Funds from the grants program will be utilized to support various critical aspects of the project, ensuring its successful implementation and long-term sustainability.
A portion of the funds will be used to purchase the Hidromoth subaquatic recorders. These devices are essential for monitoring fish movements and collecting crucial data on fish schools' sizes and locations in the Sustainable Development Reserve of Rio Negro.
Funds will also cover the costs of deploying these recorders in key ecotone areas where fishing spots meet flooded forests. This includes transportation, setup, and regular maintenance of the equipment to ensure continuous data collection throughout the fishing season.
To ensure that the communities can effectively use the technology, a portion of the funds will be allocated to conducting workshops and training sessions. These programs will educate community members on how to operate the Hidromoth recorders, photograph their catches, and contribute data to the project.
The project will require the development and refinement of machine learning models to analyze the data collected by the Hidromoth recorders and community photographs. Funds will be allocated to hiring data scientists and software developers to build and maintain these models.

Funds will be used to facilitate collaboration between scientists and community members to co-construct methodologies that integrate traditional knowledge with scientific practices. This process is vital for ensuring that the project respects and incorporates the cultural context of the communities.
A portion of the grant will be used to establish secure and efficient data storage solutions, ensuring that all collected data is properly managed, easily accessible, and available for both local communities and the global scientific community.
Funds will be allocated to ensure seamless integration of the collected data with the Gainforest platform. This includes the development of interfaces and tools that allow for easy data upload, visualization, and global access.
To attract global investments and support for the communities' stewardship efforts, funds will be used for outreach activities that promote the project on the Gainforest platform and other decentralized science networks.
A portion of the funds will be dedicated to monitoring and evaluating the project’s impact on the communities, fish populations, and overall ecosystem health. This will involve regular field visits, data analysis, and the production of reports that document the project's outcomes.
Continuous improvement is key to the project’s success. Funds will be allocated to establishing feedback loops where community members can provide input, share their experiences, and suggest improvements, ensuring the project evolves in response to real-world challenges.
To ensure the project's longevity, funds will be used to create a sustainable financial model that includes local capacity-building initiatives, allowing communities to manage the system independently over time.
If the project proves successful in the initial communities, additional funds may be allocated to expanding the system to other regions within the Negro River Basin or similar ecosystems, replicating the model to benefit more communities.
By strategically using the funds in these areas, the project will not only achieve its immediate goals of improving fishery management and food security but also contribute to the broader objectives of decentralized science by creating an open, community-driven research model that can be scaled and replicated globally.
