Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Empowering Coastal Communities:Drones and Data for Mangrove Conservation in La Paz (ID: 22831194)

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Applicant Details

Main Wikimedia username. (required)

RollitoDeGuayaba

Organization

Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team

If you are a group or organization leader, board member, president, executive director, or staff member at any Wikimedia group, affiliate, or Wikimedia Foundation, you are required to self-identify and present all roles. (required)

N/A

Describe all relevant roles with the name of the group or organization and description of the role. (required)

Main Proposal

1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be the Meta-Wiki page title.

Empowering Coastal Communities: Drones and Data for Mangrove Conservation in La Paz

2. and 3. Proposed start and end dates for the proposal.

2025-01-13 - 2025-04-30

4. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)

Mexico

5. Are your activities part of a Wikimedia movement campaign, project, or event? If so, please select the relevant project or campaign. (required)

Not applicable

6. What is the change you are trying to bring? What are the main challenges or problems you are trying to solve? Describe this change or challenges, as well as main approaches to achieve it. (required)

Coastal communities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) face complex challenges, worsened by limited access to local, actionable data and inclusive decision-making processes. Bridging this information gap and fostering community engagement are critical for achieving sustainable solutions that protect marine ecosystems and improve livelihoods for future generations. Urbanization and uncontrolled deforestation have further endangered these ecosystems. El Estero El Conchalito, a coastal wetland in La Paz, is home to a vital mangrove population and diverse species of flora and fauna. However, years of human activity, including uncontrolled urbanization, illegal logging, and pollution, have damaged this ecosystem. To address these issues, our project focuses on mangrove conservation/monitoring aiming to enhance community-led conservation efforts already in place, in the hands of women from this area, by training locals to generate monitoring open data through the use of drones and open-mapping. A second objective we seek with this project is to strengthen a “CoLaboratory” created by the NGO BSCicletos to develop professional competencies in local youth from vulnerable neighborhoods, marginalized by the aggressive gentrification of La Paz. By providing them with professional opportunities related to environmental and community recovery in this area of the country, both the socio-economic and environmental dimensions are addressed. This CoLaboratory would serve as the technical arm of the women-led NGO, Guardianas del Conchalito, to whom we would provide equipment and skills to enhance mangrove monitoring and reforestation planning, not only in Conchalito but also along a wider stretch of this coast. HOT's participatory methodology works directly with communities, empowering them to build the data ecosystem necessary for their conservation plans. Strengthening the community's capacity will ensure the project's long-term sustainability. The CoLaboratory will continue to apply its expertise and drone capabilities in a new project aimed at evaluating the risk of hotel expansion into the Balandra protected area. HOT's participatory methodology works directly with communities, empowering them to create the data ecosystem needed for their conservation plans. Building the community's capacity will ensure the project's long-term sustainability.

7. What are the planned activities? (required) Please provide a list of main activities. You can also add a link to the public page for your project where details about your project can be found. Alternatively, you can upload a timeline document. When the activities include partnerships, include details about your partners and planned partnerships.

