With new technologies revolutionizing data collection, wildlife researchers are becoming increasingly able to collect data at much higher volumes than ever before. Now we are facing the challenges of putting this information to use, bringing the science of big data into the conservation arena. With the help of machine learning tools, this area holds immense potential for conservation practices. The applications range from online trafficking alerts to species-specific early warning systems to efficient movement and biodiversity monitoring and beyond.
However, the process of building effective machine learning tools depends upon large amounts of standardized training data, and conservationists currently lack an established system for standardization. How to best develop such a system and incentivize data sharing are questions at the forefront of this work. There are currently multiple AI-based conservation initiatives, including Wildlife Insights and WildBook, that are pioneering applications on this front.
This group is the perfect place to ask all your AI-related questions, no matter your skill level or previous familiarity! You'll find resources, meet other members with similar questions and experts who can answer them, and engage in exciting collaborative opportunities together.
Just getting started with AI in conservation? Check out our introduction tutorial, How Do I Train My First Machine Learning Model? with Daniel Situnayake, and our Virtual Meetup on Big Data. If you're coming from the more technical side of AI/ML, Sara Beery runs an AI for Conservation slack channel that might be of interest. Message her for an invite.
Header Image: Dr Claire Burke / @CBurkeSci
Explore the Basics: AI
Understanding the possibilities for incorporating new technology into your work can feel overwhelming. With so many tools available, so many resources to keep up with, and so many innovative projects happening around the world and in our community, it's easy to lose sight of how and why these new technologies matter, and how they can be practically applied to your projects.
Machine learning has huge potential in conservation tech, and its applications are growing every day! But the tradeoff of that potential is a big learning curve - or so it seems to those starting out with this powerful tool!
To help you explore the potential of AI (and prepare for some of our upcoming AI-themed events!), we've compiled simple, key resources, conversations, and videos to highlight the possibilities:
Three Resources for Beginners:
- Everything I know about Machine Learning and Camera Traps, Dan Morris | Resource library, camera traps, machine learning
- Using Computer Vision to Protect Endangered Species, Kasim Rafiq | Machine learning, data analysis, big cats
- Resource: WildID | WildID
Three Forum Threads for Beginners:
- I made an open-source tool to help you sort camera trap images | Petar Gyurov, Camera Traps
- Batch / Automated Cloud Processing | Chris Nicolas, Acoustic Monitoring
- Looking for help with camera trapping for Jaguars: Software for species ID and database building | Carmina Gutierrez, AI for Conservation
Three Tutorials for Beginners:
- How do I get started using machine learning for my camera traps? | Sara Beery, Tech Tutors
- How do I train my first machine learning model? | Daniel Situnayake, Tech Tutors
- Big Data in Conservation | Dave Thau, Dan Morris, Sarah Davidson, Virtual Meetups
Want to know more about AI, or have your specific machine learning questions answered by experts in the WILDLABS community? Make sure you join the conversation in our AI for Conservation group!
- @kimgavin
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- @carlybatist
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Science Outreach Lead-Rainforest Connection (RFCx) & Arbimon
Ecoacoustics, biodiversity monitoring, primates, lemurs
- 67 Resources
- 251 Discussions
- 18 Groups
- @cnaumu
- | He/Him
I am an environment and technology enthusiast who works in business technology wanting to make a career shift to follow my passions and make a difference
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- @robmcgurrin
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- 0 Resources
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- @lhughey
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Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
I am an ecologist and program manager with experience leading collaborative research projects in international settings. I specialize in the application of animal tracking data to conserve migratory species on a changing planet.
- 0 Resources
- 5 Discussions
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- @KimLane
- | She/Her
Sustainability Manager for CERES Tag LTD. An animal health company; animal monitoring, conservation, & anti-poaching/ rural crime. Wildlife, livestock, equine & companion. #CeresTrace #CeresWild #CeresRanch #SalusPet
- 2 Resources
- 17 Discussions
- 22 Groups
- @Becky_Heath
- | She/ Her
University of Cambridge & Imperial College London
Interdisciplinary scientist working in field data collection methods and tropical agriculture
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- 9 Discussions
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Bioinformatician
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- @ahmed_fuad
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CEO & Co-Founder of SpaceIn. Using geospatial data and computer systems to tackle environmental issues.
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- @EllieW
- | She/Her
WILDLABS Associate Specialist based in Southern California
- 64 Resources
- 124 Discussions
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Technologist and Visual storyteller focusing on social, conservations issues.
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Careers
Software Engineer at Rainforest Connection & Arbimon
Carly Batist
Join the Rainforest Connection & Arbimon team to develop software for biodiversity monitoring!
14 November 2023
Careers
Data Scientist - Remote Sensing of Individual Trees
Alex Killion
Yale University & Map of Life Rapid Assessments - XPRIZE
8 November 2023
Careers
Yale University & Map of Life Rapid Assessments - XPRIZE
8 November 2023
Careers
Acoustic Monitoring Specialist
Mandy Holmgren
The Institute for Bird Populations (IBP) seeks a California-based acoustic monitoring specialist to collect, manage, and process avian acoustic data from multiple research and conservation projects across California...
