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Emerging Tech / Feed

Technology is changing and evolving faster than ever, and as it does, our community members are looking for the next big thing to revolutionize their conservation tech work. To chat about your favorite new tools that are just emerging in the field and discover innovations you haven't yet heard of, join this group!
discussion

Mass Detection of Wildlife Snares Using Airborne Synthetic Radar

David Gaynor

7 January 2024 6:50am

Mass Detection of Wildlife Snares Using Airborne Synthetic RadarFor the last year my colleauges Prof. Mike Inggs (Radar - Electrical Engineering, Unviversity of Cape Town) and...

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David Guerin

7 January 2026 2:07am

Hi @DaveGaynor and team. I am really keen to pursue this with some practical testing in Kenyan conservancies. What is the status of this effort, and could we meet to discuss how to take it forward as part of the Global Conservation Tech and Drone Forum in Nairobi, 2-6 March. I am chair of the Society for Conservation Biology Drone and Data Working Group and would like to discuss this at our inaugural meeting on 20th January.  https://wildlabs.net/discussion/scb-drones-and-data-working-group-society-conservation-biology 

David Guerin

8 January 2026 2:53am

Hi team, Can you please provide an update on where this effort sits now? The original post from January 2024 described three trials of airborne synthetic aperture radar for detecting snares and gin traps with foliage-penetrating radar scanning at 120 m AGL and generating geolocated alerts back into EarthRanger with identity and confidence metrics.

I want to add this as one of our competitions at the Global Conservation Tech & Drone Forum www.GCTDF.org in Kenya in early March, and include it in the new SCB Drones and Data WG as a discussion: https://wildlabs.net/discussion/scb-drones-and-data-working-group-society-conservation-biology 
 

This would build on the recent launch of a hands-on Tech Innovation Challenge around of the ADS-B proximity alert ,  as a safety layer in real conservation field operations where pilots are often multitasking. Please let me know the current status, data availability, key contacts, and what next steps might look like if this is to be integrated into the Forum and the Working Group agenda.

Thanks.

[email protected] 

Harri Shopland-Reed

21 July 2026 8:20pm

Airborne synthetic aperture radar for detection of snares sounds really effective! I would love to learn more about this. Dogs are also amazing a detecting snares but of course can't cover the same distance and constant survellience. Is it possible to share the benefits and barriers of this work after the 3 trials?

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discussion

 World Bank report: "Advancing Amazonian Conservation through Digital Technologies."

Felipe Spina

15 July 2026 1:47pm

I am happy to share the new World Bank report titled "Advancing Amazonian Conservation through Digital Technologies." It was a privilege to work with an amazing team, led by...

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Felipe Spina

21 July 2026 12:03am

This Wednesday, 22, at 10 am EST, we are presenting the report "Advancing Amazon Conservation Through Digital Technologies" in a webminar.

Speakers include: Michel Kerf, World Bank Regional Director for Digital & AI for LAC and Europe and Central Asia will provide introductory remarks. Erwin De Nys, World Bank Enviroment Practice Manager for LAC, Niccolò Comini will moderate a discussion between Marion Adeney, Director of Amazon & Fire Programs at Conservation X Labs, Colleen M. Scanlan Lyons, Senior Director at Governors' Climate & Forests Task Force, and Gonzalo Llosa, Technical Coordinator at the Amazon Regional Observatory (ORA).  

The webinar is open to the public. It will be in English but with simultaneous translation in Portuguese and Spanish. You can RSVP here:

https://worldbankgroup.zoom.us/meeting/register/bwjdqq5jSOq86Yiud_411Q#/registration

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discussion

WILDLABS AWARD 2025 - Automatization of a Contact-Free Saliva Sampler for Wildlife Conservation

Maristela Martins de Camargo

28 May 2025 2:29pm

The WILDLABS AWARDS 2025 will enable our team - formed of the University of São Paulo (@mmcamar https://br.linkedin.com/in/maristela-martins-de-de-camargo...

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Alen Manqui

19 June 2025 6:28pm

I eagerly await further information about the progress of this type of technology and its availability. I am a wildlife veterinarian with experience in handling and capturing wild carnivores, and this type of device would certainly facilitate epidemiological monitoring of elusive and logistically difficult-to-handle wildlife species. Greetings from Chile!

Maristela Martins de Camargo

16 July 2026 6:57pm

UPDATE on Automatization of a Contact-Free Saliva Sampler for Wildlife Conservation

Hi everyone,

Quick update on our project one year after granted a WILDLABS Award 2025.

We were not able to create yet a version of the autonomous sampler that is safe enough to be tested with animals. Design of the protective case also proved challenging - a ready made steel box did not survive a curious bear and a regular trap camera security box did not survive a curious lion. Smells are big motivators!

We got plenty of saliva from them thou using our manual collector (which is coming out on eLife but can already be downloaded here: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.02.11.705368) 
We have been collecting saliva samples using the manual collector with coatis, marmosets, opossums and smaller mammals without need of a protective case. 
Hopefully this is useful to some of you.

Maristela (on behalf of the team)

P.S.: Keep an eye on our progress and reach out if you want to collaborate!
@swab_biosampler
https://sites.usp.br/swab/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maristela-martins-de-de-camargo-7bb9b75/

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discussion

Camera trap recommendations

Stephanie M.

2 April 2026 11:40pm

Hi everyone! I’m looking for camera trap recommendations for a pilot study in Rwanda focused mostly on capturing small to large mammals (both domestic and wild).I’m hoping to find...

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Jorge Ahumada

13 July 2026 11:18pm

I really recommend GardePro. They are not too expensive and very resilient in the field.

