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!
Senthil kumaran Natgeo explorer and World press photo award winning documentary photographer from South India, he is working on Human and animal conflicts.
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- @kateumbers
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alpine ecology, insect conservation, evolutionary ecology, behavioural ecology.
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- @crillahan
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I am a research associate at the University of Massachusetts School for Marine Science and Technology. My research focuses on developing technology to study fish behavior. I work closely with state/federal management agencies, commercial fishing and offshore wind industries.
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Eckerd College
I am a computer scientist using sensors, data science, and machine learning to study wildlife.
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- @DustinVanOverbeke
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I am a researcher at a small liberal arts college in California, working in native bee species monitoring. One current project aims to prototype and test a pollinator camera trap and eventually create affordable, deployable traps that can be used by citizen scientists.
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Iranian wildlife conservationist Interested in Human dimensions of large mammals specifically carnivores.
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World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
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World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
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Wildlife conservationist currently working on biodiversity monitoring and community development for AFOLU VCS & CCB projects.
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I am PhD in Wildlife Ecology/Management from PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Pakistan. I have extensive field and lab experience with reptiles, birds, and mammals (10 years). My area of specializations are: wildlife conservation & management, small mammalian survey techniques.
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- @drolnick
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- @andoshah
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Environmental Data Scientist @ UC Berkeley
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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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Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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Are you working with Laurie Marker, and the good folks of Cheetah.org?It would be interesting to see if (...with smaller footprint swaths at lower altitudes, and perhaps higher... |
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AI for Conservation, Drones, Emerging Tech, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Wildlife Crime | 1 minute 29 seconds ago | |
Agreed. I have recently begun using SegmentAnything as a replacement for Detectron and have been very pleased. However, for a fish school I don't know how well it would do out of... |
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Data management and processing tools, AI for Conservation | 1 minute 23 seconds ago | |
Thanks, I grabbed those datasets already. I know about that website, put couldn't quite make sense of it. It says 'open repository', but then there is a login page with no way to... |
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AI for Conservation, Open Source Solutions, Protected Area Management Tools, Drones, Remote Sensing & GIS | 1 day 14 hours ago | |
Hey @Sylvain_H Am leaning towards Maad Audiophiles or The Maad Eco Community |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Open Source Solutions, Software and Mobile Apps | 3 days 16 hours ago | |
@DibblexLesalon looks like a great question for your team at Expert Drones Africa :) |
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AI for Conservation | 5 days 11 hours ago | |
However, I think it's important to reflect further to determine exactly what needs to be done. |
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Climate Change, AI for Conservation, Biologging, Citizen Science | 1 week 1 day ago | |
Congrats on the publication! Great work! |
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AI for Conservation | 6 days 17 hours ago | |
The German start-up Dryad is also working on early fire detection using sensors and AI. |
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AI for Conservation | 6 days 20 hours ago | |
Hey, You're correct, traditionally species distribution models are spatial only, but here are a few ideas for how to incorporate time into your modelling: Categorise the... |
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AI for Conservation | 1 week 2 days ago | |
I found this interesting |
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AI for Conservation, Emerging Tech | 1 week 5 days ago | |
Really interesting, I will take a look |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Data management and processing tools, Emerging Tech | 2 weeks ago | |
Great new!! |
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AI for Conservation | 2 weeks ago |