Findings & Strengths-Based Solutions
37 citizen scientists captured 198 photos and audio narratives. They prioritized relevant issues and brainstormed potential solutions during a community meeting. Here are ten collective insights:
NTFPs can be used as food for people in the community and be made into dry food. People can make a living from selling NTFPs. After the dam construction, the number of NTFPs has decreased. We suggest growing wetland plants at home.
Non-Timber Forest Products
These gathering places allow community members to exchange knowledge, and serves as an exercise venue for the elderly.
Elderly Development Center
Religion and beliefs help people maintain the local traditions, and are the spirit anchors of the community members.
Religion and Beliefs
Vegetables can be used to cook in the family, and people can sell backyard vegetables for extra income.
Backyard Vegetables
People take pride in producing their own food to reduce household expenses. Plants and vegetables can be processed to be kept longer, and people can sell fresh produce. After the dam construction, there was no space to raise cattle, and since, the number of people who have cattle has become smaller. We propose that the government should provide space to raise cattle, along with other career promotion opportunities.
Local Farming Activities
Fish can be processed into dry food and helps people make a living. After the dam, fish numbers have plummeted, gear is increasingly more expensive, and there are new rules and limitations around fishing. We propose creating more fish reservation zones and banning fishing during the breeding season in more areas.
Local Fisheries
Community members work together to manage the project, which helps to jobs. However, profits have decreased. We propose local authorities check on financial progress at least once or twice a year.
Civil-State Welfare Project
Local products can be made from natural resources, help people make extra income, and are used in households.
Local Products
Before the dam, the wetlands provided abundant food and natural resources to the community. Now, this way of life has disappeared.
Way of Life
Each village shares the natural resources in the forest community. We propose building fire barriers to protect this vital resource.