Year 3 Report Progress Report Against Programme Objectives October 2011 - September 2012
The National Field Research Centre for Environmental Conservation
IMAGE | HADI AL HIKMANI
IMAGE | NAT SPRING
IMAGE | NIGEL WINSER
contents Executive Summary Progress Report against Programme Objectives October 2011 - September 2012
Abbreviations/Acronyms: OEP - Oman Earthwatch Programme NFRCEC - National Field Research Centre for Environmental Conservation OCE - Office of Conservation of the Environment MECA - Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs PI - Principal Investigator (lead scientist on research project) ESO - Environment Society Oman SQU - Sultan Qaboos University OBG - Oman Botanic Gardens DRC - Diwan of Royal Court
Progress Reports on the Following Areas of Work - Field Scientist and Conservation Staff/ Ranger training - Work with Teachers, Students and Schools - Development of Research Projects and Staff - GIS, Remote Sensing and Database Strategy - Social Science - Supporting the National Field Research Centre for Environmental Conservation (NFRCEC) and Networking- Operations and Safety in the Field - Work with the Education Community - Omani Scientists - Operations and Safety in the Field - Capturing OEP Successes - Carbon Management
Executive Summary The period of October 2011 - September 2012 constituted the third year of the Oman Earthwatch Programme (OEP).
During Year 3, the programme has started to influence environmental research and education in Oman, with a wide variety of activities underway, opportunities being sought, and a growing network of international and Omani environmentalists and conservationists collaborating under OEP auspices. The emergence of the National Field Research Centre for Environmental Conservation (NFRCEC) has had a large impact on programme activities this year and OEP staff have worked increasingly closely with NFRCEC staff. Year 3 has seen the established Arabian leopard and the Arabian tahr ecosystem research, conservation and community projects both grow in strength and research output, with Dr Julia Chase Grey leading on the leopard, and Dr Steve Ross, the tahr. In the last year the Arabian leopard project has established extensive camera-trapping in the Jebel Samhan area, capturing images of the leopard which are contributing to the understanding of population numbers. Genetics studies are underway and livestock depredation by large carnivores is also being investigated. Socio-economic and attitudinal surveys were completed in April 2012 and constituted the first work of this type undertaken in
Jebel Samhan; the results of which will be essential for planning and management of the reserve area. Three field-based capacity building teams were run in December 2011, and February/March 2012 for Ministry of Environment Rangers, with a total of 28 rangers from the Jebel Samhan area gaining greater knowledge of the project research and the leopard itself. Educational materials have been commissioned, linking the leopard project science and facts about other key species in the area to critical areas of the Omani National Curriculum. These will be trialled in local schools in the coming months. In the study area of Wadi Sareen, camera trapping and safe physical trapping of Arabian tahr have begun in order to determine population size, and rangers working in the Wadi Sareen Nature Reserve have received in-field training and are actively involved in the project, contributing species data to the management and monitoring systems which have been put in place. A wider biodiversity inventory is also underway. An Oman-wide survey of the tahr is also happening, taking in Musandam, Jebel Misht, Jebel Kwar and Jebal Qahwan in Sharkia. Altogether this will provide a much clearer picture of the ecology and future conservation of this iconic species. Year 3 has also seen initial moves towards the establishment of the third OEP research project the Juniper Woodlands study in Jebel Shams and Jebel Akhdhar. A project coordinator has been recruited and a collaborative research proposal for the conservation of fragile juniper woodland in the Jebel Akhdhar region is currently being developed between Earthwatch,
the National Field Research Centre for Environmental Conservation, Oman Botanic Gardens and Sultan Qaboos University. Initial ideas for the fourth OEP research project were based on turtle research on Masirah Island, working in partnership with ESO and Five Oceans, however the project did not go ahead. A concept was then developed for the study of biodiversity, agriculture and livelihoods supported by the falaj system in Oman, in conjunction with Nizwa University. This concept is awaiting sign off by the NFRCEC board. Recruitment of a lead scientist will commence during Year 4. Work has progressed during Year 3 with regards to the building of a cadre of development specialists and educators in Oman who will take a lead in developing the long term role of the OEP. Ranger training commenced with a pilot training team on the tahr project in October 2011, attended by 10 OCE rangers. The model was successful and OCE requested further training of rangers and it has been agreed that Earthwatch will provide ‘trainer training’ for OCE staff in winter 2012. Ranger training was also delivered in Jebel Samhan during October 2011, and also in February and March 2012, with a further 28 rangers and supervisors being trained in a variety of research and field skills. A ranger development framework (representing good development practice) was distributed in Arabic to OCE and MECA, and a ‘Ranger Skills Logbook’ was designed and distributed in October 2011. OEP education plans were developed and endorsed by Dr Mediha Alshaibani, Minister of Education,
