme has been developed by CCF to empower local communities to protect nature.

This tailored programme is designed to build practical, in-demand skills that create real opportunities—from entry-level technician roles to long-term careers in leadership and consulting within protected areas. Co-developed with industry experts and rooted in local needs, the curriculum blends hands-on field training with applied conservation technology knowledge.

Participants will graduate with job-ready skills to support and maintain vital conservation tech infrastructure. They’ll also have the opportunity to earn a PAT Certification, with a pathway to a globally recognised Cisco Certification—unlocking even broader career potential in the conservation and tech sectors.

By investing in local talent, the PAT programme helps communities take a leading role in protecting the natural landscapes they call home.

Monitoring of impact will take place through the first cohort of learners, focusing on their career journeys and personal development outcomes

Centralising data for management and control

A visualisation platform for real-time protected area management, helping managers make informed, conservation-related operational decisions. A community of users is now sharing best practices and innovative concepts, engaging EarthRanger as it extends beyond just elephant protection to a diversity of wildlife, ecological and community applications.

CCF has a long-term partnership with the AI2 Team, which developed this software. 

  • Data flows seamlessly from field-based hardware through the network into Earth Ranger
  • Diagnostic information is key to good support and maintenance.
Transporting data from the field to the operations room

From soil moisture and water levels to animal migrations and habitat health, data from sensors travels via Cisco LoRaWAN gateways and Actility’s ThingPark™ Platform to central operations rooms, where platforms like EarthRanger provide a comprehensive 360-degree view of ecosystem health and threats. Previously, these have been donated by Cisco Inc. 
These LoRaWan gateways now support over 800 IoT sensors across protected areas. 

  • When using LoRaWAN, data is transmitted wirelessly to a gateway. The gateway listens for the corresponding signals and transmits them to a LoRaWAN network server, which is connected to the Internet.
  • Deploying a LoRaWAN network is quicker and much more accessible than setting up a conventional cellular system.
  • Operation requires minimal infrastructure. Setting up cables and making connections to the power line is not required. Network design and optimisation are also simplified, as with one gateway, you can cover a larger area very effectively.
  • Reliable and long-term : The gateways are robust and come with a 7-year warranty, offering peace of mind and operational security for protected area managers working in harsh and remote conditions.
  • Unmatched coverage in rugged terrain: LoRaWAN technology continues to outperform alternatives in remote and rugged landscapes, providing extensive and reliable coverage across challenging terrain where cellular connectivity is limited or non-existent.
  • Seamless regional asset tracking: The system supports device roaming, allowing for uninterrupted tracking of assets across different regions without manual reconfiguration—an essential feature for mobile wildlife monitoring and conservation equipment.
  • Cost-effective: By leveraging low-cost, commodity-based hardware and integrating standard radio modules, LoRaWAN devices reduce overall deployment costs significantly. Compared to cellular or Wi-Fi-based solutions, this makes wide-area sensor networks more financially accessible for conservation teams.
  • A scalable and sustainable alternative: With its low power consumption, long range and minimal infrastructure needs, LoRaWAN provides a sustainable alternative to satellite communication. It enables real-time environmental monitoring in even the most isolated locations.
  • Widespread adoption for Conservation: Outside of this partnership, over 200 protected areas across the country are now using LoRaWAN to monitor vital resources like water, food, and habitat health. This growing adoption is helping secure a resilient future for wildlife, ecosystems, and the communities that depend on them.
Filtering data types and onward rooting

Actility  LoRaWAN Things Park Network ServerThe network server connects sensors, gateways and end-user applications and ensures reliable and secure data routing all along the LoRaWAN network. Along with the Operation Support System (or OSS), they are the brain that controls the complete LoRaWAN network

 

  • Collects data from the LoRaWan Gateways and transports this data from field-based sensors onto Node Red, which sends data to Earth Ranger (a data visualisation software).
  • It can be self-managed through training. 
  • It is easy to replicable.
  • It can be deployed on-premise or on the cloud

Today, Actility’s IoT network server supports 131 LoRaWAN gateways with CCF and nearly a thousand sensors across 35 community-led and private conservancies. These networks span iconic landscapes like the Masai Mara, Tsavo and Northern Rangelands of Kenya, forming a digital safety net across nearly 10 million hectares.

Government agencies, including the Kenya Wildlife Service and Uganda Wildlife Authority, have endorsed the LoRaWan approach for expansion across national parks and community lands.

 

Educational Initiatives

Programs like eco-classrooms, guided tours, and school collaborations raised awareness, while immersive experiences, such as observing salmon in their natural habitats, fostered public engagement.

  • The Formosan landlocked salmon serves as a vital environmental indicator; protecting this species contributes to overall environmental improvement.
  • Environmental education initiatives include interpretive services and guided tours along Qijiawan River, collaborative community and tribal education efforts, conservation-focused courses and ecological camps designed with schools, and volunteer recruitment for hands-on conservation work.
  • Plans are underway to introduce immersive experience classrooms, where participants can wear wetsuits and enter the stream to observe the Formosan landlocked salmon in its natural habitat. These experiences aim to deepen public understanding, foster care, and inspire action to protect stream ecosystems and water resources.
  • The general public lacks sufficient awareness of the Formosan landlocked salmon. Environmental education through diverse channels is essential to garner greater support for conservation efforts.
Reforestation and Water Quality Improvements (In-Situ Conservation)

More than 500,000 native trees were planted, converting polluted farmlands into forested areas. Additionally, wastewater treatment systems were implemented to minimize runoff from recreational zones.

  • High-altitude agriculture in the upper Dajia River and its tributaries polluted the ecosystem, with water quality degradation being a primary factor in the near extinction of the Formosan landlocked salmon.
  • An intact forest environment supports the three critical conditions for the salmon's survival: temperature regulation, food availability, and clean water.
  • In 1997, plans were initiated to install wastewater treatment systems to manage sewage from Wuling Farm and surrounding recreational areas, with the first plant becoming operational in 2002.
  • Negotiations with Wuling Farm facilitated its transition toward eco-tourism, reducing agricultural activities and reclaiming farmland for reforestation.
  • In collaboration with the Forestry Bureau, 500,000 native trees were planted along the Qijiawan River and on reclaimed farmland to restore the riparian ecosystem.
  • In December 2006, the final 8.1 hectares of private land in the Wuling area were acquired, ensuring the Qijiawan River habitat remains free from pollution caused by high-altitude agriculture.
  • The presence of high-altitude agriculture stems from the economic needs of indigenous and local communities, highlighting the importance of fostering dialogue aimed at co-existence and mutual prosperity.
Habitat Restoration (In-Situ Conservation)
  • The conservation initiatives launched in the 1980s ultimately faced setbacks, with efforts declared unsuccessful in the 1990s. Key challenges identified included the absence of deep pools and typhoon shelters in high-altitude streams, along with disrupted habitat connectivity caused by silt traps.
  • Between 1999 and 2001, four silt traps on Gaoshan Creek, a tributary of Qijiawan River, were gradually removed or improved, leading to the observation of natural spawning by juvenile salmon.
  • In 2010, an assessment revealed that the No. 1 silt trap at the lowest part of Qijiawan River was a critical bottleneck, and it was removed in 2011.
  • After the improvement work on the weirs, the movement of silt and sand has altered the riverbed morphology both upstream and downstream, impacting the habitat environment and water quality—critical conditions for the survival of the salmon. Continuous monitoring is essential to track the trends and characteristics of riverbed evolution.