Ten years ago, we couldn't have imagined how tools like machine learning, eDNA, and satellites would advance and transform conservation work. Now technology is advancing faster than ever, and as tools become smaller, lighter, and more affordable, it's vital to have a space where community members can discuss the next big thing, share ideas, compare tool options, and tell the story of their experiences - positive, negative, and anything in between - while using new technologies.
In 2021, the WILDLABS State of Conservation Tech report detailed what tools show the most promise according to community members, as well as what tools are currently seen as the most effective. And as new tools enter the field, we're excited to see how this data will change over time, and how this group grows over time as well.
Our State of Conservation Tech research also discusses something called the "Hype Cycle" - the pattern that occurs when a new technology bursts onto the scene, promises to be an exciting solution, encounters challenges as new users adopt the tool and put it into practice beyond just theory, and eventually settles into its most effective state as users acquire the right skills to use it to its actual potential. Machine learning, one of the most promising technologies, is currently in the middle of its own hype cycle, and we see community members working through their own hurdles to incorporate ML into their work effectively. Despite what you may think, this Hype Cycle can also be positive for tech development, as it means that users have big ideas for new tools, and with the right resources and skills, they can work toward bringing those ideas to life. And as our community members experiences the Hype Cycle for various tools at their own paces, we hope this group will also serve as a place to discuss that process and overcome hurdles together.
Ready to discover new possibilities? Join our Emerging Tech group now and get to know your forward-thinking conservation tech peers!
Header photo: Internet of Elephants
April 2024
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December 2023
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Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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Hi folks! Happy 2024 and thanks in advance for your patience in case I over-used tags. If you’re using any form of natural language... |
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AI for Conservation, Citizen Science, Climate Change, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Data management and processing tools, Early Career, East Africa Community, Emerging Tech, Ending Wildlife Trafficking Online, Ethics of Conservation Tech, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Open Source Solutions, Software and Mobile Apps, Wildlife Crime, Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT) | 3 months 1 week ago | |
Will you accept personal/hobbyist focused on conservation on their small plots of land (10-100 acres)?I would, and know others, who would happily pay more than the official... |
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Camera Traps, Climate Change, Community Base, Connectivity, Emerging Tech, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Sensors, Wildlife Crime | 3 months 3 weeks ago | |
Thank you Stefan! Will follow up with your email shortly. |
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Acoustics, Emerging Tech, Ethics of Conservation Tech | 4 months ago | |
@JakeBurton and @HollyCormack have a first look at The Inventory, a WILDLABS project to build a dynamic, collaborative, wiki-inspired... |
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Emerging Tech | 4 months ago | |
@TaliaSpeaker and @Fanni joined our last Variety Hour to talk us through the key trends and takeaways from this first global assessment... |
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Emerging Tech, Community Base | 4 months ago | |
I always thought a tracker that attached like a slap bracelet would be sweet. |
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Emerging Tech, Footprint Identification Technique (FIT), Sensors | 4 months 1 week ago | |
My suggestion would probably be a 3D printer and Solder Station with a stock of common components. With those two things you can solve most problems. |
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Community Base, Emerging Tech, Marine Conservation, Protected Area Management Tools, Sensors | 4 months 2 weeks ago | |
Hi Emma, In your new project, if you have interest in a direct to satellite platform perspective, you can contact me on [email protected] Would be interested to see your outcomes... |
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Emerging Tech, Ethics of Conservation Tech | 6 months 3 weeks ago | |
Makes sense if you have the cash... |
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Biologging, Climate Change, Sensors, Build Your Own Data Logger Community, Emerging Tech | 6 months 3 weeks ago | |
Have you tried or considered Garmin Inreach or Zoleo trackers?I have experience with Garmin Inreach in relatively rugged terrain in Greenland (probably not as steep as what you... |
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Connectivity, Emerging Tech, Protected Area Management Tools | 6 months 4 weeks 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 | 7 months ago | |
I agree, this would be great for canopy work! |
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Autonomous Camera Traps for Insects, Camera Traps, Emerging Tech, Marine Conservation | 8 months 2 weeks ago |
Best Temperature/ Humidity Dataloggers
24 April 2023 1:30pm
11 September 2023 2:51pm
Heya Matthew cheers for providing a comparison! We went with HOBO Pro V2s which are more expensive but have been working well so far!
23 September 2023 6:14am
Makes sense if you have the cash...
Digital Disruption for Conservation Toolkit
22 September 2023 12:18pm
Made available by the Digital Disruption and the Future of Conservation project team at Unearthodox, the toolkit provides conservation practitioners with a comprehensive introduction to Web 3.0 and AI concepts and their potential use for nature conservation.
Recommendations for Personnel Trackers in challenging terrain
18 August 2023 2:22pm
22 August 2023 1:31pm
Hi Lisa,
Not my area of expertise either and hopefully I'm not way off base here as it's not a cheap tracker but...have you looked at near vertical incident skywave (NVIS) radio systems? I was trialling them in Nouabalé-Ndoki - we didn't have the terrain issues but we did have vegetation issues - and they worked really well over long distances. Also possible to integrate with Earthranger if I recall correctly.
Hope this is of at least a little help.
Best,
Emma
17 September 2023 1:33pm
Hi Lisa.