during January 2012, enabling joint working, and a programme of intense development was commenced for the NFRCEC’s Bushra al Wahaibi, including a 2-week visit to the UK in May 2012. Meetings and presentations were conducted by the research teams and rangers at schools in Wadi Sareen and Jebel Samhan, and educational resources were piloted, kick-starting engagement with teachers in Siya School (Wadi Sareen). A school visit was hosted by Bushra al Wahaibi to the Wadi Sareen site in January 2012, and identification of areas of the Omani National Curriculum which can be enhanced/illustrated by OEP research has begun, thanks to the supply of the Environmental Education concepts book by the Ministry of Education Curriculum Department in August. October 2011 - September 2012 has seen development with regard to GIS, Remote Sensing and Database Strategy work for the OEP, with a consortium of hardware, software providers and domain specialists being brought together and a presentation being made at the December workshop which provided a mandate to develop and implement the NFRCEC’s technological infrastructure. A funding proposal has been submitted to OLNG, which if successful, will hopefully result in support to the development of the NFRCEC database. Key technical partners will include 1Spatial, CadCorp, NERC Environmental Bioinformatics Centre, Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, and the Centre for Geospatial Science, Nottingham University, UK. Some satellite imagery has been completed for the Wadi Sareen and Jebel Samhan project areas, and SPOT imagery and DEMs will be purchased
for Jebel Samhan and Wadi Sareen: this data will be the basis for local digitising work. During year 3, social scientific research has been conducted, building directly upon the foundational studies and preparatory actions of the Year 2. Sample surveys to collect key baseline data have been implemented in Jebel Samhan initially, responding to the immediacy of the threat to leopard habitat. A team of MECA rangers underwent training to conduct the surveys, learning interview techniques, how to mitigate data bias and procedures for community liaison. The fieldwork took place during February-March and May-June 2012, and was collected from more than 40 sites and 180 households. The final report will present recommendations for conservation management to protect leopard habitat while supporting local livelihoods and harnessing local conservation capacity in Jebel Samhan. Year 3 has been a very positive year in terms of Earthwatch’s contribution to the development of the emerging NFRCEC. A strong relationship quickly developed between OEP Director, Roderic Dutton and NFRCEC CEO Dr Saif al Shaqsi - and came to the fore during their close work to deliver the NFRCEC strategy workshop in December 2011, which was also attended by Earthwatch Executive Vice President and OEP Chair, Nigel Winser. During Year 3, Earthwatch wrote a first draft of the NFRCEC organisational strategy, which has now been presented to consultants Ernst and Young, who have been selected to develop the structure of the NFRCEC. Earthwatch staff also began, (in addition to the development of the four research projects and delivery of OEP training and education work),
to advise and help train the new (seconded) NFRCEC staff members. Well managed field operations and high standards of safety are critical to Earthwatch’s work internationally, and during Year 3 a great deal has been accomplished in this area. Key achievements have been the logistical set-up of the tahr and leopard projects, and the running of safe, incident-free, ranger training on both. Risk management documentation has also been put in place for both projects; these are regularly updated and the projects continue to operate safely and efficiently. OEP staff/projects teams received driver training during Year 3, and participants for all ranger teams were prepared to Earthwatch’s international safety standards prior to each course. Steve Bishop made a presentation to NFRCEC and OEP staff on the importance of field safety and operations in March. This highlighted the need for a thorough risk management system to be in place at the centre and need for an experienced field safety person to be recruited to the NFRCEC. A job description for the role was written and shared with NFRCEC staff in March. Recruitment will commence in Year 4. Finally, during a busy year, carbon emissions for the programme have been tracked and as usual, with the team aiming to reduce the programme’s carbon footprint wherever possible. Author: Caroline Rodgers Senior Programme Manager, OEP 29 October 2012
IMAGE | NIGEL WINSER
This section of the report summarises progress so far against the objectives which were put in place for the Oman Earthwatch Programme. These stem from the Memorandum of Understanding agreed with the Diwan of Royal Court and from the OEP Impacts document for Year 3.
