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WILDLABS logoWildlabs.net : The conservation technology network

article / 22 May 2026

Help shape best-practice guidance on conservation technology - input to survey

🌍 Conservation technology is transforming how we protect wildlife, but are we thinking carefully enough about the risks? Drones, camera traps, GPS trackers, acoustic sensors, AI, and remote sensing have become essential tools for conservation practitioners around the world. They help us monitor species, detect threats, and respond faster than ever before. But these same technologies can also introduce unintended risks, and in some cases, can be exploited by those seeking to harm the very wildlife we're trying to protect. 🦏 Input now and/or join the discussions/research.  

Groups

Hi everyone,

We are running a research survey on the use and misuse of conservation technology, and would value your input. 

The study is a collaboration between the University of South Wales, University of Bath, University of Cambridge, Selati Research, Yale University, and the Zoological Society of London. We have ethical approval and are now in active recruitment.

The survey covers the full range of tools in our collective toolkit: UAVs, camera traps, acoustic sensors, GPS trackers, biologgers, thermal imagers, AI/ML, satellite remote sensing, eDNA, and more.

We are specifically interested in:

  • Whether misuse risks are considered when technologies are deployed or published about
  • Direct experiences of technology being misused or producing unintended harms
  • What mitigation strategies people are actually using, and which ones are falling short
  • Barriers to adoption of better safeguards
  • UAV misuse specifically, including poacher exploitation of drone tech

One finding already shaping our work: we have confirmed directly with DJI that geofencing is no longer a viable mitigation option. If that surprises you, or if you have thoughts on what replaces it, we would very much welcome your input.

The survey takes around 10  minutes and is fully anonymous unless you choose to share your details at the end.

Survey link: https://bit.ly/49ueWQp

We are also planning a round-table discussion on misuse mitigation strategies. If you would like to be involved in that, or in the wider research, please get in touch directly with me at [email protected].

Please do share this with colleagues and networks who work with these technologies in the field. The more practitioner voices we capture, the stronger and more useful the outputs will be.

Thank you,

Emma

 


 

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