26 October 2023
Careers
Join the NightLife team where you'll blend entomology expertise with technological innovation using automated insect monitoring.
25 October 2023
Careers
Lead Data Engineer - Climate Solutions, Open Earth
Esther Githinji
Have you created a successful career in tech and are ready to do something good with your skills and experience? If yes, then join Open Earth's Earthshot mission to build open source digital systems and solutions to...
25 October 2023
Careers
ZSL Research Fellow (x3 roles)
Zoological Society of London
The Institute of Zoology (IoZ), the research division of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), is seeking to fill three new permanent positions by recruiting outstanding early-career researchers as Research Fellows (...
20 October 2023
Careers
To study song evolution in time and space, we will use individual acoustic monitoring (IAM) - a non-invasive method that allows the identification of individuals based solely on their vocalisations. In this project, we...
20 October 2023
Careers
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD Fellowship in Bioacoustic AI for wildlife protection. The PhD position advertised here will be based at the KU Leuven Electrical Engineering Department (ESAT), under the supervision of...
20 October 2023
Careers
PhD Opportunity: 'FLOATERS' position at Bioacoustic AI Doctoral Network
Stephanie O'Donnell
FLOATERS: Using individually distinct vocalizations to estimate breeding and non-breeding population of a species. Apply for the fully funded PhD position now!
20 October 2023
Article
Mozilla Foundation, funding for nature conservation
Frank van der Most
Many people know of the Mozilla Foundation because of the FireFox browser and other open source software they produce together with countless volunteers. Perhaps less well known, the Mozilla Foundation also runs a...
4 October 2023
Article
We're delighted to announce that Connected Conservation Foundation and Airbus Foundation have today launched round 2 of the ‘Satellites for Biodiversity Award’.
2 October 2023
October 2023
event
Sasha Sebright
| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Literally HOW did I miss that! Thanks for flagging! |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps | 20 hours 45 minutes ago | |
| Hi Sol,I think your concern is well placed. The pros typically tow an array of hydrophones, in its simpler configuration it looks like a long fat rubber hose containing... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Marine Conservation, Sustainable Fishing Challenges | 1 week 3 days ago | |
| Hello Sam,What would you say would be the estimate cost was for the first version Instant Detect 1.0 ? That might help my research ? |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Sensors | 1 week 5 days ago | |
| We are writing a methodology to measure Biodiversity density in habitats.Examining lots of different options but very keen to hear from... |
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AI for Conservation | 2 weeks 4 days ago | |
| Hi @GermanFore ,I work with the BearID Project on individual identification of brown bears from faces. More recently we worked on face detection across all bear species and ran... |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Data management and processing tools, Software and Mobile Apps | 3 weeks 3 days ago | |
| I love the live-stream pin feature! |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Citizen Science, Emerging Tech | 3 weeks 5 days ago | |
| Bird Sounds Global's pilot project produced high-quality training data for parameterizing machine learning models.Full article here: ... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Citizen Science, Software and Mobile Apps | 1 month 1 week ago | |
| Hey Wildlabbers! Is anyone planning to go to the Academic Data Science Alliance (ADSA) annual meeting next week in San Antonio? I'll be... |
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AI for Conservation, Community Base | 1 month 1 week ago | |
| This is super cool! Me and @Hubertszcz and @briannajohns and several others are all working towards some big biodiversity monitoring projects for a large conservation project here... |
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AI for Conservation, Autonomous Camera Traps for Insects, Camera Traps | 2 months 1 week ago | |
| Hello! If you were interested in the DSAIL Tech4Wildlife Workshop last week exploring how AI can be used to aid conservation efforts, you... |
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AI for Conservation, Conservation Tech Training and Education | 2 months 1 week ago | |
| Hey everyone!I am brand new to conservation technology and I am trying to find my way. I currently work in a different field and want to... |
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AI for Conservation, Climate Change, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Drones, Early Career, Earth Observation 101 Community, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions, Remote Sensing & GIS, Sensors, Software and Mobile Apps | 2 months 2 weeks ago | |
| Very helpful, thank you. One more thing, are there any broad skills that apply to all areas of conservation tech that may be helpful to learn/improve, e.g data analysis? |
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AI for Conservation, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Early Career | 2 months 3 weeks ago |
Senior AI Research Scientist, Earth Species Project
Earth Species Project
8 November 2022 11:27am
New paper: Integrating machine learning, remote sensing and citizen science to create an early warning system for biodiversity
7 November 2022 7:10pm
Opinion paper describing "how data acquired from remote sensing, citizen science & other monitoring approaches could feed in near-real time to an early warning system for biodiversity that integrates automated red-listing of species with the identification of priority areas for conservation."
