Omar Torrico WCS
Coordinación multisectorial para el monitoreo, vigilancia y manejo adecuado de vicuñas
Monitoreo y vigilancia del estado de las poblaciones y de la salud de vicuñas
Desarrollo de capacidades en bienestar animal, bioseguridad y obtención de fibra de mayor calidad
Implementación de estrategias para fortalecer la conservación y la salud de vicuñas y de su hábitat
Omar Torrico WCS
Coordinación multisectorial para el monitoreo, vigilancia y manejo adecuado de vicuñas
Monitoreo y vigilancia del estado de las poblaciones y de la salud de vicuñas
Desarrollo de capacidades en bienestar animal, bioseguridad y obtención de fibra de mayor calidad
Implementación de estrategias para fortalecer la conservación y la salud de vicuñas y de su hábitat
Omar Torrico WCS
Coordinación multisectorial para el monitoreo, vigilancia y manejo adecuado de vicuñas
Monitoreo y vigilancia del estado de las poblaciones y de la salud de vicuñas
Desarrollo de capacidades en bienestar animal, bioseguridad y obtención de fibra de mayor calidad
Implementación de estrategias para fortalecer la conservación y la salud de vicuñas y de su hábitat
Shibire Bekele
West and Central Africa
East and South Africa
Dr. Katharina
Löhr
Satellite tagging

Saigas migrate across several million hectares. To map their use of the steppe grassland, the experts have successfully fitted satellite transmitters to over 40 saiga antelopes. As a result, they were able to detect their major migration routes, and calving and wintering areas.

It is essential to secure the funding for the equipment, the participation of the experts trained in collar fitting as well as the support and approval of the government to conduct the research. 

It is key to have the national authority's support and participation and make sure that the government knows what data is acquired and how it will be used. 

- Enforcement and prosecution

This block is very crucial because it ensures that there is law and order in the communities. It involves setting up by-laws that guide in implementing the project initiative. It also involves putting penalties against particular illegal activities, e.g. cutting trees without permission. These laws are better enforced when the communities make them on their own while facilitated by the extension worker.

Enabling factors include: involvement of traditional leaders and also making the laws by the whole community at large.

We learned that stiff penalties for offenders were necessary to deter others from committing similar offenses. 

- education, training and other capacity development activities

The purpose of this block is to ensure that the communities have the appropriate knowledge and expertise about that particular project initiative so that it is sustained in the long run after the project phases out. It involves field training and setting up demonstration fields that are used as learning points for the communities. This way, it is easy for communities to engage in an initiative that has worked right in their community.

  1. Availability of funds to purchase training materials and refreshments for community meetings.
  2. Ability of communities to change mindset towards particular interventions.
  3. Well-trained facilitators.

We learnt that the government staff already available in the Extension Planning Areas were the appropriate facilitators for certain activities. Their involvement also facilitated continued monitoring of activities long after the project phases out

- Alliance and partnerships development

This is a very crucial parameter because it involves bringing together at least 2 institutions to work towards achieving one goal of the project. Each organization has different roles and activities but these different roles are aimed at achieving the same goals.

  1. Frequent stakeholder meetings
  2. Openness and willingness to share ideas
  3. Putting in place plans of operations

In implementing this block it was discovered that impact was huge because there was much focus on every activity being done. This was due to the fact that each institution has its roles clearly defined. The sharing of roles removed pressure from the other implementing partner. But we also learnt that lack of frequent meetings to share ideas resulted in poor service delivery.

Interactive technology for conservation

Technology knows no barriers and we are yet to innovate and discover more with a changing world.

 

By using the underwater cameras it has allowed us to bring ahead the live viewing and monitoring where previosuly we were limited. Thus allowing us to better engage with local fisher community, for them to get a sense of ownership and unite to better understand and protect this ecosystem. 

 

This has also facilitated the data sharing of the status of the reef locally and across different channels but also to open the door for more scientific collaboration locally and internationally. 

 

 

  • Local community buy-in
  • Interactive technology 
  • Data sharing

Technology here not only brought live viewing and interaction but a completely new level of underwater restoration. Fish and coral interaction can be securely monitored allowing scientist to discover more about underwater interactions.