The two main activities of the project are: 1. Drone Purchase: We will acquire a drone with high-resolution imaging capabilities, specifically adapted to capture precise data on coastal ecosystems, including mangrove conditions and sargassum landings. One drone will equip the LAC hub of HOT for all the community projects and emergencies support in Mexico, increasing our competencies to support multiple situations and to train other communities. The second drone will equip the CoLaboratory. This tool is crucial for enabling community-driven monitoring efforts, giving local conservationists access to accurate and up-to-date data, in the case of the application of this grant, but also in the future for any other purposes of the Guardianas y the CoLaboratory. 2. Community Drone Workshop: We will organize a hands-on workshop hiring a licensed professional, open to all interested members of the community. The workshop will focus on teaching participants how to operate the drone, capture aerial imagery, process and host the images with open-code technologies, and analyze the resulting data. By involving a diverse group, including local residents, conservationists, young people and women, we aim to foster a sustainable knowledge base that will support ongoing environmental monitoring efforts in the area mainly, and in Mexico through HOT. This training will also help create a network of community drone operators who can continue to contribute to the project’s goals long after the initial workshop. These activities are designed to deepen the community’s understanding of how drone technology can be leveraged for environmental monitoring. By actively involving the local community in both the data collection and learning processes, we ensure that participants take ownership of the project, contributing to its long-term success. Wikimedia Contributions: Release of Images on Wikimedia Commons: Following the drone's deployment for aerial data collection, images of mangroves and coastal areas will be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons under a free license. These high-quality images will be available for public use, allowing individuals and organizations to access and utilize them for research, environmental projects, or enhancing related Wikipedia articles. Improvement of Wikipedia Articles: The Guardianas del Conchalito, in collaboration with El Colaboratorio and BSCicletos, will work to improve or create Wikipedia articles related to mangrove conservation, coastal biodiversity, and local conservation efforts in Mexico. They will contribute data obtained from drone monitoring, add captured imagery, and update existing articles with relevant environmental data. This activity will be coordinated with the Wikimedia Mexican Chapter. These activities align closely with our strategic goals of community engagement, capacity building, and environmental conservation through open knowledge sharing.

8. Describe your team. Please provide their roles, Wikimedia Usernames and other details. (required) Include more details of the team, including their roles, usernames, Wikimedia group, and whether they are salaried, volunteers, consultants/contractors, etc. Team members involved in the grant application need to be aware of their involvement in the project.

Céline Jacquin Role: Project Manager Bio: Dr. Celine Jacquin, Senior Manager of Programming for Latin America at HOT, brings a wealth of expertise in geography, urban studies, transport, and civic technology. Her active involvement in OpenStreetMap and citizen science initiatives underscores her deep experience in urban mobility, gender equality, emergency response, and community development. As a co-founder of Geochicas, Jacquin demonstrates her commitment to empowering women and bridging the gender gap within OpenStreetMap communities. She has led and served as a methodological advisor in five collaborative transport mapping projects across the region, including Mexico City, and has played a key role in institutional coordination and mapping efforts for emergency response in Mexico and beyond. Wikimedia user: Mapeadora

Mariana Marín Villagrana Role: Project Assistant & Link with Wikimedia Community Bio: Mar is the Senior Communications Strategist at HOT's Latin America and the Caribbean Hub, bringing with her over 6 years of experience in regional and global communication. A digital activist hailing from the central region of México, Querétaro, Mar's professional journey has seen her navigate the fields of the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society. She has spearheaded social projects encompassing civic technology, peace culture, education, citizen participation, gender equality, and cybersecurity. Notable collaborations include Code for All, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Mozilla Festival. Equipped with a BA in International Relations, Mar boasts two minors in Peace and Conflict Studies (Tec de Monterrey) and Feminist Communications (Claustro de Sor Juana University), offering a comprehensive foundation to complement her hands-on expertiseWikimedia user: RollitoDeGuayaba.

9. Who are the target participants and from which community? How will you engage participants before and during the activities? How will you follow up with participants after the activities? (required)

Our primary target participants are the Guardianas del Conchalito, a local activist NGO leading conservation and monitoring efforts in the mangrove ecosystem of Conchalito. This group is composed of dedicated community members who are passionate about environmental preservation and are actively involved in monitoring the health of the mangroves and coastal biodiversity. As a platform of accompaniment already in place with this purpose to bring technical support to the Guardianas del Conchalito, we will be training the Co-Laboratory a space created by the NGO BSCicletos that brings together young people in a situation of social vulnerability of La Paz to give them access to projects and the development of technical professional skills in particular linked to mapping in different socio-economic, urban and environmental projects of La Paz. In addition to these groups, we aim to engage a broader segment of the local community, including:

Local residents who live near the mangrove and have a direct stake in its conservation.
Conservationists and environmental advocates who are already involved in coastal ecosystem protection.