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careers

Biodiversity Monitoring Scientist

Tom August

8 June 2026 5:22pm

This role would suit someone with a background in ecology or environmental science who enjoys combining fieldwork, data analysis, and applied research to support real-world environmental outcomes.

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discussion

WOOHOO ITS WORKING!! Tech finds undetected decades old Alien Invasive Parent Plants in indigenous forest!

Sean Hill

24 July 2025 12:21pm

Great news everyone!! In November 2024 GeoWing Academy scanned 239 hectares of forested valleys using an off-the-shelf DJI Phantom 4 drone. The resulting...

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Julia

5 May 2026 11:02pm

This is a very promising result. The use of drones for detecting invasive species demonstrates strong potential for improving monitoring efficiency and accuracy. In a country like Brazil, where ecosystems are significantly affected by invasive species such as Hovenia dulcis (Japanese raisin tree) and Pinus spp., this technology could become a valuable tool for early detection and management.

Sean Hill

29 May 2026 10:15am

It certainly is! The great thing about it too is that the aerial detections often lead to more ground detections when teams are locating the trees from the map data and by using the ground app, they are able to mark the locations and photograph the newly discovered aliens and sync it to the existing maps as well. This allows for truly comprehensive removal and monitoring data capture.

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discussion

Call for Collaboration: Share your voice at ICTC next week! 

Mandy Eyrich

11 February 2026 3:29am

Hello, fellow WILDLAB-ers! I'm Mandy, your current Human-Wildlife Coexistence Group Leader!  :)I am heading to the ICTC conference in Peru next week and while reviewing the...

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Mandy Eyrich

19 February 2026 3:35am

Hi Anna!

Is there anything that sparks your curiosity, which I can address for you? Take a look at the upcoming day 2 and day 3 sessions, and if you see anything that intrigues you, please let me know! I'll happily join the session that aligns, and share your thoughts! ☺️

Kind regards,

Mandy

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discussion

Nature Tech Unconference - Anyone attending?

Elsa

8 March 2025 12:11pm

Hi all, anyone planning to attend the Nature Tech Unconference on 28th March at the London School of Economics Campus in London, UK? (the event is free to attend but...

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Elsa

13 May 2026 12:05pm

Myself and the Fauna & Flora Conservation Technology team will be there (@Chelsea_Smith  and @ugyenpenjor ) and also the WILDLABS team @HRees ! See you!

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discussion

Citizen science tool for microplastic mapping in underserved regions

Mykhailo Kravchuk

18 April 2026 3:48am

Hi everyone, I'm a high school student working on a free citizen science tool for microplastic pollution in underserved regions. The idea is simple: a mobile web app where anyone...

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Soledad Gastón

1 May 2026 12:39pm

Hi Mykhailo. That citizen science tool seems interesting. But, how do you expect people to detect microplastics (ranging from 1 µm to 5 mm in size)?

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discussion

Non-Invasive Turtle Nest Monitoring Using RTI Technology

Nik Fadzly N Rosely

29 May 2025 1:12pm

📢 We're excited to share our new #ConservationTech initiative!Using Radio Tomographic Imaging (RTI), our team is building a non-invasive system to monitor...

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Mike Palko

18 April 2026 2:47pm

Greetings Nik, it is interesting to see to the project you are working on.  If there's anything I can do to help with my skillset let me know.

Thanks, Mike

Chris Nicholas

21 April 2026 2:49am

do I see in the diagram some elements positioned below the sand? (perhaps below the tide-line and saturated with water..?)

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discussion

I WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY

Barny Dillarstone

29 June 2025 10:22am

I create ocean exploration and marine life content on YouTube, whether it be recording nautilus on BRUVs, swimming with endangered bowmouth guitarfish, documenting reef...

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Lindsey Higgins, PhD

1 October 2025 7:43am

I'm not involved with this, but I just learned about Sea Shepherd today and their project to fight illegal octopus trapping. Sorry I can't help with an intro, but it would be a very cool story to share if you can get in touch! 

 

Tracy Kadessa

11 January 2026 7:33am

Amazing!

Found your instagram page and have been scrolling all morning ( most educative doomscrolling I've done so far😂). Love it, am seeing sea creatures I've never seen.

Manijhe

24 March 2026 1:37pm

Wonderful work! Would you be interested in documenting a story about afforestation from the Pacific Ocean to the Himalayas (Indus River focus)? 

I’m interested in doing an expedition documentary bridging mythology and conservation with a YouTuber to help bring awareness towards forest conservation all along the river. The focus is water and water wildlife.

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discussion

SCB Drones and Data Working Group (Society for Conservation Biology)

David Guerin

3 January 2026 5:30am

I’m pleased to share that the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) has officially approved the new Drones and Data Working Group (D&D WG) for provisional status: https://...

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Akiba

3 January 2026 9:40pm

Congratulations David. Looking forward to attending the inaugural meeting :)

Akiba

David Guerin

23 March 2026 12:37pm

Quick update – our next SCB Drones & Data Working Group coordination meeting is 24 March 2026.

Two identical sessions to accommodate time zones:
EARLY: 07:00 UK / 08:00 CET / 15:00 HKT / 16:00 Tokyo / 17:00 Brisbane / 18:00 Sydney / 20:00 New Zealand  
LATE: 17:00 UK / 18:00 CET / 12:00 US Eastern / 09:00 US Pacific  

If you’re interested in joining the Working Group or haven’t yet completed the Expression of Interest, you can still do so here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKxh3-e2duORzdqvuD2UCqC-Cpp7booTdWu7zFSHYPV0HOfw/viewform

Please email any questions to me at [email protected]

Agenda:
• Confirming Working Group scope and positioning within SCB 
• Establishing governance and leadership roles 
• Defining priority outputs for the next phase 
• Progressing toward full SCB Working Group status 

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