Year 5 Report (Part 1)

Year 5 Report: Part 1

October 2013 to March 2014

The National Field Research Centre for Environmental Conservation

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Jabal Samhan Biodiversity Project

The Arabian Tahr Ecosystem Research, Conservation and Community Project

The project will assess the biodiversity of the Jabal Samhan Reserve, (including key habitats of the critically endangered Arabian leopard) and build awareness of and capacity for enhanced conservation management.

The research aims to gain evidence of threats to the Arabian tahr (Arabitragus jayakari) population, provide mechanisms for research to feed into and support monitoring and management and to improve our understanding of the status of tahr in Oman. Education and awareness materials will be created from research outputs.

Dr Alan Roe, Dr James Burton

Dr Steve Ross

Mobile Environmental Research Unit Al Hajar Mountains Biodiversity Survey - Summary of a Methodology under the Tahr Research Project This project will increase the knowledge of factors influencing species richness in the Hajar Mountains of Oman, provide a platform for environmental awareness and learning, and provide practical experience for a range of audiences in conducting field research.

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PROJECT

PROJECT

Dr Steve Ross

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A Study on the Socio-economic and Environmental Sustainability of the Aflaj of Oman

Research for Conservation of High Altitude Woodland Habitats on Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams in the Hajar Mountain Range

The primary aim of the project is to identify, implement, and evaluate pilot projects that will improve the livelihoods of those in the falaj community, thereby improving the sustainability of the falaj.

The project’s aim is to identify and pilot a framework for the sustainable management and protection of high altitude juniper woodlands on Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams, with local communities and stakeholder agencies. This will include an assessment of the current status of the woodlands and draw upon (and foster) local knowledge and capacity while raising awareness about woodlands conservation.

John Cody

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PROJECT

PROJECT

Salah al Mazrui

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contents 1

Executive Summary

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Developing the Cadre of Research and Education Specialists

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Environmental Field Research Projects: PROJECT 1 | Jebel Samhan Research Project PROJECT 2 | Arabian tahr Ecosystem Research, Conservation

and Community Project and MERU PROJECT 3 | Research for Conservation of High Altitude

Woodland Habitats on Jebel Akhdar and Jebel

Shams in the Hajar Mountain Range PROJECT 4 | The Socio-economic and Environmental

Sustainability of the Aflaj

GIS and Remote Sensing for the Projects:

5 maps of the 4 project and 1 methodology (MERU) locations and or habitat / land use change

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) SQU - Sultan Qaboos University OBG - Oman Botanic Gardens DRC - Diwan of Royal Court

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Support to the National Centre (NFRCEC) Strategic Development

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Environmental Education

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Omani Scientists Conducting Own Fieldwork

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Operations and Safety in the Field

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Capturing OEP Successes

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Carbon Management Acknowledgements

1 Executive Summary This report summarises the significant progress of the Oman Earthwatch Programme from October 2013 to the end of March 2014.

The development of a cadre of environmental and education specialists is a major focus of the OEP. In the last 6 months this has been achieved with NFRCEC staff and also staff from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA). A NFRCEC training plan was produced by Debbie Winton in collaboration with Hussein al Qasmi, Bushra al Wahiabi and Khalifa al Hijji and is now being implemented.

This programme encompasses the full range of theoretical and practical skills for the NFRCEC staff to take the next steps to becoming independent field researchers. All the NFRCEC field staff have been involved in field research and gained training in at least one project and multiple research techniques, which is building their expertise and interest to develop their own research activities. A major collaboration with MECA began and this resulted in 23 MECA employees and 8 NFRCEC field staff gained skills in a range of field research techniques on the Mobile Environmental Research Unit.

Field research has increased in intensity with major research phases beginning on Woodlands research on Jebel Akdhar, and on the Mobile Environmental Research Unit at 4 locations in the Hajar Mountains, as well as ongoing work on the other projects.

The Tahr project has begun to expand its research on the distribution and abundance of tahr, with cameratrapping surveys from UAE border down to Sur. This is a major development as it will result in a detailed understanding of the range wide distribution for the first time ever. Under this project a new methodology has been developed - the Mobile Environmental Research Unit - Hajar Mountains Biodiversity Survey.

