Uso de cámaras remotas con carnada

De manera específica, una metodología del Protocolo para la recopilación de información y el ejercicio de monitoreo consiste en la instalación de estaciones en acero inoxidable con cámaras que registran una locación particular durante un tiempo determinado. Junto a la cámara se ubica un contenedor de PVC con carnada para atraer a especies carnívoras, pero sin ofrecerles alimento. 

  • Sin duda, un factor elemental es el recurso económico para la instalación de los equipos. El Protocolo sugiere algunas alternativas en caso de no contar con la financiación necesaria para esta técnica de monitoreo, como la ampliación del área de monitoreo de transectos de peces de arrecife. 

     

  • Al no implicar impactos sobre los hábitos alimenticios de las especies o sobre los ecosistemas en general, se reducen los sesgos y se garantiza que la técnica no es destructiva ni invasiva. 
  • La instalación de cámaras con carnada se ha posicionado como una metodología efectiva y estandarizada, que no atenta contra la integridad de las especies y que se desarrolla de manera independiente a las prácticas de pesca. Esto quiere decir que no implica un impacto ecológico. 
  • A diferencia de otras técnicas como los censos visuales, el monitoreo a través de cámaras genera observaciones más confiables y objetivas, y cubre mayores áreas en términos de profundidad y tiempo de observación. 
  • Es recomendable instalar varias estaciones de manera estratégica, con el fin de cubrir por completo áreas extensas de monitoreo. 
  • De acuerdo con investigaciones, esta técnica está siendo cada vez más utilizada para monitorear especies pelágicas y depredadoras, lo que ha posibilitado comparaciones a nivel global. 

Un aspecto importante para continuar incentivando el uso de esta técnica es la correcta disposición de las carnadas una vez que estas ya han sido utilizadas. 

Documentation and dissemination of results
National
Protocolos para el monitoreo de peces pelágicos y para el monitoreo de mamíferos marinos

Se trata de una herramienta para el monitoreo de grandes peces pelágicos y/o depredadores (especies focales) en Áreas Marinas Protegidas (AMP) del Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC) de Costa Rica.  Este protocolo cuenta con una selección de indicadores que permitirán evaluar el estado de conservación en el que se encuentran las especies focales año tras año con el fin de identificar cambios a corto plazo y proporcionar alertas tempranas a los tomadores de decisiones. Se proponen técnicas de monitoreo estandarizadas, efectivas y accesibles que no dependan necesariamente de personal científico especializado en el campo. A largo plazo, esta información servirá para evaluar tendencias poblacionales, identificar amenazas y fortalecer la efectividad de las AMP hacia la conservación de un grupo de especies cuya presencia es vital para el funcionamiento y salud de los ecosistemas.

Creación en el 2016 del Programa Nacional de Monitoreo Ecológico (PRONAMEC), con el propósito de generar y difundir información científica sobre el estado de la conservación de la biodiversidad en todo Costa Rica. Esto, como una herramienta para la toma de decisiones a escala local y nacional. 

  • La participación activa y el empoderamiento de los guardaparques son fundamentales para lograr un compromiso efectivo con el monitoreo.
  • Es esencial dar continuidad al monitoreo, garantizando las capacidades operativas necesarias y el financiamiento de las iniciativas, como una forma de promover la consistencia de los datos y la información. 
  • La falta de embarcaciones dedicadas exclusivamente al monitoreo es un obstáculo que limita la efectividad del programa, ya que depende de recursos que se destinan a otras actividades. 
  • Es importante seguir un método científico riguroso, que incluye observación, formulación de preguntas, generación de hipótesis y análisis de problemas.
  • Es esencial compartir y publicar los datos obtenidos con la comunidad científica, para asegurar que la información se analice y utilice adecuadamente.
  • Se presentan dificultades para realizar foto-identificaciones efectivas de las especies debido a su desplazamiento, por lo que es necesario aplicar métodos alternativos de recolección de datos como la obtención de muestras genéticas.

Es necesario hacer recomendaciones de manejo basadas en los datos recopilados para mejorar la gestión de los recursos marinos.

Implementation
National
Isla del Coco
Central America
Investigación de tránsito, conservación y monitoreo de megafauna marina
Andres
Mendez
Protocolos para el monitoreo de peces pelágicos y para el monitoreo de mamíferos marinos
Uso de cámaras remotas con carnada
Drones in Conservation: Enhancing Monitoring and Resource Management
From the drone and equipment handover event
From the drone and equipment handover event
Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development of Montenegro
From the drone and equipment handover event
From the drone and equipment handover event
Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development of Montenegro

A key achievement of the project is the establishment of a new technological unit within the Ministry of Agriculture, which will leverage drone technology for more efficient monitoring of agricultural practices and their impact on biodiversity. This unit will also support environmental agencies and organizations in enhancing biodiversity management.