Did you ever find a solution for this? Would love to chat more about the use case and requirements.
Akiba
18 September 2023 8:10am
Have you tried or considered Garmin Inreach or Zoleo trackers?
I have experience with Garmin Inreach in relatively rugged terrain in Greenland (probably not as steep as what you have).
They work relatively well. One disadvantage with the early models is that the tracking data can not be downloaded directly from the devices as .gpx but needs to take the detour over the Garmin cloud. The newer models have direct download of tracks available.
I like the fact that the Garmin units are proper standalone handheld GPS units to be used for navigation and waypoint marking and you can also relatively easily share your own location and even points of interest with team members in the field (by sending geotagged messages - not actual waypoints, unfortunately).
Garmin Inreach is listed as an EarthRanger partner at https://www.earthranger.com/partner but I have no idea if there is any possibility of real integration.
Cheers,
Lars
Looking for Opportunities to Shadow Field Technologists in Southeast Asia
13 September 2023 4:11am
In case you missed it... (no. 1)
12 September 2023 11:49am
13 September 2023 6:23am
Alibaba Cloud's Geo Fencing System in the Mara
1 September 2023 12:27pm
Wilson Sairowua, Tracking Manager at Mara Elephant Project (MEP) narrates how tech4change, Alibaba Cloud's Geo Fencing System paired with collaring has helped to mitigate human-elephant conflict across Maasai Mara and has facilitated a 72% increase in elephants in the Mara region
How to report on biodiversity impacts at scale for TNFD
24 August 2023 12:41pm
Fast grants program for ML and interspecies communication
23 August 2023 5:16pm
Catch up with The Variety Hour: August 2023
14 August 2023 11:50am
Human-Elephant Conflict Tech Solution in Tsavo: NdovuCare
7 August 2023 1:36pm
#Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge: Judges' Panel Honorees
4 August 2023 10:00am
#Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge: Community Choice Honorees
3 August 2023 10:00am
360 Camera for Marine Monitoring
25 July 2023 8:54am
28 July 2023 7:43pm
Hi Sol,
For my research on fish, I had to put together a low-cost camera that could record video for several weeks. Here is the design I came up with
At the time of the paper, I was able to record video for ~12 hours a day at 10 fps and for up to 14 days. With new SD cards now, it is pushed to 21 days. It costs about 600 USD if you build it yourself. If you don't want to make it yourself, there is a company selling it now, but it is much more expensive. The FOV is 110 degrees, so not the 360 that you need, but I think there are ways to make it work (e.g. with the servo motor).
Happy to chat if you decide to go this route and/or want to brainstorm ideas.
Cheers,
Xavier
3 August 2023 2:32am
Hi Xavier, this is fantastic! Thanks for sharing, the time frame is really impressive and really in line with what we're looking for. I'll send you a message.
Cheers,
Sol
3 August 2023 3:19am
I agree, this would be great for canopy work!
How are the Arts intersecting with Conservation Technology in a rapidly changing world?
2 June 2023 10:30am
1 August 2023 8:27am
Sustained Effort: When There's No Time To Wait
26 July 2023 10:00am
Renew Capital launches Renew Venture Lab
19 July 2023 1:58pm
Wildlife Conservation Drones & Technologies Summit 2023
16 July 2023 10:04pm
Postdoc position: study and prototype satellite-tag systems to track the movement of animals from space
11 July 2023 12:14am
pneumatic artificial muscle applications in conservation tech?
5 July 2023 6:59pm
13th International Symposium on Digital Earth
4 July 2023 2:51pm
The role of low-code Earth observation tools in accelerating the sustainability transition
30 June 2023 2:13pm
We've published a paper on the role of low-code Earth observation tools in the sustainability transition. It covers how different roles in a business like analysts and executives can benefit from this tech and how it can be applied to ESG, Nature Based Solutions and insurance and finance.
Sustained Effort: The Environmentalist’s Dilemma
21 June 2023 9:00am
Information Session: Technology Testing to Mitigate Human-Elephant Conflict in West Bengal
19 June 2023 11:07pm
Innovation wanted: Technology Testing to Mitigate Human-Elephant Conflict in West Bengal
19 June 2023 10:54pm
The Wildlife Society Conference
19 June 2023 5:59am
How tech is changing the way Singapore manages parks and gardens
12 June 2023 5:11am
Discover how Singapore is using technology, including resistographs, drones, mobile apps, and data analytics, to revolutionize the management of parks and gardens, promoting nature conservation and enhancing citizen participation in green initiatives.
Apply for the Google for Startups Accelerator: Climate Change Middle East & Africa Program
9 June 2023 1:54pm
Wildlife Monitoring Engineer
8 June 2023 4:54pm
ISO Speakers for Emerging Technologies class.
31 May 2023 4:29pm
31 May 2023 10:21pm
Definitely interested! I'm in the ecoacoustics/acoustic monitoring space, working at Rainforest Connection and Arbimon.
2 June 2023 2:08pm
Carly, that would be great! Thanks! I work with soundscapes and love the work of Rainforest Connection! I'll send you an email (@CUNY) to coordinate!
11 September 2023 2:49pm
Heya Nick - ooh cool! We thought about the Kestrels but I had heard about some of the problems with them maxing out at 100. Have gone for HOBO Pro V2s