Protecting Peru’s Tambopata National Reserve
Peru
Overview
This project was a collaboration between local partners SPDA - an Environmental Law NGO, Rainforest Connection and IUCN NL in Tambopata National Reserve and its buffer zone, in South East Peru Region Madre de Dios which by far is considered the biodiversity capital of Peru.
Rainforest Connection received a generous from the IUCN and Stichting Otterfonds to work with SPDA and the Environment Defenders to protect their concessions from illegal logging and incursions.
The goal is to increase the coverage of the monitored area and improve the safety of the environment defenders so they can continue to fight on the front lines for a just world that values and conserves nature and improve monitoring, protection of the buffer area of the Tambopata National Reserve through the deployment of autonomous acoustic monitoring technology, use technology and leveraging big data to enable SPDA and the Local Environment Defenders to protect threatened rainforests in real-time, the Guardian is also picking up forensic evidence of illegal activity that can be used for submission as proof of incursions to the government and local authorities & support and improve collaboration amongst local communities, empower local partners, improve protection and law enforcement and improve safety of Environmental Defenders.
Partners
Local partners SPDA - an Environmental Law NGO
IUCN NL in Tambopata National Reserve and its buffer zone, in South East Peru Region Madre de Dios which by far is considered the biodiversity capital of Peru.
Objectives
Improve monitoring and protection of the Tambopata National Reserve through the deployment of autonomous acoustic monitoring technology and serve to support & improve collaboration amongst local communities, empower local partners, improve protection and law enforcement and improve safety of Environmental Defenders.
Implementation
RFCx team supplied SPDA with 12 new smartphones which were then given to the Defenders to use the RFCx Ranger Application.
Defenders were trained and given access to RFCx monitoring system to organize and coordinate responses/interventions as forensic evidence.
New foil casing was developed for the Guardians and the softer rubber elements of Guardians were wrapped in this casing to protect against termites that attacked rubber insulation surrounding cables and microphone windscreens used in the Guardians.
A reconnaissance drone was given to the Infierno community to support monitoring of the perimeters. The Defenders were also training on the use of the drone and use it to monitor the large territory.
Four (4) small repeaters were also given to SPDA and the Defenders to enhance connectivity in their concessions so they could communicate more effectively with SPDA.
SPDA are also using the alerts,dashboard data for their legal cases.
Impact
Impacts:
Expected decline in destructive/illegal activity and safer operation for park guards
Better policy and more effective protection
Prosecution of illegal logging
Outcomes:
Better chance of planned intervention
Improved Understanding of biodiversity and human activity
Forensic Evidence used by law enforcement and environmental prosecutor
Successful Outcomes
Finalized with SPDA the mapping of key strategic locations for monitoring and installation of
permanent RFCx Guardians, done in close coordination with the Defender
committee.Manufactured and Installed 20 RFCx Guardians
RFCx Alerts were used to stop illegal logging in real-time, as well as being used as forensic
evidence in court cases.Customized user console that serves as a data pipeline for sharing data and alerts with
SPDA.Initial system training for the SPDA team was completed where the SPDA’s team has
access to RFCx dashboard for customized alert filtering and response.As of 2018, the Tambopata project is supplying approximately 7000 hours of data per month
to RFCx Audio Ark library.Formed close relationships and understanding with the Defenders of all concessions
which was critical for community buy-in and support.Deep understanding of the requirements, local challenges and terrain which will allow for
quicker expansion and aiding in the monitoring and protection of more area.Additional awareness was created for the project through media, newsletters and
interviews and even award submissions where this project won the public award for best
innovation (Spindle Award).
Challenges:
The improved version of the Guardian was installed in place of the old guardians in Tambopata, which upon installation was functioning fine but within 3 weeks on installation started showing unusual activity by going offline for an extended period and the power boards were draining unusually high level of battery power. Upon investigation it was found that the whole batch of Guardians installed in Tambopata was defected.
The lack of sunlight proved to be a challenge which left the devices offline for periods of time. This had a direct impact on connectivity however there was no loss of data and the information stored in cloud and can be accessed through the console dashboard.
Post installation there were certain Guardians which were not witnessing activity and therefore the decision was made to change the location of these devices.
To match an ambitious start date, RFCx chose to deploy an older version of the Guardian hardware, which includes some limitations in connectivity and power management. This has led to more “downtime” than hoped for (especially in the rainy season).