In the last 6 months this team have worked in multiple locations, including Al Salil, Jebel Qahwan, Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams. Notable successes are the detection and measurement of occupancy of Mountain gazelle, Blanford’s fox, red fox, Arabian hare.

In addition the first gazelle survey was conducted within Al Salil Reserve with an estimate of 1100 gazelles in the 210 km2 reserve.

The Woodland Project has commenced the socio-economic and land use survey of Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams.

By March 2014, over 95 household interviews had been conducted across 13 settlements within the project area.

In addition, the Jebel Akhdar vegetation and habitat assessment also started, with the plan to explore the relationship between different levels of socioeconomic utilization and land condition.

The Falaj project has completed a detailed topographical map of the Luzugh village falaj water courses and the falaj gardens. These will be used as the base map for the project research activities, including the socio-economic and biodiversity studies. Also Hammad al Huseini of NFRCEC has completed the scanning, translation and transferring of data from 14 years of Falaj books, which will be crucial for the socio-economic study.

The project leader, John Cody, joined the team with much experience in this field. He is now leading the project and ensuring implementation of research and pilot projects in Luzugh village.

OEP now has an experience GIS and remote sensing specialist on the team, Dr Ehsan Khalefa started to develop base maps, and began remote sensing work with the projects, working with NFRCEC staff.

Earthwatch has been integral to supporting the dissemination of research results and raising the profile of the biodiversity of Oman and the NFRCEC activities. The ‘International Arabian Leopard Conference’ was hosted in Mirbat, during December 2013, by the NFRCEC, with the support of OEP. This was a major event for conservation in Oman as this is one of the highest profile species in Oman, and the resulting National Action Plan will help direct future conservation efforts.

Also Earthwatch and the Royal Geographical Society helped NFRCEC organise a one-day seminar on ‘The Natural Heritage of the Sultanate of Oman - field science in Oman - past, present and future’ in London in March 2014. The event successfully promoted Omani and international field research and the discussions led to a variety of ideas of future collaboration between the UK and the NFRCEC. In the area of environmental education the OEP and NFRCEC team are continuing to develop their relationship with the Ministry of Education.

The stunning series of education materials ‘Wildlife of the Hajar Mountain Series’ produced by this team have been fully endorsed by the MoE Science Curriculum Division, with a launch date set for September 2014.

The operations and field safety aspects of OEP have been busy with the initiation of the Mobile Environmental Research Unit, as well as running a Wilderness First Aid training course.

All aspects of safety and logistics were reviewed and by Lloyd Figgins, Head of Global Safety, Earthwatch, who visited Oman in January.

Dr James Burton Senior Research and Programme Manager, OEP

2 Developing the Cadre of Research and Education Specialists - NFRCEC Staff In February 2014 a training plan for NFRCEC staff for 2014 was produced

by Debbie Winton in collaboration with Hussein al Qasmi, Bushra al Wahiabi and Khalifa al Hijji.

The training plan offers opportunities to further understanding and competence in practical skills required for conducting robust and effective field science, for members of staff at the NFRCEC.

The focus is on field based training, supplemented by targeted theoretical training where necessary.

The plan includes a variety of opportunities to allow for a range of time requirements, levels of training and methods of learning, to provide something for everyone. Whether they work in the office or the field, whatever their level of education and experience, and however much time they are able to spend in training, each member of NFRCEC staff should find they can take advantage of some of the opportunities available.

Each member of staff will keep a portfolio to track their training. In their portfolio they will set objectives, plan their schedule of training, record and evaluate progress, and keep training materials.

The NFRCEC provided a list of course requirements for their staff, which is provided in the table below, with notes on how we hope to fulfil the requirement this year.

COURSES

IN OEP TRAINING PLAN?

PLANNING AND PROGRESS

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GIS programmes

In OEP 2014 Training Plan

Planning for courses in Sept - Dr Ehsan to deliver

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GPS

In OEP 2014 Training Plan

Course run by Steve R on 23rd April

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Emerging scientific programme

In OEP 2014 Training Plan

Will be included in Experimental Design Course planned for Aug

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Defensive driving

In OEP 2014 Training Plan

All FAs completed as of Sept 2013

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Biological taxonomy

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Scientific classification of creatures

Gap in the OEP plan

Being added to the OEP Training Plan - including how to use field guides, identification techniques and tools in ecological census techniques

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Main skills of field work

In OEP 2014 Training Plan

Experimental Design course planned for August will cover this.

