Tips for preparing your project description

Here we have compiled general questions, a list of necessary data and materials and tips for good pictures for you.

Important questions in advance

  • On which area are measures to be implemented, who has the rights of use and can these be guaranteed for the entire duration?
  • What is to be achieved on the site? Which concrete measures are to be financed through AgoraNatura? Why is this area particularly suitable? Is support from nature conservation experts necessary? Who could/should you involve?
  • What costs are incurred, by when must the financing be secured and what date can we specify as the start date? - The maximum possible financing period is six months. We recommend that you plan the project in such a way that you can fully utilise this financing time until the start date / date by which the financing must be secured.
  • Who becomes the provider and thus the contractual partner for the investors and is responsible for the implementation of the project? What form of contract is possible? DonationService- or  Contract for work?

On the communication of nature's services

  • Which Natural achievements of the flower could you offer? Look at the different natural services and consider which ones you can offer and what "fill level" can be achieved. For this purpose, it is also important to deal with the reference scenario: How would the area be used without the project and would it develop in the process?
  • Use our Project types and look at the proposed methods for recording/quantification, are they suitable for your planned project? Collect all important facts and figures about your area before starting your project description!
  • And: Get in touch with us if you are missing something and questions arise. An early exchange is often very helpful: info[a]agora-natura.de

Necessary characteristic data and pictures of the project

  • the exact area size
  • the coordinates to the centre of your project area (decimal degree system WGS 84)
  • a picture showing the boundaries of your project area
  • an attractive cover picture
  • a picture of the area showing the initial situation
  • the start date and the duration in years
  • the exact location of your area may be published from the point of view of nature conservation
  • A logo or profile picture of you or your organisation would be very nice and if desired a picture/logo of an important person/institution involved.

In addition, detailed pictures of the natural achievements are nice, but not mandatory.

Please make sure that all pictures are published! Therefore, they should be high resolution and show the area or person well. The image size should not exceed 1 MB (long edge approx. 1,500 - 2,000 pixels). In addition, we ask you to always indicate the author/copyright of the image and an appealing title.

Pictures with people are appealing. Please ensure that persons to be recognised agree to publication.

 

Tips for good images to promote your project

  • The rule of thirdsThink of two horizontal and two vertical lines, each dividing the picture into thirds. Place the main subject or important elements of the picture at the intersections of these lines or along them. If possible, place the horizon on the upper or lower third line. Try this as an alternative to a subject in the centre of the picture. If there is a tree in the background, try to place it diagonally to the main subject according to the rule of thirds, for example, in order to actively integrate it into the composition of the picture.
  • Background & PerspectiveThe background is just as important as the main subject. If there are disturbing elements, walk around the subject, try to change the perspective so that these elements are no longer in the picture. Leave your usual angle of view (camera at eye level) and see if the motif gets that certain "something" from an unusual perspective. Just try it out a little, crouch down so that the subject and the horizon are in a good relationship to each other, or take a picture from the bottom halfway up against the sky.
  • Lines & LightIntegrate lines and structures into the composition of the picture. For example, a path running diagonally through the picture, an edge of a field or a curved line guides the viewer's eye across the picture and makes the photo look more interesting. The light is crucial. Midday light with sun often creates harsh contrasts and dark drop shadows. In the morning and evening, on the other hand, the light is soft and warm, making the photo look much more appealing. The light works best when the sun is to your right or left.

The AgoraNatura website is optimised for photos in landscape format. Therefore, please take most of your photos in this format.

To images for the Documentation of your project during implementation we have on the Main page already has an extra section compiled. Here we add a short guide on how, with a good camera in your smartphone, you can also use the GPS detection can use. It may vary slightly depending on the model:

iPhone: Select Settings, go there to the Privacy item, select Location Services (these must be switched on), find the Camera item here and select it, allow access to Location by selecting "When using the app" and activate "Exact location" if possible.

Android: (Example of a Samsung) 1st: First check in the phone settings whether the location authorisation for the camera is activated: Open the phone settings, select the menu item "Apps", select the "Camera app" under the apps, go there to app authorisations and activate "Location". 2: You must then switch on geotagging in the camera so that the GPS data is saved directly in the picture: Start the camera, open the camera settings, select: Geotagging: Switch on.

When uploading, it is best to go via a cloud that you can access. When sending e.g. by e-mail, data such as the coordinate display is usually lost. Please remember that you must reduce the images to max. 1 MB before uploading them to your project page, unless you can determine the resolution in advance.

Back to our Videos and materials: Watch especially video 3 and 4 to get started!