Progress reports against research, education, training, safety and operational activities associated with the programme for Year 3 are provided in the following section, covering the period of October 2011 September 2012.
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a | To develop a cadre of development specialists and educators in the Sultanate of Oman to take a lead in developing the long term role of the Programme. Research and Development specialists (1.B - OEP Impacts doc) Related OEP Impact: More effective management of reserves achieved, with an aim to enhance the conservation status, of four sites in Oman Related OEP Outputs for Year 3: - Rangers trained on research projects - Earthwatch development/education plans integrated with protected area management plans - Development framework for conservation staff in OCE & MECA
Progress Report: Field Scientist and Conservation Staff/Ranger training General note: This year has seen training events delivered on both the Arabian tahr and leopard projects, working with 38 rangers and supervisors from both OCE and MECA. Phil Dickinson, Senior Learning Manager for the OEP has developed collaborative relationships with Mansoor al Jahdami of OCE for the Wadi Sareen area and Ali Salim & Ahmed Mahroos of MECA for the Jebel Samhan area. Project researchers Dr Steve Ross (tahr) and Tessa McGegor/Dr Julia Chase Grey (leopard) and project field staff helped with the development of training materials (in Arabic) relevant to local rangers.
• OCE would like to use the above model for further training of rangers and it has been agreed that Earthwatch will provide ‘trainer training’ for OCE staff in November 2012.
• A pilot ranger training team was hosted on the tahr project at Wadi Sareen 8-11 October, 2011. Topics covered on the training course included:
• The ranger training in Jebel Samhan was very well received, particularly because of the mixing of local knowledge and international expertise. As a result, further development opportunities for the rangers in Jebel Samhan were identified. Earthwatch was invited to discuss the development of the Jebel Samhan management team, through bespoke Management Training. This is under discussion for 2012/13.
- Wildlife of Oman - Conservation biology - Use of global positioning systems (GPS) - Camera trapping - Observation techniques - Presentation and engagement skills Bi-lingual training materials were developed for all the above topics. 10 rangers from OCE attended the course and evaluations of the course were very good (95% positive responses). The course was co-delivered by Dr Steve Ross, Dr Mansoor al Jadhami and Phil Dickinson.
• Ranger in-field training was delivered in Jebel Samhan during October 2011, and February and March 2012. 28 rangers and supervisors were trained in the same topics as above, with extra, tailored sessions focusing on ‘tracking skills and recognition’ to replace the camera trapping module. This training was delivered by Earthwatch staff, Hadi al Hikmani and Khaled al Hikmani.
• The US Department of the Interior ‘International Technical Assistance Programme’ (DOI-ITAP) delivered training and carried out IUCN framework assessments of protected areas during March - April 2012 and September 2012, and Phil Dickinson helped to facilitate this work in the spirit of collaborative working. This way of working demonstrates an important model for future conservation work
in Oman, as the work of both parties increased in impact due to the pooling of resources and knowledge. Earthwatch’s local knowledge and contacts were acknowledged in the ITAP reports and further co-working is welcomed in the future. • The DOI-ITAP visited Hasik in March 2012, and rangers hosting the visit demonstrated the skills they had acquired from their training, speaking most articulately about environmental issues with both the US consultants and local Whalid. • The ranger development framework was distributed in Arabic to OCE and MECA during Year 3. This resource represents good development practice and are now available for when the organizations are ready to utilise them. • A ‘Ranger Skills Logbook’ was designed in October 2011, as a continuation on from the ranger training. Based on NVQ best practice (National Vocational Qualifications), line managers can use it to track and sign-off skills demonstrated in the field. • The profile of OEP ranger training was raised thanks to a write up in an Eco-blog in Salalah, April 2012. Talks on the leopard are now planned for Year 4 as a result of these links, April 2012. • Earthwatch hosted a 6 week English training course for Khaled al Hikmani in Oxford in June 2012 Author: Phil Dickinson Senior Learning Manager, OEP
a | To develop a cadre of development specialists and educators in the Sultanate of Oman to take a lead in developing the long term role of the Programme. Educators & result sharing with the education community (1.C - OEP Impacts doc) Related OEP Impact: Teachers, pupils and communities local to the research projects have a greater understanding and appreciation of their natural environment; and research projects feed into environmental education at a National level Related OEP Outputs for Year 3: - Educational resources/materials produced, linked to National Curriculum and 4 research projects - Awareness-raising around Earthwatch projects: local schools outreach
Progress Report: Work with Teachers, Students and Schools General Note: Year 3 saw the successful development and execution of OEP Education plans: including gaining the correct level of ministerial approval, a programme of intense development for Bushra al Wahaibi, and the implementation of a ‘top-down and bottom-up’ approach to enhancing Omani Environmental Education. • Meetings and presentations took place at Siya School - Khawla Bint Alyman School - Wadi Sareen. Two rangers who had previously received Earthwatch field training
presented at the school, which was an excellent opportunity both for the students and for the rangers themselves - October 2011.
in Oman (a methodology encouraged by Dr Mediha Alshaibani) which EW has the expertise and experience to develop - September 2012.