Further training included in Oxford Summer Programme 2014

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Biodiversity in Oman

Lectures from OEP staff and external specialists

An ongoing lecture series on Sundays covers various aspects of biodiversity and will continue to do so

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Data entry programmes

In OEP 2014 Training Plan part of data analysis course

Course in JA in May included data analysis training and use of DISTANCE software. Further training planned

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Data analysis programmes

In OEP 2014 Training Plan part of data analysis course

Course in JA in May included data analysis training and use of DISTANCE software. Further training planned

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Applications of Google Earth

Dr Ehsan can provide training

To be part of GIS course with Dr Ehsan

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Foundation skills of scientific research

In OEP 2014 Training Plan part of “the project cycle” lecture

“Project Cycle” lecture to be expanded into a short course

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English learning

To be arranged by NC

Hussein planning English courses

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Scientific technique and methods fieldwork

Included in Experimental Design and Planning Fieldwork courses.

Next step after that would be to set personal projects

Experimental Design course planned for August

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Chemistry of water (falaj environment)

For Hamad to do with SQU

Hussein planning training for Hamad

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Risk management (RM) and Risk Assessment (RA)

In OEP 2014 Training Plan

To be covered in Oxford Summer Programme

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Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Could use external organisation for this

Potential to include in Oxford Summer Programme being investigated

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Plant ecosystems

In OEP 2014 Training Plan as part of ecological systems lecture(s)

Lecture on the Woodlands project to provide some knowledge in this. Further training to be decided

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Water (falaj) ecosystem

In OEP 2014 Training Plan as part of ecological systems lecture(s)

Lecture on the Aflaj project to provide some knowledge in this.

Further training to be decided

EW to consider a further course by RBGE to supplement botany courses run in 2013

Debbie Winton OEP Saeida Rouass OEP Bushra al Wahaibi NFRCEC Hana al Hinai NFRCEC Hussien al Qasmi NFRCEC

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Environmental Field Research Projects

PROJECT 1

The four environmental field research projects have grown in breadth of research, productivity and staffing.

These model projects are producing totally new and vital findings to support future conservation planning and community sustainable management of their resources. This will result in the testing of practical pilot projects to benefit communities and reduce the impact on the environment in the coming year.

Jebel Samhan Research Project

PROJECT 1

The ‘International Arabian Leopard Conference’ was convened in Mirbat, during December 2013.

The conference attracted over 100 delegates and participants representing many stakeholder institutions, and government agencies, together with foreign experts. The conference as facilitated by IUCNSSC Cat Specialist Group Chairs Drs Urs and Christine Breitenmoser, and the event was opened by the Minster of the Diwan. The conference was utilized as a forum for bringing together stakeholders in the conservation of the Arabian leopard and developing a coordinated strategy to achieve this.

Following the 13 expert presentations, the participants broke into working groups to review various issues related to the conservation of the leopard and its habitat, and to develop recommendations for this.

During January and February these recommendations were taken as the basis for drafting a National Action Plan for the Conservation of the Arabian leopard in Oman. This draft NAP has been translated to Arabic and is now with the NFRCEC for Ministerial approval.

During December 2013 field trips were undertaken into the major eastern wadis of the Jebel Samhan to explore for sites of high biodiversity

value. These investigations identified permanent oases hosting diverse flora and fauna which warrant in-depth study. Following these visits, plans have been developed to establish a field research camp in the eastern wadis to undertake a comprehensive biodiversity survey.

The project team was supported in the field by a scientist from the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh to assist with plant species identifications and field trips were undertaken to the western wadis of the Jebel Samhan reserve. Several successful field trips were undertaken and were valuable in identifying and recording floral diversity.

Dr Alan Roe, Dr James Burton

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Arabian Tahr Ecosystem Research, Conservation and Community Project and Mobile Environmental Research Unit (MERU) - Hajar Mountains Biodiversity

PROJECT 2

During the last six months the Tahr Project has concentrated on extending tahr surveys throughout the Hajar Mountains using camera trapping and sign surveys.