Engagement Before and During the Activities: Pre-Activity Engagement:

Workshops and Preparatory Meetings: Before the main activities, we will conduct meetings and introductory sessions with the Guardianas del Conchalito the CoLaboratory coordinators, and other community members to explain the goals of the project, introduce the drone technology, and gather feedback on local needs.
Communication and Outreach: We will promote the workshop through local networks, social media, and direct outreach to ensure all interested participants have the opportunity to join. Digital materials will be distributed in collaboration with our partners to maximize visibility.
Capacity Building: Before the hands-on workshop, we will also offer an introductory webinar on environmental monitoring techniques and the benefits of using drone technology. This will help prepare participants and build anticipation for the practical aspects of the project.

During the Activities:

Interactive Workshop: The drone comprehensive workshop, presential, will be highly interactive, allowing participants to learn through direct, hands-on experience. Each attendee will have the chance to operate the drone, capture aerial imagery, process it and use it for derivated mapping, and participate in discussions about how to analyze and apply the data for environmental monitoring.
Collaborative Learning: We will emphasize collaboration and knowledge sharing during the workshop, encouraging participants to share their insights and questions, which will help build a sense of community ownership over the project.

Post-Activity Follow-Up:

Ongoing Mentorship and Support: Following the workshop, light technical support and guidance will be made available remotely, addressing participant questions and helping them feel confident in using the drone and analyzing data. Occasional follow-up sessions will also be offered
Online Community Group: An online community group (via WhatsApp or a similar platform) will be established for participants to share experiences, ask questions, and discuss new ideas for using drones in their monitoring efforts. This will help maintain engagement and support the sustainability of the project.
Wikimedia Contributions: Participants will be encouraged to contribute to Wikipedia articles and Wikimedia Commons by uploading images and updating relevant environmental information. We will track these contributions and provide ongoing feedback to ensure the content remains valuable to the broader Wikimedia community.
Evaluation and Feedback: We will gather feedback from participants after the activities to assess what worked well and identify areas for improvement. This feedback will be used to refine future workshops and community engagement efforts.

By maintaining active communication with the participants and providing resources for their continued involvement, we aim to foster long-term engagement and empower the Guardianas del Conchalito, the CoLaboratory and the broader community to take an active role in conservation and open knowledge sharing.

10. Does your project involve work with children or youth? (required)

No

10.1. Please provide a link to your Youth Safety Policy. (required) If the proposal indicates direct contact with children or youth, you are required to outline compliance with international and local laws for working with children and youth, and provide a youth safety policy aligned with these laws. Read more here.

N/A

11. How did you discuss the idea of your project with your community members and/or any relevant groups? Please describe steps taken and provide links to any on-wiki community discussion(s) about the proposal. (required) You need to inform the community and/or group, discuss the project with them, and involve them in planning this proposal. You also need to align the activities with other projects happening in the planned area of implementation to ensure collaboration within the community.

The idea for this project was developed through ongoing discussions with the Guardianas del Conchalito, as well as partners like El Colaboratorio and BSCicletos, who share a strong commitment to conservation and community engagement. We engaged community members and relevant groups through the following steps: Initial Conversations: We began by holding informal meetings with the Guardianas del Conchalito y BCSicletos, introducing the potential of drone technology for environmental monitoring, in an autonomous manner. These discussions helped us gauge the interest of the community in using drones to improve their monitoring capabilities and document the health of the mangroves. This project comes directly from the discussion and their expression of needs.

Collaborative Planning: Following the initial conversations, we worked closely with the Guardianas del Conchalito and local stakeholders to co-design the project. We ensured that the activities were aligned with the needs of the community, focusing on practical outcomes like acquiring high-resolution data and using it for conservation advocacy and direct reforestation and maintenance.

Online Community Engagement: We also shared the project idea with the Mexican Wikimedia Chapter, soliciting feedback and suggestions. This included engaging with members of the Wikimedia Mexican Chapter to explore how this project can contribute to the movement and receive input on best practices for utilizing open knowledge platforms for conservation purposes.

