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!
Founder & Director of Tech 4 Conservation
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Allen Institute for AI
Communications for EarthRanger and Skylight
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TerrOïko
PhD Student in statistical ecology
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TerrOïko
I am an ecological data engineer at Terroïko, where I work on OCAPI, a platform for semi-automatic camtrap data annotation, biodiversity data interoperability and biodiversity indicators.
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Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC)
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Arribada Initiative
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Designer based in Denmark
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Electronics Engineer working in the development of smart conservation technology solutions.
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Vote for your favorite submissions that best demonstrate conservation impact, novel innovation/discovery, and strong storytelling of the work and the sector.
12 August 2024
Climate Change AI calls for applications for Innovation Grants regarding AI/ML research projects. Eligible applicants are principal investigators at accredited universities in OECD member countries.
12 August 2024
To celebrate our 9th Annual #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge happening this week, we’re taking a look at past and current submissions that feature the fastest growing areas of conservation tech: movement ecology, AI,...
7 August 2024
WILDLABS is thrilled to announce the launch of a Horizon Scan on emerging priorities in Bioacoustics, supported by the Moore Foundation and in collaboration with Colorado State University. This project aims to identify...
5 August 2024
We are recruiting an (extendable) 2-year postdoc in my group to develop new technologies (cameras, microphones, deep learning, etc) to track earthworm activity in the field.
16 July 2024
The Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDAA) Programme is seeking a consultant to look into current issues with AI to develop a better shared understanding of how AI and related technologies could...
11 July 2024
Aerial seeding with drones has great potential in forest restoration but faces enormous challenges to be efficient and scalable. Current protocols use blanket seeding throughout the area to be restored, meaning a high...
20 June 2024
Come join us at AIMS, and work on deep learning for bioacoustics research!
14 June 2024
The AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge initiative from the Bezos Earth Fund has opened a call for proposals for "exploring new ideas for multiplying the impact of climate and nature efforts using modern AI"
12 June 2024
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's Burrowing Owl Recovery Program and Conservation Technology Lab seek a postdoctoral research associate to develop bioacoustic tools for monitoring the western burrowing owl...
11 June 2024
Come and do the first research into responsible AI for biodiversity monitoring, developing ways to ensure these AIs are safe, unbiased and accountable.
11 June 2024
August 2024
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September 2024
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October 2024
November 2024
October 2023
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61 Products
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Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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Thank you so much! Now everything is in the hands of amazing organizations and companies! But the first results of the Disaster Management cohort are bringing a very optimistic... |
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AI for Conservation, Climate Change, Early Career, East Africa Community, eDNA & Genomics, Emerging Tech, Ending Wildlife Trafficking Online, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Open Source Solutions | 2 weeks 1 day ago | |
great! |
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AI for Conservation | 2 weeks 2 days ago | |
interesting!!! |
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AI for Conservation, Biologging, Data management and processing tools | 2 weeks 2 days ago | |
so great!!! |
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Software and Mobile Apps, AI for Conservation, Biologging | 2 weeks 2 days ago | |
Great!!! |
+32
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AI for Conservation, Drones, Emerging Tech, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Wildlife Crime | 2 weeks 2 days ago | |
@bluevalhalla thanks for sharing the awesome video, sounds like a great project! |
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AI for Conservation | 2 weeks 5 days ago | |
Hi everyone, I am conducting a research project as part of my MSc in Environment and Development at the London School of Economics. I... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Autonomous Camera Traps for Insects, Ethics of Conservation Tech | 3 weeks 3 days ago | |
@cmwainaina please take a look |
