Impact & Metrics Plan
Green Rebirth
We propose the following metrics to measure impact, accountability, and efficacy for environmental and socioeconomic development goals in our Green Rebirth campaign.
Reforestation and Water Security
Metrics for Measurement:
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Number of Trees Planted Annually
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The survival rate of trees: signals the effectiveness of planting techniques and ecosystem health.
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Species diversity: signals resilience and sustainability of the forest ecosystem.
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Increase in Forest Cover over Time
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Remote sensing and GIS data analysis: Third-party satellite imagery monitoring and geographic information systems (GIS) to monitor changes over time.
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Ground-truthing: Validate remote sensing data with on-the-ground surveys and observations.
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Compare with historical data: Determine rate of change and trends by comparing current with historical data.
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Quantity & Quality of Water Resources Restored or Protected
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Water flow monitoring: Measure water volume and flow rates in rivers, streams, and water bodies to assess changes over time.
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Water quality testing: Analyze parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrient levels, and pollutant concentrations
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Biodiversity assessment: Monitor aquatic biodiversity, including fish populations and macroinvertebrates, as indicators of ecosystem health.
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Reduction in Soil Erosion and Land Degradation
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Soil health indicators: Assess organic matter content, soil structure, and nutrient levels to determine improvements in soil quality.
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Vegetation and ground cover changes: signals efficacy of erosion control measures.
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Methods of Presentation:
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Visual representations such as maps showing reforestation areas
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Before-and-after photos of reforestation sites
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Graphs depicting changes in forest cover and water quality over time
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Linking to third-party reports where used (satellite imagery, water tests)
Indigenous and Ethnobotanical Conservation
Metrics for Measurement:
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Plant Species Diversity + Preservation
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Plant species inventories: Ground surveys to identify and document indigenous plant species over time.
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Plant population sizes: signals efficacy of conservation efforts.
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Genetic diversity: Analyze genetic variability within populations of plant species to understand their resilience and adaptability to environmental changes
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Habitat restoration: Compare initial state of reforested area to improvements made over time.
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Establishment of Seed Bank: Within the greenhouse, develop a native seed bank to preserve seeds for intergenerational use, ensuring the continuity and sustainability of plant species.
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Indigenous Participation + Engagement in Conservation Efforts
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Community involvement metrics: Track attendance, survey feedback, and workshop engagement of members in decision-making processes, planning, and implementation of conservation projects.
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Stakeholder consultations: Conduct regular consultations and meetings with Indigenous communities to gather feedback, address concerns, and ensure voices are heard in conservation initiatives.
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Capacity building activities: Assess extent to which Indigenous community members are involved in training programs, workshops, and skill-building activities related to conservation and natural resource management.
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Collaborative partnerships: Document establishment of partnerships and collaborations between Indigenous communities, conservation organizations, and government agencies to co-manage protected areas or conservation projects.
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Documentation of Traditional Knowledge + Lab-Based Studies
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Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) documentation: Record and preserve Indigenous peoples' traditional knowledge and practices related to plants, including their uses, cultivation techniques, and cultural significance.
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Ethnobotanical studies: Research medicinal properties, chemical composition, food uses, and lab-based studies of plants. Based on oral traditions, we could use the laboratory to measure how the plant affects biomarkers (eg. blood sugar levels, mineral levels, etc).
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Oral history interviews: Collect oral histories and narratives from elders and knowledge holders about traditional plant knowledge and practices.
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Ethnobotanical databases: Create databases or repositories to store and disseminate information about indigenous plant species and their uses, accessible to Indigenous communities and researchers.
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Socioeconomic Improvement
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Income generation opportunities: Track development of sustainable livelihood initiatives, such as ecotourism, non-timber forest product (NTFP) harvesting, or handicraft production.
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Education and skill development: Assess impact of educational programs, vocational training, and capacity-building initiatives on enhancing the skills and knowledge of Indigenous community members.
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Health and well-being indicators: Monitor improvements in healthcare access, nutrition, and overall quality of life within Indigenous communities due to conservation and development projects.
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Empowerment and self-governance: Document the strengthening of Indigenous governance structures, decision-making processes, and self-determination through community-led initiatives and partnerships.
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Methods of Presentation:
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Reports showcasing diversity of preserved plant species
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Testimonials and stories from Indigenous community members
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Documentation of traditional practices through videos or written records
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Data on economic benefits accrued by Indigenous communities
Income Generation for the Kamentsa Community
The planned primary income stream is Chagra Forestry, a practice transforming the Kamentsa's monocrop lots into a synergistic farm, known ancestrally as Chagra, to produce carbon-rich trees, food, and medicinal plants. The tribe can cultivate a diverse range of flora that serves personal household needs with potential for commercialization under the proposed community brand, Batsanamama. This brand will offer organically grown products, addressing the issue of agrochemical dependency within the community while providing a sustainable source of income. The initiative also produces a line of medicinal plant extracts, further contributing to the tribe's economic stability and promoting environmentally conscious practices.
Metrics for Measurement:
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Increase in household income
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Income surveys: Conduct household surveys to assess changes in income levels over time, including sources of income, household expenditures, and savings.
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Income diversification: Track the adoption of income-generating activities beyond traditional livelihoods, such as agriculture, handicraft production, ecotourism, or small business ventures.
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Comparison with baseline data: Compare current household income levels with baseline data prior to the initiative, to measure the impact of interventions.
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Number of sustainable livelihood opportunities created
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Livelihood mapping: Identify existing livelihood opportunities and potential sectors for development through participatory mapping exercises with community members.
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Job creation metrics: Quantify the number of new jobs or income-generating opportunities generated by the initiative, such as micro-enterprises, cooperative ventures, or vocational training programs.
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Long-term viability: Assess sustainability and resilience of livelihood opportunities by considering market demand, resource availability, and community capacity to manage and maintain them.
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Participation in income-generating activities
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Participation surveys: Attendance records and surveys, group discussions on members’ participation rates in income-generating activities, training workshops, business development sessions. Survey barriers and facilitators to participation.
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Community feedback: Solicit feedback from community through regular meetings, suggestion boxes, or community forums to assess efficacy and challenges of income-generating programs.
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Methods of Presentation:
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Financial reports detailing income generated and distributed among community members
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Case studies highlighting success stories of individuals or families benefiting from income-generation projects
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Photos or videos showcasing community members engaging in income-generating activities, or products/services produced
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Data on improvements in living standards and access to services
Overall Impact Over Time
Methods of Presentation:
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Comprehensive impact reports summarizing achievements across all project components
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Infographics illustrating key statistics and trends
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Testimonials from community members, project partners, and stakeholders
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Comparison of baseline data with current outcomes to demonstrate progress over time