• Presentation at Jebel Samhan School, Tawi Itair on leopard and research - February 2012.
• A school visit was hosted by Bushra al Wahaibi to the Wadi Sareen site in January 2012, with rangers trained by Earthwatch once again playing an active role in hosting the visit.
• Through the piloting of the educational resources, engagement with teachers in Siya School is commencing. The school are delighted to be part of the development process and teachers there will be among the first members of a ‘community of practice’ for environmental educators
Author: Phil Dickinson Senior Learning Manager, OEP
b | To identify and develop relevant field research and pilot projects on issues that relate to sustainability of the environment and the continuing priority to map, monitor and manage Oman’s rich nature and cultural resources Environmental Research Projects (2 - OEP Impacts doc) Related OEP Impact: Specialists and research are set up and underway as a framework for continued Omani-run research at four sites & structure exists to support those implementing the management plan (managers) i.e. a board to ensure the long term conservation of nature at the research project sites Related OEP Outputs for Year 3: - 2 research projects active as of October 2011 - GIS, Remote Sensing and Database Strategy work active - Social Science work active
IMAGE | JAMES BURTON
Progress Report: Development of Research Projects and Staff General Note: During Year 3, OEP Research Manager James Burton worked closely with his counterpart within the NFRCEC, Khalifa al Hijji, providing him with an introduction to research project development and project management, including joint development of new processes for the NFRCEC. Khalifa has also gained an increased understanding of conservation biology research and practise through mentoring by James Burton, and has received introductions to important members of conservation in Oman.
Arabian leopard research project • The research team placed 20 of the 25 pairs of camera traps in Jebel Samhan by September 2012. These cameras are set up to catch images of the leopard to identify the density of individuals using the core area of the reserve. • GIS mapping needs have been identified and maps commissioned for the leopard project research area in Jebel Samhan. • Work on compiling a Biodiversity inventory is underway to provide baseline data, enable identification of flora and fauna, and create species lists and distribution maps. • Scat collection for genetics and population studies is underway. • The team have also been investigating and collecting data on livestock depredation by large carnivores.
• Leopard diet in Jebel Samhan has also been studied and is in preparation for publication. • Socio-economic and attitudinal baseline surveys were designed and implemented in cooperation with MECA rangers among statistically significant sample of the population living along the southern boundary of the Jebel Samhan Reserve. • Socio-economic and attitudinal surveys were completed in April 2012 with additional fieldwork along the northern boundary of the reserve. These surveys constitute the first work of this type undertaken for the Reserve - essential for planning and management of the reserve area. • Preliminary site profiles have been collated by integrating available secondary datasets for Jebel Samhan. These have been developed to assist researchers and also to provide a sampling frame with which to design systematic surveys. • A presentation was given to assembled senior Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA) staff from Salalah on social science surveys. • Training was given to four MECA rangers on Social Science Survey techniques. • Three, field-based capacity building teams have been run with Ministry of Environment Rangers in December 2011 and in February/ March 2012, under the Field Scientists and Conservation Staff program. Twenty-eight MECA Rangers from the Jebel Samhan area have been trained. The Ranger Training Course focuses on building skills in wildlife
identification and tracking, using GPS and developing language, data and oral presentation skills. These courses have been very successful and a 5-day training course was run for leading Omani project staff in order to transfer mapping and data analysis skills. The course also included an introduction to statistical methods used for the analysis of camera trapping data. • Continued developing strong relationships with OCE and MECA staff. • Two presentations about the leopard project were given in February 2012. One to MECA staff in the Salalah office and one to a local school. • Bi-lingual materials and course structures developed, implemented and shared with OCE/MECA. • International Standard development frameworks and methodologies created and shared with OCE/MECA, Management Development assistance in progress in MECA Dhofar. Development Plans being piloted with selected individuals. • Education materials linked to Omani National Curriculum cycle 1/cycle 2 in commission, based upon research of the Arabian leopard project. • The team has also been running several informal talks and project discussions with local communities of Jebel Samhan since early 2012.