Integrating machine learning, remote sensing and citizen science to create an early warning system for biodiversity
The development and implementation of conservation actions that address urgent threats to biodiversity across the globe require large amounts of historic and current data. Machine learning approaches...
Environmental Monitoring: Necessary, Not Sufficient, Sometimes Problematic
Dave Thau
28 October 2022 12:51am
ConservationAI
20 October 2022 2:41pm
Conservation Technology Intern (Vietnam)
Meredith S. Palmer
19 October 2022 9:22am
Introducing G.AI.A: Artificial Intelligence and Planetary-Scale Environmental Management
Dave Thau
13 October 2022 1:48am
Try AI Micro-Internship 2023
11 October 2022 5:42pm
Upcoming WWF Webinar Series: Artificial Intelligence and Conservation
WWF US
11 October 2022 12:30pm
Artificial Intelligence and Conservation: Ethics
11 October 2022 12:28pm
Artificial Intelligence and Conservation: Prediction
11 October 2022 12:27pm
Artificial Intelligence and Conservation: Where We Are Now
11 October 2022 12:23pm
The Smart Biosphere: How Technology can provide regenerative resources at scale
10 October 2022 12:06pm
Frontiers Symposium: Digital tools for reversing environmental degradation
5 October 2022 10:23am
Multi-day workshop: Machine Learning Advances for Marine Acoustics & Imagery Data
4 October 2022 5:20pm
Audio Across Domains Workshop 2022
3 October 2022 7:54pm
3 October 2022 11:40pm
11 October 2022 2:05pm
18 Sustainability Job Opportunities at Google
3 October 2022 7:09pm
New paper - Rookognise: Acoustic detection & identification of individual rooks in field recordings using multi-task neural networks
3 October 2022 2:35pm
Authors developed system to acoustically identify individual animals (under varying conditions) using combo of multi-scale information integration, multi-channel audio & multi-task learning. Tested on captive group of rooks.
New paper - FathomNet: A global image database for enabling artificial intelligence in the ocean
27 September 2022 9:44pm
Open-source image database that standardizes & aggregates expertly curated labeled underwater data, enabling AI in the ocean. Seeded with existing imagery of marine animals, underwater equipment, debris, etc. & allows for future contributions from distributed data sources.
Conservation Tech Directory - new update!
29 August 2022 2:38pm
23 September 2022 5:26pm
Congrats on the milestone Carly and Gracie!
26 September 2022 10:07pm
Thanks so much!!
Mangrove soundscape
27 August 2022 4:57pm
29 August 2022 2:47pm
You might check out the devices listed in the Conservation Tech Directory - you can search for 'acoustic recorder' or 'ARU' or something like that.
The most common off-the-shelf models (other than Frontier Labs' BARLTs mentioned above😊) are Open Acoustic Devices Audiomoths & Hydromoths (which may be particularly useful for you since they come in completely watertight cases that can be stuck underwater for deployments), Wildlife Acoustics' SongMeter series, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Swift units.
30 August 2022 10:10pm
Camilo--
Are you interested only in airborne sounds or do you want to deploy hydrophones? That decision would inform a lot of other decisions about your purchase of equipment, as would having a clearer picture of your budget.
23 September 2022 5:39pm
Hi there Camilo,
What an interesting project! If you are looking for a lower cost, but effective tools for acoustic monitoring you might want to look into two options:
SoundTraps - are very commonly used and perform quite well:
SonarPoints - these are also a great instrument option:
Senior Conservation Technology Expert Position (Consultancy) with the Global Wildlife Program
22 September 2022 5:35pm
Catch Up with the Variety Hour: October
22 September 2022 1:59pm
WIA After Hours: Episode #5 - AI for Wildlife Conservation and Imageomics with Dr. Tanya Berger-Wolf
21 September 2022 6:53pm
Listen to Tanya Berger-Wolf's conversation about AI for Wildlife Conservation and imageomics with Lauren Burke on the Women In Analytics After Hours Podcast.
Amazon Sustainability call for proposals — Fall 2022
20 September 2022 11:37am
Google.org commitment on using AI to accelerate progress on global development goals
16 September 2022 6:31pm
Research Software Engineer, Climate & Sustainability, IBM
16 September 2022 2:18pm
CamTrap Ecology meets AI conference
14 September 2022 4:47pm
Join the BirdNET team!
9 September 2022 2:43pm
Postdoc: Interpretable ML for species-based image classification
1 September 2022 9:34pm
20 October 2022 7:32pm
Out of curiosity, what are the similarities/differences between your platform and other image classification ones such as Wildlife Insights, WildID, ZambaCloud? I don't mean that in like a "what's best" way, just would be great to better understand the the details so that people can assess what to try for their specific use cases & applications!
It would be great to have a comparative specs sheet of sorts! Peter Gyurov started something like that: https://www.notion.so/Camera-Trap-Pipeline-Solution-Comparison-2eac80825c4941b0b2b5fad3daea1cc3. Would be great to add ConservationAI to this list!