The aim is to assess the status and distribution of the world-wide Arabian tahr population. A total of 67 camera traps were collected from areas from near the UAE border down to Sur. Another 80 camera traps have been placed since then in dense clusters in Jebel Qahwan, Jebel Akhdar, Jebel Shams and Al Salil, with other individual samples (clusters of 3 cameras) distributed further afield.

The camera placements are extending the distributional and occupancy survey of the Hajar Mountains and providing

important monitoring information for tahr hotspots such as Jebel Qahwan.

In the past 6 months the MERU project has conducted research in four reserve areas including Al Salil, Jebel Qahwan, Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams.

Notable successes of the project include the detection and measurement of occupancy of Mountain gazelle, Blanford’s fox, red fox, Arabian hare and domestic animals in reserve areas.

In addition the first gazelle survey was conducted within Al Salil Reserve with an estimate of 1100 gazelles in the 210 km2 reserve.

A total of 700 small mammal traps have captured three different small mammal species including Wagner’s Gerbil, Egyptian Spiny Mouse and the Arabian jird. Due to the very low density of small mammals the trapping will continue for one more year before analyses of distribution and habitat preferences are made.

Insect research has documented a total of 70 different moth species, and collections of 2000 specimens of other species have been. These specimens will be presented to the Natural History Museum in Muscat for show and future referencing.

The four camps have achieved much success in training. They have hosted 23 MECA employees, and trained 8 National Centre field staff in a range of field research techniques. Exposure to a host of practical field techniques is an important step towards building capacity. Training will continue to be a focus of MERU research camps in the future.

Dr Steve Ross, Joe Monks, Waleed al Zakwani, Azan al Kalbani, Abdulhalim al Rashdi, Nasser al Rahabi, Craig Johnson

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Salah al Mazrui, Dr Alan Roe, Dr Corien Hoek, Chloe Maclaren, Fatma al Zadgali, Waleed al Zakwani, Hana al Hinai, Abdulhalim al Rashdi, Nasser al Rahabi, Azan al Kalbani

Research for Conservation of High Altitude Woodland Habitats on Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams in the Hajar Mountain Range

PROJECT 3

The Woodlands project team undertook analysis of data describing community environmental knowledge and attitudes to conservation.

This analysis provided an insight into the distribution of environmental knowledge throughout the project area, with reference to age, gender, occupation and other socio-economic factors. It further provides community insights into the distribution of ecological values across the Jebel Akhdar range, so highlighting conservation priorities.

The Woodland project team subsequently commenced the socioeconomic and land use survey of Jebel

Akhdar and Jebel Shams. By March 2014, over 95 household interviews had been conducted across 13 settlements within the project area.

These interviews collated data on household livelihoods, socio-economics and spatially referenced data on natural resources utilization (including livestock management and herding destinations). The results of this study will be integrated with the findings of the concurrent Jebel Akhdar vegetation and habitat assessment to explore the relationship between different levels of socio-economic utilization and land condition.

Finally, the project team identified a potential candidate for a PhD studentship, complementary to ongoing project research: The PhD will investigate the evidence for (and

potential impacts of) climate change on Jebel Akhdar, beginning with a comprehensive collation and review of available climate data to assess and quantify the effects of climatic variation.

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The Socio-economic and Environmental Sustainability of the Aflaj

PROJECT 4

The Project Leader, John Cody was recruited in March; he brings much practical experience of enhancing water management to the project. This is in line with the aim of the project to have a practical benefit to the community.

Over the previous six months the project has completed a detailed topographical map of the Luzugh village falaj water courses and the falaj gardens. In total the coordinates of 8,166 trees, of which 6,217 were date palms have been identified.

These data and the topographic survey data have been imported into

a GIS, and will be used as the base map for the project research activities, including the socio-economic and biodiversity studies.

The first project Steering Committee meeting was held in March, and was attended by all committee members.

Two new work strands were identified: the rehabilitation of the Sundial in Luzugh and the inclusion of out of school education activities for targeted at children from the Luzugh community, which will be called the “Sundial Centre�. Preparations for the Sundial Centre are underway and a potential premises in Luzugh has been identified.