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Biologging, AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Connectivity, Data management and processing tools, East Africa Community, Emerging Tech, Ethics of Conservation Tech, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Marine Conservation, Protected Area Management Tools, Remote Sensing & GIS, Sensors, Software and Mobile Apps | 3 weeks 4 days ago | |
Glad to announce that a new tutorial is available on Firetail: |
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AI for Conservation, Biologging | 1 month 1 week ago | |
The use of synthetic training data such as interpolated sequence values is common, but fraught with the issue of your synthetic signal generating features that are not true to... |
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Data management and processing tools, AI for Conservation | 1 month 2 weeks ago | |
In that case, you might want to keep an eye on the project from @Lars_Holst_Hansen |
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Camera Traps, AI for Conservation, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Early Career, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Protected Area Management Tools | 2 months ago | |
No worries! I'll be trying the other one to see how it works. Thank you for your help! |
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AI for Conservation | 2 months 1 week ago |
Postdoc: computer vision for insect monitoring
4 June 2022 11:12am
3 open positions at Impact Observatory
4 June 2022 10:55am
Science Director, Vulcan
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4 June 2022 10:50am
New microprocessor for low power AI camera & audio applications from Microchip
3 June 2022 8:36pm
Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund
1 June 2022 4:19pm
Post-doc in Multi-Sensor Fusion for Animal Biomechanics
1 June 2022 9:56am
Enhancing automated analysis of marine soundscapes using eco-acoustic indices and machine learning
31 May 2022 6:33pm
UKAN+ Monitoring UK Biodiversity Symposium 15-16th June
31 May 2022 2:58pm
WILDLABS Virtual Meetup: Future Questions & Tools in Movement Ecology
24 May 2022 10:10pm
A comprehensive review on biodiversity information portals
9 May 2022 3:16pm
Executive Director - The Eric & Wendy Schmidt Center for Data Science & Environment, UC Berkeley
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9 May 2022 10:13am
CV4Ecology Summer School
3 May 2022 6:13pm
WILDLABS Virtual Meetups Season Four: Tracking Progress
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29 April 2022 9:57am
News: The Latest in Conservation Tech (March 24)
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24 March 2022 12:00am
Apply now: Women in Conservation Technology Programme, Kenya
8 March 2022 12:00am
BirdCLEF 2022 Kaggle Challenge
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2 March 2022 12:00am
Introducing the WILDLABS On the Edge Fellows
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10 February 2022 12:00am
WILDLABS Fellowships & Awards: Matchmaking between tech and conservation
28 January 2022 3:22pm
Deep Learning for Marine Ecology and Conservation
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20 December 2021 12:00am
AI for Conservation Office Hours: are you interested?
8 October 2021 12:00pm
14 December 2021 2:47pm
We've now wrapped our first run of AI for Conservation Office Hours and you can read my review of how it went and lessons learned here.
Given the overall success of the programme, we're excited to announce that in early spring next year we will be coordinating a second round - so keep an eye out for further updates in the new year on the application and sign-up process.
Also, we'd love to know whether you'd be interested in having a 1:1 so comment below and tell us what conservation tech challenge you would like to cover or how a session could help you in your conservation work.
Many thanks,
Lucas
AI for Conservation Office Hours: 2021 Review
14 December 2021 12:00am
Low-cost underwater camera trapping and deep learning
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30 November 2021 12:00am
The race to save California's rarest butterflies
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29 November 2021 12:00am
Environmental Data Justice
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26 November 2021 12:00am
Technical Difficulties: The Promise and Pitfalls of Machine Learning for Conservation
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23 November 2021 12:00am
Caiman: Images as Sources of Intelligence
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18 November 2021 12:00am
Try our open-source automatic camera trap detection/labeling tool!
12 November 2021 8:39pm
Opportunity: GEO-Microsoft Planetary Computer Programme
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4 November 2021 12:00am
EarthRanger Announces Inaugural Conservation Tech Award Recipients
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3 November 2021 12:00am
Opportunity: PhD or Postdoctoral Research Fellowships - Chinstrap penguin biologging
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1 November 2021 12:00am
25 October 2021 4:13pm
Hi Wildlabbers!
We're now going ahead with a small pilot of around ten 1:1 office hour sessions with Microsoft AI for Earth specialists. More details coming very soon.
For the time being sign-ups are now closed, but thank you to everyone who has been interested. We will keep you updated on how the 1:1s go and whether there will be further sessions to sign up for later in the year.
Cheers,
Lucas