IMAGE | NIGEL WINSER
Juniper Woodlands research project • Jebel Akhdhar and Jebel Shams Woodland project documentation have been written by Nadeem Taleb, project coordinator, and James
Burton, with contributions from partner organisations Sultan Qaboos University and Oman Botanic Gardens. This is in preparation for the NFRCEC Board meeting to approve the project. • Site visits have been completed both to Jebel Akhdhar and Jebel
Shams by Nadeem Taleb and James Burton. • Preliminary discussions took place on the social science research aspect of the project.
Progress Report: GIS, Remote Sensing and Database Strategy General Note: Dr Anthony Beck (University of Leeds) made two visits to Oman during December 2011 and March 2012. The primary focus of these trips was on establishing the technical and operating infrastructure for NFRCEC and necessitated a range of different meeting with users, technical providers and ministries. • A consortium of hardware, software providers and domain specialists were brought together to advise on developing an environmental data centre for Oman held by the NFRCEC. A presentation was made on this at the December workshop which provided a mandate to develop and implement the technological infrastructure. • OLNG Grant Application: Anthony Beck has spent a large proportion of his time developing
a funding proposal for OLNG in Year 3, which if successful, will hopefully result in support to the development of the NFRCEC database. The key technical partners for this grant are: 1Spatial: www.1spatial.com
geodata management, quality and integration specialists. CadCorp: www.cadcorp.com geodata management, storage, delivery and interoperability specialists. NERC Environmental Bioinformatics Centre: nebc.nerc.ac.uk
bioinformatics specialists. Institute for Water, Environment, and Health (UNU-INWEH):
www.inweh.unu.edu Centre for Geospatial Science:
www.nottingham.ac.uk Open Source geospatial research and training • GIS maps have been generated for the Oryx Sanctuary.
• Templates for NFRCEC posters detailing Earthwatch project activities have been developed. • Some digitising has occurred in each area: satellite imagery has been secured for each of the project areas from the GeoEye foundation. A variety of vegetation, topographic and other derived datasets have been produced for each project area. Orthorectified SPOT imagery and DEMs will be purchased for Jebel Samhan and Wadi Sareen. This data should be delivered soon and will be the basis for local digitising work, and tools are also being sought to determine urban expansion issues.
Progress Report: Social Science General Note: During this period Alan Roe made two visits to Oman, the first from 26th October 2011 until the 25th December 2011, (60 days) and the second from 5th May until the 25th May 2011, (20 days). Social Scientific research conducted during Year 3 built directly upon the foundational studies and preparatory actions of the previous year, implementing sample surveys to collect key baseline data. Jebel Samhan (the largest protected area in Oman) was identified as the initial focus for these activities given the immediacy of the threat to leopard habitat. • MECA Salalah was identified as the most appropriate partner institution for this work and a proposal for collaboration was prepared and submitted to them, resulting in a presentation being made to the Director General and senior staff at MECA Salalah proposing a collaborative socio-economic
and land use survey, to inform conservation planning and prioritisation at Jebel Samhan. • A core team of 4 MECA rangers underwent 4 days of training prior to the surveys, while a further 3 rangers were trained in the field during the latter stages of the fieldwork. This training covered issues of sampling, interview technique, mitigating data biases and procedures for community liaison. • Fieldwork was undertaken over two periods, first during February - March when the joint OEW/MECA team implemented surveys along the densely populated southern and eastern boundaries of the Samhan reserve. The second period of fieldwork between May - June extended the surveys to the desert and communities and settlements along the northern boundary of the Samhan reserve. Socio-economic and land use
data was collected from more than 40 sites and 180 households. Ecological knowledge and attitudes to conservation were investigated from a cross section of the population encompassing more than 150 individual men, women and children. • At the time of writing, data analysis and preparation of reports is still underway but a final report will shortly be completed. This document will present recommendations for conservation management to protect leopard habitat while supporting local livelihoods and harnessing local conservation capacity in Jebel Samhan. Authors: Julia Chase Grey, Tessa McGregor, Steve Ross, Anthony Beck, Alan Roe, James Burton
c | To provide a forum for the science research and policy implementation communities to meet, agree priorities and exchange information and ideas Forum for exchange (3 - OEP Impacts doc) Related OEP Impact: Growing an Omani organisation to achieve effective communication between the policy makers, implementers and field researchers and to have positive environmental impact at a national level Related OEP Outputs for Year 3: - Supporting and liaising with Dr Saif al Shaqsi - CEO of the National Field Research Centre for Environmental Conservation (NFRCEC) in the establishment of the NFRCEC - Building up a network of OEP supporters and contacts in and outside of Oman