To operationalize this initiative, the project, in collaboration with Eco Fund, has secured the procurement of two drones and comprehensive training for the first-ever drone operator unit within the Ministry. Additionally, the project has established cooperation between this unit and Public enterprise for management of national parks (PENP) and managers of nature parks Komovi and Orjen, ensuring that relevant stakeholders gain access to critical monitoring data and analysis.

  • Strategic Intersectoral Collaboration: Coordinated efforts between ministries (ecology, agriculture, and forestry) and Eco Fund ensured a unified approach to biodiversity protection and natural resource management
  • Technology Integration: The procurement of drones, computers, and licenses introduced advanced tools for quality control, field monitoring, and transparent operations
  • International Support: The alignment with GEF 7 project objectives and funding provided essential resources and guidelines for implementing innovative solutions
  • Technology Enhances Efficiency: The use of drones and digital systems improves territorial coverage, reduces operational costs, and increases precision in monitoring biodiversity
  • Collaborative Frameworks Drive Success: Strong partnerships and interministerial coordination create synergies essential for tackling complex environmental challenges
  • Capacity Building is Key: Investment in modern equipment must be paired with training and institutional capacity to ensure effective utilization and sustainability
Local
National
OPERATIONALISATION OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The operationalisation of the National Commission on Sustainable Development of Togo within the framework of the AFR100 initiative was held in Lomé at Hôtel La Concorde. It was attended by 53 participants from public, civil society organisations, parliament, religious and traditional leaders and international institutions working in Togo.

The meeting was presided over by The Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources. Representatives of all sectoral ministries attended the metting. The speech of the CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, Dr Nardos-Bekele Thomas was read by Ousseynou Ndoye, the AFR100 Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa. The speech of GIZ-F4F was read by Simon Lange of GIZ-F4F. The Secretary General read the speech of the Minister of Environment and Forest Resources.

 

The CNDD is a decree signed by the President of the Republic of Togo, the Prime Minister and several sectoral ministries in Togo. This shows a very high level of appropriation and it is unique in the AFR100 initiative. Furthermore, there are other administrative orders creating committees at regional (CRDD) and communal levels (CCDD). The operationalization of the CNDD has been done through articles 3 and 4 of the government decree creating the CNDD. 

21. FLR ACHIEVEMENTS BY PARTNERS IN TOGO

  1. Political involvement in FLR by high level authorities.
  2. Green jobs are provided for women, youth, adult and minorities through FLR activities.
  3. Organization of an annual reforestation campaign in the Togo.
  4. Organization of a national campaign to fight forest fire and to sensitize the populations.
  5. Ambition to plan 1 billion trees by 2030 as recommanded by the President of Togo.
  6. In 2022, the Union of NGOs of Togo has planted 826,665 trees over a target of 1,412,740 trees (59 %) on 428 hectares over a target of 1423 hectares (30%). 
  7. 279 enterprise development plans (business plans) have been elaborated for communities.
  8. Consolidation of 30 value chains related to agricultural and agroforestry products.
  9. Evaluation of FLR opportunities at national level.
  10. In 2021, 3,303,024 plants were produced and 4500 hectares restored by the national reforestation program with funding from the government and involvement of national stakeholders.
  11. In 2022, 5,207,250 plants were produced and 8256 hectares were restored.
  12. Average revenue was increased by 25 % for households involved in honey, parkia biglobosa, shea butter and fuelwood value chains.

22. FLR CHALLENGES IN TOGO

  1. Tenure issues and conflict between smallholder farmers, pastoralists/herders, fishermen and managers of protected areas. 
  2. Degradation and reduction of forest cover due to increasing demand of fuelwood, timber and uncontrolled fires
  3. Lack of financial resources to carry out restoration activities at very large scale
  4. Mobilisation of stakeholders to monitor AFR100 implementation
  5. Sensitization and capacity strengthening on best FLR practices. 
  6. Elaboration of a national strategy on FLR in Togo
  7. Maintenance and monitoring of seedlings planted
  8. Water management in nurseries
  9. Integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation and forest landscape restoration in municipal development plans.
  10. Climate risks and forests fires;
  11. High dependence of communities on forests resources ;
  12. Weak competitiveness of NGOs in mobilizing trust funds ;
  13. Predominance of biomass as the main source of energy;
  14. Failure to materialize or respect transhumance corridors;
  15. Overgrazing and unsuitable agricultural practices;
  16. Uncontrolled urbanization and demographic explosion;

 

23. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON SUSTAINEBLE DEVELOPMENT

1. The Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources should take the leadership in collaboration with the statistics department to collect all relevant information on FLR at the national level. That is to say that the Ministry of Environment will serve as a repository of all data collected at national level to inform the government on progress toward reaching the pledge of 1400000 hectares of degraded forests and lands to the AFR100 initiative. Those data collected at national level will then be transfered to the AFR100 Secretariat for a centralized repository which all AFR100 countries will follow.