A series of meetings have been held with Aquaponics and hydroponics experts based in Oman to investigate the opportunities for including these as pilot projects in Luzugh. The aquaponics

installation in Barka is viewed as a highly promising pilot project for the Luzugh context, and preparations for a visit of community representatives from Luzugh to see the installation first hand are underway.

The project obtained agreement from the Wakil in Luzugh to access the Falaj Records for the previous 14 years.

These records represent a crucial data in the socio-economic study of the Falaj. Scanning and translation of the Falaj books has been completed and the data transferred to a spreadsheet in preparation for translation and analysis.

Also water quality sampling has begun, using equipment supplied by the project leader and carried out by the Hammad al Huseini, NFRCEC. John Cody, Dr Abdullah al Ghafri, Dr Dennis Powers, Hammad al Huseini

GIS and Remote Sensing for the Projects The collection, storage and analysis of geo-referenced field data are an essential part of biodiversity conservation and natural resource management.

Dr Ehsan Khalefa, an experience GIS and remote sensing specialist, has started to develop base maps, and began remote sensing work with the projects. She is working closely with Mohammed al Muqimi from the NFRCEC. Dr Ehsan Khalefa OEP, Mohammed al Muqimi, NFRCEC

PROJECT

The Jebel Samhan Research Project

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3

PROJECT

Arabian tahr Ecosystem Research, Conservation and Community project and MERU

2

PROJECT

The Arabian Tahr Ecosystem Research, Conservation and Community ProjectWadi Sareen Reserve

2

PROJECT

The Socio Economic and Environmental Sustainability of the Aflaj-Luzugh Village

3

PROJECT

Research for Conservation of High Altitude Woodland Habitats on Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams in the Hajar Mountain Range

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PROJECT

Example of Land Use Changes and Infrastructural Development on Jebel Akhdar from 2007 to 2014

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Support to the National Field Research Centre for Environmental Conservation Strategic Development Oman’s Natural Heritage Exhibition and Seminar As part of a wider exhibition curated at the Royal Geographical Society, London, in March 2014, Earthwatch and the RGS helped NFRCEC organise a one-day seminar on ‘The Natural Heritage of the Sultanate of Oman - field science in Oman - past, present and future’.

Seventeen speakers with research expertise in Oman made presentations about their work, to a specialist audience of 250 people. The speakers also produced 27 excellent posters

illustrating many aspects of Oman’s natural heritage. The overall aim of the day was to promote Omani and international field research into all aspects of Oman’s biodiversity and environment, laying the foundations for future collaboration between academic institutions and Universities in the UK and the NFRCEC.

Oman Biodiversity and Environment Database (OBED) Earthwatch has responded to the ongoing interest expressed by the CEO of NFRCEC to build an Oman Biodiversity and Environmental Database (OBED).

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Dr Beck has drafted a comprehensive programme (hardware, software, staff) to construct OBED, Dr Miller (and colleagues at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh) have, with the CEO, drafted an MoU under the terms of which RBGE agree to provide copies of the 10,000 records of Omani plants to initiate OBED that they hold and train staff in the management of OBED long-term.

Dr Peter Brotherton and colleagues at Natural England have very detailed experience of integrating databases originally compiled by many large and small organisations in the UK and negotiating agreements on their ownership and usage.

Dr Roderic Dutton OEP Nigel Winser OEP

5 Environmental Education NFRCEC/Earthwatch Education Plan 2013-15 The NFRCEC and Earthwatch education team have worked collaboratively to develop the OEP Education Plan.

Ministry of Education Partnership A strong working relationship has been developed between the NFRCEC/Earthwatch and the Ministry of Education.

The plan provides a description of the overall education objectives and approach as well as an account of how education is integrated into the broader work of the OEP. The plan acts as a guiding document for the education work being undertaken within each research project and as an information resource for the various OEP stakeholders.

The education team have collaborated closely with the Assistant Director of Science Curriculum within the MoE in the development of education materials based on research currently taking place in Wadi Sareen Reserve.

Together the OEP, NFRCEC and the Ministry of Education Science Curriculum Division have worked to finalise the ‘Wildlife of the Hajar Mountain Series’. The Hajar Mountain

Series have been fully endorsed by the MoE Science Curriculum Division, ensuring they become a component of the national curriculum resources available to schools and a launch of the materials is being jointly organised to take place in September 2014.

