National | PANORAMA

Dissemination and learning

Stakeholder workshop organized to disseminate results in Togo

Dissemination and learning

Hamza N.

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 success of applying different outreach mechanisms depends on the research team's strong commitment to tailoring result communication styles to different audiences. The research results are prepared to be published in scientific journals, but also in form of factsheets, policy briefs, and posters, which are designed to communicate results to non-academic stakeholders. The cooperation with FLR implementers also enables the accompanying research to successfully organize participatory workshops at the local level, webinars and joined symposia whereby research and practice complementary outputs and ideas are discussed. Findings are also incorporated into university lectures and curricular.

In the frame of our research project, we customise the dissemination and outreach strategies to align with the needs and contexts of our diverse stakeholders. For local implementers and communities, communication is designed to be interactive and engaging, relying heavily on oral presentations and visual tools such as posters or leaflets as well translation to local languages. These are combined with dialogue to facilitate mutual understanding and encourage collaboration. By tailoring the approach to fit the audience, whether it be policymakers requiring concise briefs or local communities needing participatory and visually oriented methods, we ensure that the core message of our research is effectively conveyed and supports real-world application. By organizing different webinars where both research and practice are presented on the same platform, we exchanged and developed strategies that help in communicating research findings to non-academic audiences. Furthermore, through presentations at different conferences, our research outreach mechanism has grown to a wider audience in addition to the FLR implementation countries.

Synergy research

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.

Whilst PhDs focus on country-specific topics, the synergy project allows cross-country synthesis to contribute toward the upscaling and outscaling of FLR-related research outputs, experiences obtained and practice. Additionally, Master thesis research supports the overall project context by dealing with specific topics at a country level. The research conducted by the master's and PhD students are intertwined, and research outputs deepen if the results can be compared and recommendations can be drawn from the context of one country to the other.

Research on FLR across different implementation countries is interrelated. Successful local practices identified through the project are advocated as models for adaptation and scaling across diverse contexts, enhancing contributions to the global FLR agenda.

This diverse geographic representation ensures that the project benefits from a wide range of perspectives and experiences relevant to different ecological and socio-economic contexts across Africa. The project generates actionable insights for climate action and land restoration efforts beyond case studies, allowing for conclusions and recommendations drawn across different contexts and scales (local to regional/African). Research results help to underpin FLR practices developed by F4F scientifically.

International research stays

The entire team meets in person during international reserach stays at ZALF

TREES team

Katharina L.

An annual international mobility program of 3 months per year was set up for all PhD students based in the countries of F4F implementation. The programme was designed in a way that all PhDs came to the host institution in Germany (ZALF) at the same time, in order to facilitate a structured PhD supervision system. Whilst in Germany, the stay consisted of multiple interlinked components, such as: desk-based research activities, integration in host institution’s meetings and events, joined workshops on project planning, methods trainings, reflections on PhD progress (chances and challenges), in-person status meetings with GIZ/F4F, as well as joined outreach activities including for example a symposia by GIZ and ZALF on restoration in the Global South in Bonn and a workshop on the concept of Accompanying research at TropentagConference2023 in Berlin. Students were also encourage to participate in further trainings and conferences depending on individual interests and needs.

Setting up an international mobility program that hosted all PhD working in and on the various implementing countries at the same time allowed for in-person team work which strongly impacted on the growth of mutual trust, and high quality communication and collaboration, that was essential also for the project progress and success during the period of remote team work. In addition, the aligned research stays enhanced cross-country thematic exchange, fostered synthesis research and contributed toward enhanced North-South and South-South dialogue and capacity building overall. With three mobility stays in consecutive years, PhD students embarked on a joined journey with regular points of interaction and reflection on research topic and PhD related activities. Positive effects became increasingly visible over time relating to team trust and intensity of collaboration, PhD research related knowledge and skills and cross-country and synthesis research rising.

Setting up a structured international mobility stay program not only allowed for the international research experience at a partner institute in Germany (ZALF), but also the direct interaction of the various team members. This way, much space was created to research, discuss and learn jointly. Joined project planning workshops, trainings on selected methods and approaches that were used by team members in different country packages, but also PhD planning and reflection workshops were organized during the time. Mobility stays also allowed direct interaction with GIZ/F4F Global team and other actor of science, policy and practice through joined symposia, workshops and attendance of international conferences.

International research tandems and co-

To facilitate global collaborations, strengthening of international research structures, capacity building and global learning, the TREES project as solution strongly builds on international partnerships. The team itself is composed in most of the countries of international research tandems, whereby PhD and Master students originate from the country of study as well as Germany or other country. Whilst each student has his/her individual research focus, data collection is planned and implemented in the binational tandems. Supervision is provided in international supervision tandems whereby in each country a university is taking the country lead and co-supervision is provided by the project lead organization.

Setting up binational research teams contributes toward enhanced complexity thinking through integration of multiple perspectives and disciplines. This facilitates research on FLR implementation for enhanced analysis and solution development as well as capacity building and global learning through North-South and South-South collaborations. Joined field visits can facilitate students’ access to study sites, interaction with actors on the ground, and increased samples sizes if questionnaires are combined.

Establishing international PhD and Master student research tandems and building international co-supervision teams opens up new learning spaces and opportunities for collaborations. Different expertise and perspectives can be integrated in the different PhD and Master Thesis study projects, research design and implementation. Diversified research methods can be implemented in a complementary way to deepen FLR related analysis and combined interpretation perspectives enrich research output. If questions on data arise or verification is needed upon completion of the field trip, the tandem structure facilitates follow up field visits for complementation or verification of results. Knowledge derived and communicated via multiple channels in Germany and the F4F countries can enhance dialogue at the policy, practice, science interface within and across countries.