Progress Report: Supporting the National Field Research Centre for Environmental Conservation (NFRCEC) and Networking: • During Year 3 Roderic Dutton worked very closely with Dr Saif al Shaqsi (and others) at all stages leading towards the NFRCEC strategy workshop in December 2011. • Roderic Dutton participated in the pre-strategy meeting with an ad hoc committee established in order for Dr Saif al Shaqsi to discuss with all key environmental parties in Oman (including OCE, MECA, ESO, Advisor to the Minister of DRC, SQU, TRC) • Visit to Oman made by Nigel Winser (Earthwatch Vice President) in December 2011,
and presentation made at the workshop on Earthwatch’s engagement with volunteers in the field. Nigel also held discussions with Saif; opened discussion with key corporate bodies in Oman (PDO, Shell and HSBC); visited two field sites (Wadi Sareen and Masirah Island); and generally familiarised himself with the situation in Oman. • Roderic Dutton participated in the NFRCEC Strategy Workshop and chaired the key decision-making session on the final day during which agreement was reached between all parties on the roles to be played by
NFRCEC (including research themes and topics under the heading of the centre’s hub role; and a first outline of staffing and internal NFRCEC structure). • At the request of Dr Saif al Shaqsi a draft of the NFRCEC organisational strategy was written by Roderic Dutton, including a draft annual action plan for the first five years. This was translated into Arabic and presented to consultants Ernst and Young, who have been subsequently selected to draw up the structure of NFRCEC.
IMAGE | RODERIC DUTTON
• Earthwatch staff began in Year 3, in addition to the development of the four research projects and delivery of OEP training and education work, to advise and help train the new (seconded) NFRCEC staff members. So far mainly this has concerned James Burton, Phil Dickinson and Steve Bishop working with counterparts at the NFRCEC. The work will expand when new staff are appointed to NFRCEC during Year 4. • The idea was promoted that one of the four research projects should be based on turtles, based on Masirah Island, working in partnership with ESO and Five Oceans. Finally, ESO decided that they wanted to retain their independent work on the island and the project did not go ahead. • Earthwatch helped to develop, in discussion with Saif and Dr Abdullah al Ghafri of Nizwa University, an initial draft of a concept note for a falaj
project with practical objectives including helping to create/ strengthen the nascent Falaj Centre at Nizwa University. • The mountain woodland (juniper) project was promoted in a partnership between Earthwatch and SQU (with OBG) under the aegis of NFRCEC. The original concept note initially drafted by the Dean of Science at SQU was delivered in October 2011 and translated into Arabic for NFRCEC in January 2012. It defined the key role of field coordinator and social science researcher, a role later filled by Dr Nadeem Taleb. • Collaborative relationships were supported between NFRCEC and other interested parties in Oman (e.g. MECA, OCE, SQU, DRC Advisor, and others) though this work will be facilitated when NFRCEC has more staff.
• Roderic Dutton worked with NFRCEC to build international links. It was hoped that steps in this direction would be taken by the planned visit by Dr Saif in July 2012 to Europe (e.g. Earthwatch, Natural England, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, Glasgow University, NIOZ in Holland) and the USA. The planned visits did not finally take place, but are likely to take place before May 2013. Author: Roderic Dutton Programme Director, OEP
d | To ensure that the results of the fieldwork are shared with the education community - formally through Sultanate of Oman’s national curriculum and informally through meetings, workshops, the media and other means Educators & result sharing with the education community (1.C - OEP Impacts doc) Related OEP Impact: Teachers, pupils and communities local to the research projects have a greater understanding and appreciation of their natural environment and research projects feed into environmental education at a national level Related OEP Outputs for Year 3: - Educational resources/materials - Results, experience and expertise from Earthwatch project research to be integrated into Omani National Curriculum - Educational collaborations established with Oman Botanic Gardens and ESO relating to aspects of the research projects - Initial investigations into other forums through which to share results of fieldwork with education community
Progress Report: Work with the Education Community • Endorsement of Earthwatch education plans from Dr Mediha Alshaibani, Minister of Education. Letters exchanged between Ministry of Education and Diwan enabling much facilitated joint working - January 2012. • Environmental education concepts book was supplied by curriculum department in August 2012 and is now in translation, and will be used to help identify areas of the Omani National Curriculum which can be enhanced/illustrated by OEP research. • Educational resources were produced during Year 3 on the gazelle, Blanford’s Fox, Gordon Wildcat (with others in production).
