Building Biodiversity Champions: The nCount Training Program for Advanced Ecological Monitoring
On the 15th of February 2024, a specialized Physical Training Program focusing on Inventory Mapping was hosted in Odisha (Jashipur and Mayurbhanj), leveraging the nCount platform.
About the Event
This program was directed towards imparting detailed training on the intricacies of inventory mapping, employing an integrated approach of nCount with ODK Collect to both the personnel of Vasundhara and community volunteers. Convened from the Vasundhara’s office, the session illuminated the critical importance of inventory mapping and its prospective applications, setting the stage for future engagements in ecological conservation and management.
Aim
Five Program Assistants hailing from a variety of districts, including Mayurbhanj, Deoghar, Kandhamal, Nayaghar, and Sambalpur, participated in the progamme, showcasing a commitment to diversity and collaborative learning. Following the necessary registration process, which required internet access, the assembled participants proceeded to a nearby forest. This field exercise demonstrated the practicality and efficiency of the nCount-facilitated data collection process, underscoring the platform’s user-friendliness and effectiveness. The subsequent engagement at Suanpal village within the Jashipur block further accentuated the benefits of inventory mapping. Dialogues with Vasundhara staff focused on the strategic use of nCount technology for bolstering future conservation and management projects. This was especially relevant considering the villages having received Community Forest Resource (CFR) Title in 2014 and the ongoing efforts to establish a Community Forest Resource Management Committee (CFRMC), underlining a forward-looking approach to employing nCount technology for tangible community and ecological benefits.
Approach
nCount is an innovation in the realm of ecological knowledge enhancement and the stewardship of natural resources. It combines gamification, remote sensing, and computer vision to create an interactive platform that revitalizes biodiversity data collection.
The application of remote sensing technology within nCount provides for the real-time observation and analysis of ecosystems, offering indispensable insights for conservation activities. Moreover, the precision afforded by computer vision substantially improves the accuracy of species identification and population monitoring, thereby deepening the collective understanding of biodiversity dynamics. In essence, nCount not only accelerates biodiversity research but also strengthens governance models dedicated to the sustainable oversight of natural resources.
Extending its utility beyond the conventional scope of forest ecosystems, nCount integrates visual object recognition modules with an Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding analysis component. This innovative combination is designed to streamline the assessment, evaluation, and surveillance of natural ecosystems, enhancing the platform’s capability to support comprehensive ecological studies and conservation strategies effectively.