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
- @JakobWiren
- | He,him
Swedish soon-to-be graduate engineer in AI/ML and robotics. Writing my master thesis in using decision trees for anti-poaching in Limpopo, South Africa. Am passionate about conservation, AI and travelling. Help me find a way to help you!
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- 1 Discussions
- 13 Groups
Software Engineer, Web Developer, Tech Enthusiast. I am software engineer with a background in instrumentation, primarily developing using C/C ++. Skilled in web development, with a Grad Cert in Web Development. Enjoy experimenting with tech, e.g. Raspberry Pi, Arduino and IoT.
- 0 Resources
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- 7 Groups
Research software engineer working in computer vision for animal behaviour
- 1 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 13 Groups
- @Lucille
- | She/Her
La Trobe University
Marine bioacoustician and elasmobranch scientist
- 1 Resources
- 9 Discussions
- 8 Groups
- @KMucha
- | She/Her/Hers
Species360
Senior Product Owner of ZIMS for Studbooks and the SCTI Toolkit at Species360

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- 5 Groups
- @Gcharron
- | Mr.
Cofounder of Outreach Robotics, I have a master in mechanical engineering and I thrive on developing new technology for field scientists using remote controlled robots.


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- 15 Discussions
- 4 Groups
- @UrsusAmer66
- | He/Him
Research Ecologist focused on human disturbance and ecophysiology
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- 5 Groups
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- 9 Groups
University of Suffolk
Sustainability Researcher • Environmental Data Scientist & Technologist • Earth Scientist
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- 13 Groups
Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), University of Kent
Conservation Science PhD student at DICE, Kent. I am a GIS and remote sensing enthusiast as well as researcher. Been in love with the interaction between AI and conservation ever since I picked up a python crash course book out of curiosity during my undergraduate degree.
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- 12 Groups
- @LouisaRC
- | she/her
LRC Wildlife Conservation
With 20 years of experience as a conservation practitioner, I have transitioned from a carnivore scientist to Dean, mentoring Africa’s next generation of conservation leaders. Now, as a consultant, I develop strategies integrating innovative Web 3.0 technologies for conservation.
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- 4 Groups
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- 14 Groups
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...
1 September 2023
Earth Species Project is partnering with the Footprint Coalition to provide grants for research at the intersection of ML and interspecies communication, including applications to conservation.
23 August 2023
Read our interview with Sandra Maryanne, a young conservation tech innovator raised in Taita, Ivarenyi with first-hand experience on the challenges of human-elephant conflict within her community. To address this, she...
7 August 2023
Please join us in celebrating this year’s top #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge Honorees as chosen by our panel of leading conservation organization judges, and enjoy the story contained within these entries about how our...
4 August 2023
Join us as we count down the WILDLABS community's honorees in the first-ever #Tech4Wildlife Community Choice Awards!
3 August 2023
In this article from Isobel Ashbey, she shares Cambridge Consultants’ method for thinking of sustainability as a framework that addresses every level of product development.
26 July 2023
Renew Capital is sourcing startups for our next Super Angels Fund and we are hoping to close investments in 20 startups before the end of December 2023.
19 July 2023
Postdoc position at NASA JPL: study and prototype innovative satellite-tag systems to track the movement of animals from space.
11 July 2023
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...
30 June 2023
The GSMA ClimateTech programme
21 June 2023
In this article from Jacinta Plucinski & Akiba of Freaklabs, they share advice on organising your thoughts around building short-term and long-term sustainability considerations into your conservation technology...
21 June 2023
JICA, Japan’s International Cooperation Agency is seeking a digital partner with a proven track record in conservation technology as we launch a pilot project to test technologies to mitigate human-elephant conflict in...
19 June 2023
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Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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Really interesting, I will take a look |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Data management and processing tools, Emerging Tech | 9 months 2 weeks ago | |
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 | 9 months 3 weeks ago | |
@cmwainaina please take a look |
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Animal Movement, 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, Geospatial, Sensors, Software Development | 10 months ago | |
Thank you very much for this Esther. I also came across Trade in Wildlife Information Exchange (TWIX) which is a enforcement tool for international wildlife trade. |
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Women in Conservation Tech Programme (WiCT), Citizen Science, Emerging Tech, East Africa Community | 1 year ago | |
Hi Steph, We appreciate the support! Thanks for the tag and your help managing the community!Patrick |
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Sensors, Acoustics, Conservation Dogs, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions | 1 year ago | |
Hi Sol,If the maximum depth is 30m, it would be worth experimenting with HydroMoth in this application especially if the deployment time is short. As Matt says, the air-filed case... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Data management and processing tools, Emerging Tech, Sustainable Fishing Challenges | 1 year ago | |
Congratulations! My first hydromoth was just arrived yesterday and so excited! Looking forward for the update from your project!!! |
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Acoustics, Animal Movement, Climate Change, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Data management and processing tools, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions, Protected Area Management Tools, Sensors, Software Development, Latin America Community | 1 year ago | |
Gotcha, well I look forward to seeing future iterations and following along with your progress!! |
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Autonomous Camera Traps for Insects, AI for Conservation, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions, Latin America Community | 1 year 1 month ago | |
'Most importantly, we have to make it play a MIDI version of the DoctorWho theme song when you arm the device. That has to be the #1 feature if you ask me!' Seconded! |
+9
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Acoustics, Animal Movement, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions, Sensors | 1 year 1 month ago | |
Hi @Alasdair Great to hear from you! Thanks for the comment and for those very useful links (very interesting). And for letting @Rob_Appleby know. I can't wait to hear... |
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Emerging Tech, Camera Traps, Conservation Tech Training and Education | 1 year 1 month ago | |
Hello everyone, I'm interested in gathering insights on how the behavior of different species impacts the development and efficacy of... |
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Animal Movement, Acoustics, Camera Traps, eDNA & Genomics, Emerging Tech, Marine Conservation | 1 year 2 months ago | |
Hi @timbirdweather I've now got them up and running and winding how I can provide feedback on species ID to improve the accuracy over time. It would be really powerful to have a... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Citizen Science, Emerging Tech | 1 year 2 months ago |
#Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge: Community Choice Honorees
3 August 2023 10:00am
360 Camera for Marine Monitoring
25 July 2023 8:54am
How are the Arts intersecting with Conservation Technology in a rapidly changing world?
2 June 2023 10:30am
1 August 2023 8:27am
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund announce new collaboration for carbon-neutral PERL NFTs | Press Releases | Asia | Sustainable Business
In celebration of World Gorilla Day on September 24, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is announcing plans to launch an exclusive line of carbon-neutral...
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
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
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!
Ashored Innovations: Hardware and Software for Sustainable Fishing
1 June 2023 9:46pm
Climasens: Using technology to understand and respond to climate change
30 May 2023 12:36pm
AirSeed: Drone planting takes flight to promote reforestation in flood-affected NSW
30 May 2023 12:28pm
Creating digital solutions to help people and nature thrive: Lessons from the frontline
29 May 2023 7:02am
31 May 2023 10:51pm
10 AI for the Planet Projects you should be excited about
25 May 2023 11:07am
FieldKit: Accessible Sensor Technology for All
23 May 2023 10:26pm
Field Surveyor
16 May 2023 4:06pm
Lecturer/Associate Professor of Ecology and Innovative Technologies
16 May 2023 9:25am
Deadline Approaching: Conservation Tech Award
15 May 2023 10:21pm
NERC Digital Gathering 2023
15 May 2023 1:42pm
Women in Tech Festival 2023
12 May 2023 1:43pm
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