The launch will include a morning of receiving dignitaries, an afternoon of teacher training workshops and a second day of field experience for science teachers from the different regions of the Sultanate on the Jebel Akhdar Woodlands project.

Saeida Rouass OEP Bushra al Wahaibi NFRCEC Marwa al Mukhaini NFRCEC

Omani Scientists Conducting Fieldwork As part of each of the field project NFRCEC staff are trained in field research techniques so that they can conduct the research independently.

At this early stage in their career development and training the research is still supervised by OEP consultants.

However it is becoming obvious that the skills and enthusiasm of the field staff are producing some high quality research and very important contributions to the projects objectives.

Said al Rashdi of NFRCEC has become an important leader of the Mobile Environmental Research Unit, working with and learning from Dr Steve Ross, Craig Johnson and Joe Monks, and biodiversity surveys, including small mammal trapping, camera trapping and invertebrate surveys.

James Burton OEP Khalifa al Hijji NFRCEC Mike McGrady OEP Alan Roe OEP Steve Ross OEP Azan al Kalbani Nasser al Rahabi Waleed al Zakwani Abdulhalim al Rashdi Fatma al Zadgali Hammad al Huseini Mohammed al Muqimi NFRCEC Laila al Haddabi SQU

Hammad al Huseini of NFRCEC has been trained in transcribing the 14 years of Falaj books and has completed the work successfully.

He is also leading the community liaison with Luzugh village.

visit, respectively. The training was successfully provided, so that the bird survey methodologies at the reed beds were improved; also Azan al Kalbani and Nasser al Rahabi, NFRCEC staff now are confident ornithologists.

Waleed al Zakwani, Abdulhalim al Rashdi, Fatma al Zadgali, Nasser al Rahabi, and Azan al Kalbani all from the NFRCEC have been key interviewers in the Woodland Project socio-economic survey. Following training by Dr Alan Roe they have gained in confidence to now be professional social science field staff.

They are also involved with beginning ornithological research on the Jebel Akdhar Woodlands Project.

OEP ornithologist, Dr Mike McGrady led a team of NFRCEC staff to the PDO red beds at Nimr. The aims of the field visits were to pilot research methods and provide training for the NFRCEC biologists and Bauer Nimr biologists. In two surveys of birds at the reed beds, in October 2013 and January 2014 the team recorded 33, and 35 species on each

Mohammed al Muqimi of NFRCEC has received training in GIS and remote sensing from Dr Ehsan Khalefa during March and this will continue as analysis gets underway and a database is set up.

Laila al Haddabi, a PhD student at SGU University, is progressing well into her second year with her fieldwork well underway and producing interesting results about juniper tree condition and environmental factors. These results will be valuable to link with the Woodland Project and has received funds for field equipment.

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Operations and Safety in the Field October 2013 saw the launch of the Mobile Environmental Research Unit (MERU) which deployed to Ras al Shagar in November 2013.

This was the pilot phase of the project and proved a huge success under the leadership of Steve Ross with Joe Monks leading the entomology work, Craig Johnson leading the small mammals work and Ashraf managing the camp. The camp was supported by the NFRCEC field staff who adapted to life in the field with ease and made a huge contribution to the success of this first camp.

Following on from the pilot, the team then deployed to Al Saleel reserve. Once again the NFRCEC made an excellent contribution to the project.

This camp saw the first of many MECA teams who contributed to the research under the guidance of the Earthwatch team and the NFRCEC field staff. This camp was immediately followed by a camp in Jebel Qaqan and again we continue to field MECA teams.

This period has seen the NFRCEC field staff grow in confidence and take an increasingly proactive role on their respective projects.

Waleed al Zakwani and Abdulhalim al Rashdi have supported me with the logistics work and again been proactive in helping manage the fleet of Earthwatch vehicles.

Lloyd Figgins, Head of Global Safety, Earthwatch, visited Oman in January to ensure the programme maintains its high standards of field safety.

Lloyd was taken to various project sites and completed an inspection of the vehicle fleet and the Earthwatch accommodation. This was an extremely valuable visit and helped to ensure the programme remains safe and ‘fit for purpose’.

