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
- @hyodopenguin
- | she/her
I am currently a rising junior at UC Berkeley studying data science. I hope to apply data with biodiversity, especially by utilizing camera traps for species classification. People in conservation tech are truly living my dream careers, and I can't wait to get even more inspired!
- 0 Resources
- 5 Discussions
- 23 Groups
- @AngelikaNocon
- | she/her
I am a Nonprofit Relations Manager at Tech To The Rescue - a global platform connecting nonprofit organizations with tech companies.
- 0 Resources
- 3 Discussions
- 4 Groups
- @kgkelly
- | He/Him
Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI)
I am an ornithologist with a particular interest in passive acoustic monitoring and AI solutions.
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 6 Groups
- @iainhook
- | Mr
Passionate supporter of New Zealands predator free 2050 goals. Founder of both eTrapper Ltd - offering IoT solutions to enhance efficiencies of conservation projects, and Maungakiekie Songbird - a community based project to enhace local habitat around One Tree Hill in Auckland.
- 0 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 6 Groups
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 12 Groups
https://www.songquanong.com/
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 5 Groups
- @EvelyneNgugi
- | she/her
Environmentalist and AI Tutor
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 12 Groups
- 1 Resources
- 29 Discussions
- 18 Groups
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 10 Groups
Evolutionary biologist studying social wasps across Africa | Lecturer at University of Bristol (UK)
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 1 Groups
Managing Director and Founder, Encounter Solutions Ltd.
- 0 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 5 Groups
Petnerup
Animal tech startup founder
- 0 Resources
- 2 Discussions
- 12 Groups
Funding
Apply! 2024 Conservation Tech Award
Jordan Steward
Now accepting applications for two $15,000 grants to help protect wildlife through cutting-edge, technology-driven efforts
3 June 2024
Article
Share Your Work in a Conservation Technology Video
Robin Marti Sarasa
Do you have photos and videos of your conservation tech work? We want to include them in a conservation technology showcase video
17 May 2024
Article
In 1987, sustainability was defined by the United Nations Brundtland Commission as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”In 1987,...
7 May 2024
Funding
Travel grants for insect monitoring an AI
Tom August
€2,000 travel grants are available for researchers interested in insect monitoring using automated cameras and computer vision
3 May 2024
Careers
Save the Elephants is seeking a Principal Investigator for our Elephant Collective Behaviour Project. This role will spearhead research initiatives using cutting-edge video analysis tools to study elephant group...
1 May 2024
Article
The Inventory User Guide
Jake Burton
Read in detail about how to use The Inventory, our new living directory of conservation technology tools, organisations, and R&D projects.
1 May 2024
Article
Introducing The Inventory!
Jake Burton
The Inventory is your one-stop shop for conservation technology tools, organisations, and R&D projects. Start contributing to it now!
1 May 2024
Careers
Hiring Chief Engineer at Conservation X Labs
Henrik Cox
Technology to End the Sixth Mass Extinction. Salary: $132 - $160k; Location: Seattle WA; 7+ years of experience in hardware product development and manufacturing; View post for full job description
1 May 2024
Article
Earth Blox dataset review: Meta Global Canopy Height (1m)
Cassie Anderson
Review by Professor Iain H Woodhouse
29 April 2024
Careers
The Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute is seeking a Program Manager to help coordinate multiple organizations in an effort to integrate movement data & camera trap data with global...
22 April 2024
Link
Technology Trends that Would Drive Business Innovation in 2024
Indepth Research Institute
The rapidly evolving digital landscape and its fusion with business operations has given rise to a new buzzword: Digital Transformation. Therefore, there’s been an urgent imperative for organizations to adopt digital...
19 April 2024
Article
In a recent publication we tested Underwater Passive Acoustic Monitoring (UPAM) as a feasible non-invasive technique to study the calling behavior of therathened aquatic Andean frogs under natural conditions in the...
6 April 2024
June 2025
event
Nalini
event
Joel Masselink
July 2025
July 2024
event
Wildlife Drones
| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hi @Sicily_Fiennes,Over the past several years, I have explored how to design engaging and useful tools for the exploration of audio recording to locate calls of a particular bird... |
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Conservation Tech Training and Education, Emerging Tech | 2 years 3 months ago | |
| Hi Titus,If the usual syntactic foam sources aren't available, an option may be to add an empty dry housing or use a larger housing for the BRUV, just to provide the buoyancy.You... |
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Camera Traps, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions | 2 years 3 months ago | |
| My original background is in ecology and conservation, and am now in the elected leadership of the Gathering for Open Science Hardware which convenes researchers developing open... |
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AI for Conservation, Animal Movement, Camera Traps, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Data management and processing tools, Drones, Emerging Tech, Sensors | 2 years 4 months ago | |
| Hello All - @sarabeery et Al have just put a pre-print out on their educational insights into teaching Computer Vision to ecologists. I... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Early Career, Emerging Tech | 2 years 4 months ago | |
| intrested. |
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Community Base, Data management and processing tools, Early Career, Emerging Tech | 2 years 4 months ago | |
| Thanks Alice, it does! |
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Early Career, Emerging Tech | 2 years 5 months ago | |
| I just came across this interesting paper in which seismic monotoring of animals like elephants was mentioned. This is the study refered to:Cheers,Lars |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Emerging Tech, Ethics of Conservation Tech, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Geospatial, Sensors | 2 years 5 months ago | |
| Hi Steph. Would be interested also. |
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Animal Movement, Community Base, Connectivity, Data management and processing tools, Emerging Tech, Geospatial | 2 years 5 months ago | |
| Hey Sol, The only way for you to collect information from a GPS tag attached to a FAD is if that tag transmits that data to the drone. Unfortunately most receiver packages... |
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Drones, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions | 2 years 6 months ago | |
| 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... |
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AI for Conservation, Emerging Tech | 2 years 7 months ago | |
| Hi Everyone,We chose sigfox becuase it seems to have better range and is plug-play, whereas LoRa requires more custom programming and updating. Getting a gateway cost us $... |
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Animal Movement, Build Your Own Data Logger Community, Camera Traps, Connectivity, Emerging Tech, Sensors | 2 years 7 months ago | |
| I'd be ecstatic if a nest box or natural tree hollow (or burrow) monitoring device could be developed. Infrared images/video and sound recording, either triggered by motion... |
+1
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Emerging Tech | 2 years 7 months ago |
