Environmental-related Research

The following are examples of research topics that would allow VWB to accomplish the goal of establishing a well managed, sustainable and world class ecotourism and educational site that will be owned and managed by the local community in partnership with the VWB initiative.

1. Hydrological studies

• Set up a gauging station near the lodge to measure channel discharge or micropower calculations. Create a monitoring system and related database that can be maintained by future researchers and certain school groups.
• Comparative and investigative studies of land use in the forest catchment area verses that of a neighboring community forest and national park.

2. Terrestrial ecology

• Forestry studies – Identification, distribution, restoration and agroforestry.
• Plant distribution and uses (medicinal and edible).

3. Wildlife studies

• Wildlife monitoring.
• Wildlife community studies within agroforestry habitats.
• Monitor negative impacts on wildlife and habitats.
• Avian specific – migration, habitat, monitoring.

4. Create a reserve management plan for the entire PSL and community forest site that will be used for outdoor education studies. Properly plan rotation of field studies sites so not to degrade the area (i.e. trampling and over sampling).

• Exclusion zone – path design.
• Periphery for project work.
• Sacrificed area (regular usage; accepted damage).
• Manmade access.
• Refined kick sampling: stroking the water/sediment to release the invertebrates, lifting rocks, stroking them, replacing.
  

5. Use of Geographic Information System (GIS) tools related to above topics.