2. To attract private investors and financial institutions investments on FLR, win-win business models need to be elaborated and disseminated at the national level.

3. To ensure a full success of restoration through tree planting, it will be very important for the Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources to ask the species prefered by communities and produce the planting materials to be distributed to them. This will increase the likelihood of successes because comunities will be taking care of all trees planted since they will be trees of environmental, social and economic values.

4. The Minsitry of Environment and Forest Resources needs to monitor all areas of Togo where trees have been recently planted in order to evaluate the survival rate and the reasons for failure.   

5. All sectoral Ministries need to designate their representatives to the CNDD/AFR100 initiative. 

6. The permanent secretary of the CNDD/AFR100 should stay the same as the permanent secretary of the CNDD at its origin.

7. The Ministry of Environment should take the leadership in the CNDD/AFR100 initiative.

National
Addressing Socio-Economic Needs Through Livelihood Alter-natives
Lead farmer, Owen Gomani in his banana orchard as part of livelihood boost
Lead farmer, Owen Gomani in his banana orchard as part of livelihood boost
FAO
Potato in storage waiting for price hikes, The potato was grown at the rehabilitated Chiyata Irrigation to enable multiple cropping in a season
Potato in storage waiting for price hikes, The potato was grown at the rehabilitated Chiyata Irrigation to enable multiple cropping in a season
FAO

This building block aligns Farmer Field School (FFS) activities with the economic needs of local communities by introducing sustainable livelihood options. By teaching agroforestry, diversified crops and other commercial enterprises, FFS help farmers improve soil health, increase crop yields and find alternatives to unsustainable practices such as charcoal production. This approach provides economic incentives to adopt sustainable practices, demonstrating that FLR can improve both environmental and economic well-being.

Financial and logistical support from project partners enables the initial implementation of agroforestry and income-generating activities. Training on alternative livelihoods through FFS demonstrates the economic value of sustainable practices, making them more attractive to farmers.

Aligning FLR activities with local economic needs is essential for long-term success. When farmers see improved yields and increased incomes, they are more likely to adopt sustainable practices. Ensuring that restoration efforts contribute to immediate livelihood improvements motivates community members to actively participate in FLR.

Implementation
Subnational
National
Integrating Traditional Knowledge and Sustainable Practices

FFS combines traditional land management practices with sustainable FLR techniques, allowing communities to build on their existing knowledge. This integration respects cultural practices and promotes acceptance, facilitating the transition to sustainable land management. This step is also essential when communities make comparisons between what they are learning and their own knowledge/skills/practices.

A key component of FFS success is the integration of traditional knowledge, achieved through open dialogue with local elders and knowledge holders. Facilitators and project leaders are encouraged to understand and respect existing land use practices, which helps to integrate these practices with modern sustainable techniques. This culturally sensitive approach facilitates the acceptance of new methods, while increasing their effectiveness by building on familiar practices. Support from project partners ensures that traditional methods are respected and combined with ecological restoration techniques, increasing both community buy-in and practical relevance.

Combining traditional and modern practices makes FLR more relevant to local contexts. When restoration techniques resonate with familiar practices, communities are more likely to engage in and adopt FLR activities because these methods feel accessible and practical. When local knowledge forms the basis of the restoration approach, communities feel that they are partners rather than passive recipients of aid. This sense of ownership is essential for the long-term management of restored areas, as communities feel personally responsible for maintaining and protecting these landscapes. Traditional knowledge also often includes time-tested methods that are well suited to the local environment, such as specific planting cycles or water conservation practices adapted to seasonal weather patterns.

Implementation
Subnational
National
Law enforcement

The NCW, in collaboration with local authorities, has implemented environmental regulations and established protected habitats to ensure the safety and sustainability of wildlife. These include a ban on hunting and the designation of protected zones.  Measures have also been taken to prevent the collisions of birds with high-voltage power lines.

National
Invasive species management

Invasive species management plan was prepared and implemented to deal with invasive birds as well as invasive plant species on the Island. Important invasive bird species on Farasan include Common myna Acridotheres tristis and House Crow Corvus splendens. Invasive plants found on Farasan Island include Mesquite Prosopis juliflora and Jerusalem thorn Parkinsonia aculeata. Mitigation efforts are planned to be scaled up after the evidence of initial success. 

Implementation
National
Habitat restoration

Preventing the destruction of coral formations, seagrass meadows, and mangroves, are measures to restore these natural habitats. Cleaning and restoring nesting sites for seabirds and turtles prevent population decline and restore coastal vegetation that prevents erosion. Habitat degradation resulting from coastal development activities is being effectively mitigated in the reserve through strategic measures aimed at controlling human impacts and enforcing regulations pertaining to fishing activities. 

To restore the ecosystem's structure, function, and biodiversity, collaborative efforts with the Saudi Fisheries Authority and fishermen have facilitated conservation efforts.

Implementation
National
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