Evolution of on-board technologies and AI integration

Illustration of AI on crocodile monitoring

Clément Aubert with DALL-E

Advancements in on-board technologies and AI integration hold great potential to further enhance the existing drone-based crocodilian monitoring method. Improvements in drone hardware, such as hybrid models with extended flight times and enhanced camera resolutions, allow for broader habitat coverage and the capture of more detailed imagery in complex environments. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) represents a significant opportunity to streamline image analysis by automating crocodile detection and size estimation using allometric models. These AI-driven enhancements could provide near real-time data processing, reducing reliance on time consuming manual analysis.

This improvements are currently under development with my collaborators

Empowering Local Stakeholders through Drone Technology

Using drone with local stakeholders

Clément Aubert

This building block on capacity building on local stakeholders including Indigenous including Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) to operate drones, enabling them to take active roles in conservation.

Ease of Use of the method devellopted:

Minimal Technical Skills Required:
Users only need basic training in drone operation and measurement extraction from high-resolution images. The process is straightforward:
- Fly the drone following the standardized flight protocol.
- Marke crocodilians on overhead images.
- Measure the visible head length using accessible image analysis tools (e.g., ImageJ, QGIS).
- Apply the corresponding allometric equation or lookup from pre-prepared tables (abaques) for total length estimation.
Readily Adaptable:
The framework uses easy-to-read tables (abaques), making it accessible to both specilialists and non-specialists for operators can quickly apply the method without requiring advanced scientific expertise.
Accessible Equipment:
The approach relies on consumer-grade drones and widely available software, ensuring affordability and reducing barriers to adoption.

Why It’s Effective:

The framework’s simplicity, scalability, and reliability make it ideal for diverse contexts, from remote wetlands to urban-adjacent habitats. It empowers a broad range of users to generate scientifically robust data.

Allometric Framework for Crocodilian Size Estimation

Clément Aubert

The allometric framework is a non-invasive tool designed to estimate the total body length of crocodilians based on the measurement of their head length, captured through high-resolution drone imagery. By leveraging established species-specific head-to-body length ratios, this method eliminates the need for physical capture or handling, reducing risks for both researchers and wildlife. Validated for 17 of the 27 crocodilian species, the framework allow to provides reliable demographic data essential for population monitoring and conservation management.

The framework uses easy-to-read tables (abaques), making it accessible to non-specialists, operators can quickly apply the method without requiring advanced scientific expertise.

Estimating total length of crocodylians from drone-captured images by using a model

Estimating Total Length of Partially Submerged Crocodylians from Drone Imagery

Clément Aubert

Understanding the demographic structure is vital for wildlife research and conservation. For crocodylians, accurately estimating total length and demographic class usually necessitates close observation or capture, often of partially immersed individuals, leading to potential imprecision and risk. Drone technology offers a bias-free, safer alternative for classification. This study evaluated the effectiveness of drone photos combined with head length allometric relationships to estimate total length, and propose a standardized method for drone-based crocodylian demographic classification.

An allometric framework correlating head to total length for 17 crocodylian species was developed, incorporating confidence intervals to account for imprecision sources (e.g., allometric accuracy, head inclination, observer bias, terrain variability).This method was applied to wild crocodylians through drone photography. Terrain effects were less impactful than Ground Sample Distance (GSD) errors from photogrammetric software. The allometric framework predicted lengths within ≃11–18% accuracy across species, with natural allometric variation among individuals explaining much of this range. Compared to traditional methods that can be subjective and risky, our drone-based approach is objective, efficient, fast, cheap, non-invasive, and safe.

Aubert et al. - 2024 - Estimating Total Length of Partially Submerged Cro.pdf

Standardized Drone Survey Protocols

Crocodile counts and mapping from drone photos

Drone-based crocodile surveys

Clément Aubert

This building block establishes standardized flight parameters for effective crocodilian monitoring

Crocodiles can be closely approached (.10 m altitude) and consumer-grade drones do not elicit flight responses in West African large mammals and birds at altitudes of 40–60 m. Altitude and other flight parameters did not affect detectability, because high-resolution photos allowed accurate counting. Observer experience, field conditions (e.g. wind, sun reflection), and site characteristics (e.g. vegetation, homogeneity) all significantly affected detectability. Drone-based crocodylian surveys should be implemented from 40 m altitude in the first third of the day. Drone surveys provide advantages over traditional methods, including precise size estimation, less disturbance, and the ability to cover greater and more remote areas. Drone survey photos allow for repeatable and quantifiable habitat assessments, detection of encroachment and other illegal activities, and leave a permanent record.
Overall,dronesofferavaluableandcost-effectivealternative forsurveyingcrocodylianpopulationswith compelling secondary benefits, although they may not be suitable in all cases and for all species

Aubert et al. - 2021 - Evaluation of the use of drones to monitor a diver.pdf

Cost-Effective Restoration Processes

One of the biggest barriers to large-scale restoration is cost. Our solution eliminates the need for costly nurseries and reduces labor-intensive efforts, enabling efficient large-scale planting. The drones can plant up to 2,000 seeds in under 10 minutes, drastically reducing time and labor costs. This affordability makes restoration feasible for low-income regions and opens up opportunities for scaling in areas previously deemed inaccessible. The process is adaptable to other restoration challenges, such as reforestation or agricultural regeneration, making it versatile across multiple applications.

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