These are being piloted in Siya school, September 2012.*
Phil and Bushra continue to work closely together.
• Phil Dickinson worked intensively with Bushra al Wahaibi (NFRCEC Education Specialist) during Year 3, developing her international and national networks and providing exposure to exemplar environmental education. In a very intense, but consummately navigated experience, Bushra showed remarkable strengths and abilities. In May 2012 she spent 2 weeks in the UK, visiting and working with education specialists at the Field Studies Council, Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, Earthwatch Climate Centre in Oxford, and the Eden project.
• Bushra’s Omani network has expanded to include Oman Botanic Gardens and the Environment Society Oman. Earthwatch hosted a visit for the education manager at Oman Botanic Gardens to Wadi Sareen in January 2012. Author: Phil Dickinson Senior Learning Manager, OEP
e | To identify and train leading Omani scientists to direct their own field projects in the Sultanate of Oman and elsewhere in the world. Capacity Building and Awareness Raising (1.A - OEP Impacts doc) Related OEP Impact: To increase the number of Omani scientists with enhanced skills for field-based research. Related OEP Outputs for Year 3: - Project lead scientists in place - MSc projects - Undergraduate internships - Biologists with enhanced field skills
Progress Report: Omani Scientists • Nadeem Taleb was successfully recruited during Year 3, to take up the role of project coordinator for the Juniper Woodlands project in Jebel Shams/Jebel Akhdhar. • Two meetings have been held with SQU staff regarding development of studentships, which will be linked
to the field research projects. There is a strong interest to work together on this and general information about costs and dates has been collected. NFRCEC staff recruited in Year 4 will also be eligible for studentships through the OEP. It is hoped that work in this area of
the programme can begin in earnest in Year 4, with the commencement of several studentships key to the delivery of the OEP. Author: James Burton
Focus Report: Operations and Safety in the Field General Note: Earthwatch appointed Steve Bishop during Year 2, to take responsibility for operations and safety for all activities on the OEP. He joined the organisation in July 2011 and has now spent considerable time in Oman, overseeing and organising these areas of the programme. During Year 3, the following things were achieved: • The tahr project was set-up logistically and the first ranger training course ran safely and without incident. • Six members of OEP staff/ projects teams attended a two-day defensive driver training course in Muscat with TATI. • The leopard project was set-up logistically: a fully operational field base-camp was established and three successful ranger training courses hosted there during Year 3. • A house was rented for use by the leopard project staff in Samhram tourist village and has proven to be a success. The house is the physical base for the project as well as providing accommodation and meeting space. This is also a storage space for project equipment.
• Risk management documentation has been put in place for both the leopard and the tahr projects; these are regularly updated and the projects continue to operate safely and efficiently. • Participants for all five ranger teams held during Year 3 were nominated and prepared to Earthwatch’s international safety standards prior to each course. Steve Bishop made a presentation to NFRCEC and OEP staff on the importance of field safety and operations in March. This highlighted the need for a thorough risk management system to be in place at the centre and need for an experienced field safety person to be recruited to the NFRCEC. A job description for the role was written and shared with NFRCEC staff in March. Recruitment will commence in November 2012. • Two Nissan Pathfinder cars were loaned to the OEP by the NFRCEC for leopard and tahr projects. One has been given to Steve Ross and the other was driven to Salalah and given to the leopard project staff.
These have not had PDO modifications but it is likely that this will happen within the coming months. • Two new Toyota Prados were bought for projects three and four. These have full PDO specification modifications. One is to be given to the woodlands project and the other to the fourth project but will be used by OEP staff in the meantime. • Logistical support is being given to the woodlands project to ensure it is fit for purpose when the ‘green light’ is given. • Risk management documents are currently being prepared for the woodlands project with Nadeem Taleb, the project coordinator. • Residency status was achieved for Steve Bishop, Phil Dickinson, and James Burton which will enable them to work more efficiently in Oman. Author: Steve Bishop Logistics, Safety and Risk Management, OEP
Progress Report: Capturing OEP Successes During Year 3 of the programme, the OEP team identified the need to develop a series of clear measures of success against which the programme can be monitored, in addition to monitoring achievements against programme objectives in the MoU.