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all of whom received Risk Management training by myself as part of a thorough induction programme. This was combined with an office move from 35 to 37 which took place in December/January of this period.

This provides much needed additional space for the staff as well a meeting room and storeroom.

March saw us undertake another Wilderness First Aid course with Dr Matt Ladbrook which took place in Jebel Akhdar. This saw 11 members of Earthwatch team gain the qualification meaning the Oman Earthwatch Programme has 90% of its staff with WFA and defensive driving qualifications.

The period between October 2013 and March 2014 saw the OEP grow at rapid rate with many new consultants,

Steve Bishop OEP

Training and educational activities in participant numbers

JEBEL SAMHAN BIODIVERSITY PROJECT 45

TAHR 20

WOODLANDS 11

MERU 16

OTHER COURSES 38

Number of hours spent on each project by participants doing research and monitoring work

JEBEL SAMHAN BIODIVERSITY PROJECT

TAHR

WOODLANDS

336

231

480

1080

These numbers show progress in formal capacity development through teams on the field research projects, for all audiences - NFRCEC field assistants; students; teachers/educators; rangers; MECA/OCE/ESO scientists; Ministries/ Diwan staff.

Some participants take part in more than one team, thus gaining greater experience and receiving a higher level of training, further developing their capacity as conservation practitioners. To record this, we have begun to track how many teams individuals are participating in, to gain an understanding of the level of development being achieved.

29%

12%

9%

15%

During Year 4 of the programme, OEP developed a series of clear measures of success to monitor the programme against, in addition to monitoring achievements against programme objectives in the MoU. We continue to track numbers against targets and to log relevant activities that relate to our MoS.

Number of and % participants by project

35%

Capturing Successes

MERU

MECA 47

OCE 20

OTHER 48

OBG 5

ONE TEAM

TWO TEAMS

THREE TEAMS

2%

1%

9%

88%

Percentage of participants attending multiple teams

FOUR TEAMS

8%

4%

37%

15%

36%

Representation of organisations on projects (number and %)

UNIVERSITIES 10

8

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Capturing Success A few examples of achievements against Earthwatch Measures of Success in Year 4 are seen here.

ACTIVITY

DATES

MoS

Planning, development and delivery of the Arabian Leopard Conservation Conference in Salalah, Oman

2-4 December 2013

Disseminating world class scientific field research

Development of the National Action Plan for the Arabian Leopard in Oman

December 2013 - March 2014

Informing environmental policies, agendas and management plans

Development of a new research project - the Mobile Environmental Research Unit

Ongoing

Facilitating world class scientific field research

Working in partnership with the Ministry of Education to receive their approval of and input into the Hajar Mountain Series education materials for use in schools across Oman

Ongoing

Disseminating world class scientific field research and developing environmental leaders

Debbie Winton, OEP

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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 4 so far has included: During the period October 2013 to March 2014 all international and internal flights continued to be 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 will be offset through ClimateCare, 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.

Sue Morris OEP

Oman Earthwatch Programme would like to thank Dr. Saif al Shaqsi for his leadership, support and collaboration to achieve the successes outlined. We are also grateful to his team for their hard work in facilitating and conducting this work.

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These include Abdulhalim al Rashdi, Dr Alan Roe, Ashraf Mohammed, Ayaub al Balushi, Azan al Kalbani, Bader al Busaidi, Bushra al Wahaibi, Chloe Maclaren, Dr Corien Hoek, Debbie Winton, Dr Abdullah al Ghafri, Dr Dennis Powers, Dr Ehsan Khalefa, Fadi Dada, Fatma al Zadgali, Hammad al Huseini, Hana al Hinai, Hussien al Qasmi, Dr James Burton, Joe Monks, John Cody, Khalid al Badri, Khalifa al Hijji, Maimoona al Ajmi, Marwa al Mukhaini, Dr Mike McGrady, Mohammed al Hadabi, Mohammed al Muqimi, Nasser al Rahabi, Nigel Winser, Dr Roderic Dutton, Ruth Kamnitzer, Saeida Rouass, Said al Rashdi, Salah al Mazrui, Steve Bishop, Dr Steve Ross, Steve Sharland, Sultan al Raqadi, Waleed al Zakwani and Zakaria al Mauwali.

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.