Formal Meetings and Feedback: We held formal meetings with our partners (El Colaboratorio, BSCicletos, and local NGOs) to ensure their involvement in every stage of the project. Their feedback has been integral to shaping the final proposal, especially in terms of community engagement and sustainable project outcomes.

Next Steps: We plan to further the conversation on-wiki by creating a project page once the grant is approved, where the community can follow the progress of the project, contribute ideas, and participate in content creation related to mangrove conservation and environmental monitoring.

12. Does your proposal aim to work to bridge any of the content knowledge gaps (Knowledge Inequity)? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)

Geography

13. Does your proposal include any of these areas or thematic focus? Select one option that most applies to your work. (required)

Climate Change and sustainability

14. Will your work focus on involving participants from any underrepresented communities? Select one option that most apply to your work. (required)

Geographic

15. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select one that most applies. (required)

Innovate in Free Knowledge

Learning and metrics

17. What do you hope to learn from your work in this project or proposal? (required)

From this project, we hope to learn how effective drone-generated imagery is in improving public understanding and engagement with coastal conservation efforts. By releasing high-resolution images on Wikimedia Commons, we aim to evaluate how freely accessible visuals can support research, environmental projects, and Wikipedia content related to mangrove ecosystems. Also, we aim to learn how locally gathered data contribute to enhancing knowledge on Wikipedia and how with this effort we can integrate new data that can raise global awareness about biodiversity and conservation. Finally we would like to showcase how interactive maps and visualizations improve the communication of environmental challenges. By creating two interactive maps and uploading them to Wikimedia Maps and Commons, we seek to understand how visual data can make conservation efforts more accessible, allowing global audiences to grasp the complexities of environmental degradation and restoration more clearly. We want to continue learning about the best ways to install capabilities in low-technical communities, a field in which we have some experience and are always looking for progress. Our goal finds success when communities apply knowledge to new issues, autonomously.

18. What are your Wikimedia project targets in numbers (metrics)? (required)

Number of participants, editors, and organizers
Other Metrics	Target	Optional description
Number of participants	205	Workshop attendees (new participant): 15 Participants of the different groups/NGOs, that will learn indirectly (will be trained by the course participants) : 40 (new participant) Participants of field mapping activities: 40 (new participant) Participants of remote mapping activities: 60 (new participant) Drones specialists that will be taught remotely to new technologies of drones flights planning: 30 participants Wikipedia editors: 20 (new participant)
Number of editors	2
Number of organizers	2

Number of content contributions to Wikimedia projects
Wikimedia project	Number of content created or improved
Wikipedia	5
Wikimedia Commons	5
Wikidata
Wiktionary
Wikisource
Wikimedia Incubator
Translatewiki
MediaWiki
Wikiquote
Wikivoyage
Wikibooks
Wikiversity
Wikinews
Wikispecies
Wikifunctions or Abstract Wikipedia

Optional description for content contributions.

N/A

19. Do you have any other project targets in numbers (metrics)? (optional)

No

Main Open Metrics Data
Main Open Metrics	Description	Target
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A

20. What tools would you use to measure each metrics? Please refer to the guide for a list of tools. You can also write that you are not sure and need support. (required)

Not sure

Financial proposal

21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iYSSbYek4EKUELbdNA3RQgTVcHU0B4koTldXGILPRkc/edit?usp=sharing

22. and 22.1. What is the amount you are requesting for this proposal? Please provide the amount in your local currency. (required)

98250 MXN

22.2. Convert the amount requested into USD using the Oanda converter. This is done only to help you assess the USD equivalent of the requested amount. Your request should be between 500 - 5,000 USD.

4983.24 USD

We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.

Yes

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Highlighting if the proposal focuses on any interesting research, learning or innovation, etc. Also if it builds on learning from past proposals developed by the individual or organization, or other Wikimedia communities.
Analyzing if the proposal is going to contribute in any way to important developments around specific Wikimedia projects or Movement Strategy.
Analysing if the proposal is coherent in terms of the objectives, strategies, budget, and expected results (metrics).

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