Measuring achievements, or capturing the successes of the OEP, requires a framework of questions, values and quantitative measures against which to assess the projects, programmes and other activities. The basis of the framework being used is Earthwatch’s structure of organisational High Level Goals (HLGs) and Measures of Success (MoS). Each activity Earthwatch conducts in Oman is assessed as to where it contributes to these Measures of Success as well as cross-checked with the OEP Impacts document for achievement against targets related to the MoU.
The following is a snapshot of some of the achievements measured so far, and Earthwatch welcomes discussion with the NFRCEC on these during Year 4 of the programme: Number of Participants by Project
11
•
Formal capacity development of field assistants; students; teachers/educators; rangers; MECA/OCE/ESO scientists; Ministries/Diwan staff through teams on Oman Earthwatch projects.
Research achievements:
R AH
LEOPARD
T
Training and educational activities in participant numbers:
• Research projects established - two established, two in progress. • Botany/genetics/biodiversity indicators studies progress.
28
•
Influencing conservation management such as Protected Area Management Plan and related assessment criteria.
Research and monitoring effort:
Number of Participants by Organisation
M
O CE
2
DR C
25
A EC
12
•
Arabian tahr Ecosystem Research, Conservation and Community project - nine rangers > 216 hours of monitoring species and ecosystems of conservation value.
•
Arabian leopard of Oman 39 rangers > 936 hours of monitoring species and ecosystems of conservation value.
OCT
• Meetings and presentations at Siya Khaw la Bint Alyman School in Wadi Sareen
NOV
Schools and Education Work in 2011/12
DEC
Education achievements
• Support and mentoring to help with delivery of strategy workshops
SEP
• Development of partnerships with national corporations
AUG
• Facilitating collaborative working with other sector players
leopard and research
JUL
• Developing the centre’s safety/risk management procedures
• Presentation at Jebel Samhan school, Tawi Itair on
JUN
• Capacity development of NFRCEC staff for delivery of centre activities and creating staff development framework/process
Education Manager to Wadi Sareen
MAY
- advising on development of environmental/field-based educational/training programmes
APR
• NFRCEC field research processes progress, including: - developing a system for research funding application
• School visit hosted by Bushra al Wahaibi to Wadi Sareen project • Earthwatch host a visit by Oman Botanic Gardens,
MAR
• Outreach activities including presentations in schools and school visits to project sites are being recorded, to measure the level of contributions towards raising awareness of environmental issues and research in Oman. Contributing to the development of the NFRCEC
FEB
First pilot set of educational materials developed for 11-13 year olds and shared with local school for feedback. The materials are developed using experience and expertise from Earthwatch project research in Oman.
JAN
•
• Environmental Education concepts book in translation,
for use by EW to engage with curriculum developers to include field research resources
• Educational Resources produced on Wadi Sareen species,
being piloted in Siya school
• Earthwatch host a visit by Oman Botanic Gardens
Education Manager to Wadi Sareen
Social science work • Research established and surveys done with Omanis local to projects.
for continuous checking and validation of data, supporting and supervising teams.
• Building of researchers’ capacity to oversee high quality field research including techniques
Author: Debbie Winton Programme Coordinator, OEP
OEP Focus Report: Carbon Management As part of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Diwan of Royal Court, the OEP committed to keeping carbon emissions produced through programme activities to a minimum, offsetting emissions which occurred and aiming to reduce overall emissions over the course of the OEP. Progress in Year 3 has included: •
During Year 3 all international and internal flights were tracked in terms of their carbon footprint. Other travel including rail, road and ferry journeys and project vehicle mileage have all been included in scoping and will be offset.
•
The carbon dioxide has been offset through Climate Care, an organisation who have created a portfolio of offsetting projects for Earthwatch. Carbon credits have been purchased on validated projects and details of these projects will be available retrospectively.
•
At the end of the programme (Year 6, 2015) a full report on the carbon impacts and offset activities will be produced for the programme. This will include the tonnes of CO2 offset each year.
Author: Sue Morris Programme Administrator, OEP
IMAGE | PHIL DICKINSON
The following people contributed images to this publication: Nigel Winser, Roderic Dutton, Dr James Burton, Dr Steve Ross, Chloe Maclaren, Alan Roe, Steve Bishop, Fadi Dada.