Despite critical advancements in the tech solutions available to conservationists worldwide, many existing tools are cost-prohibitive in the landscapes that need them most. Additionally, those who create low-cost and open-source alternatives to pricey market tech often operate on tight budgets themselves, meaning they need more resources to promote their solutions to a broader market. We need increased communication around these solutions to highlight their availability, share lessons learned in their creation, and avoid duplication of efforts.
This group is a place to share low-cost, open-source devices for conservation; describe how they are used, including what needs they are addressing and how they fit into the wider conservation tech market; identify the obstacles in advancing the capacity of these technologies; and to discuss the future of these solutions, particularly their sustainability and how best to collaborate moving forward. We welcome contributions from both makers and users, whether active or prospective.
Here is how we see the current OSS space and how this group plans to change it by supporting both makers and users:
Many users do not appreciate the significant benefits of open-source tech. This group will educate users about the advantages and the need for open-source tech, specifically in the context of ecology work. We achieve this by stimulating regular discussions on the forum and by encouraging and supporting users to use open-source tools wherever possible.
Building OSS can be difficult. We want to support both established and potential makers who wish to develop OSS. The OSS group is a place where makers can find funding opportunities, ask current and potential users questions, and share their technologies.
Using OSS can be difficult. We also want to support adopters of OSS tech. We do this by offering a place for users to share challenges they face and crowdsource advice on things like technology choice or technical support.
Makers do not know what users want or need. The OSS group is a place that facilitates conversations between makers and users. This will give users a voice and ensure that makers are aware of the needs of users, enabling them to build better solutions.
The community is small and scattered. We want to grow an inclusive community of OSS practitioners. Our goal is to become the go-to place for discussions on the topic where people feel a sense of belonging.
Resources for getting started
- How do I use open source remote sensing data in Google Earth Engine? | Tech Tutors
- How do I use open source remote sensing data to monitor fishing? | Tech Tutors
- Low Cost, Open Source Solutions | Virtual Meetup
- What would an open source conservation technology toolkit look like? | Discussion
- December 2024 Open Source Solutions Community Call
Header image: Shawn F. McCracken
Group curators
- @Nycticebus_scientia
- | he/they
MammalWeb.org
Co-founded citizen science camera-trapping project with interest in developing 100% open source wildlife tech. Advocate for open science/open research. Community member of the Gathering for Open Science Hardware.



- 3 Resources
- 24 Discussions
- 3 Groups
trying to understand and improve the welfare of all animals that can suffer


- 4 Resources
- 6 Discussions
- 7 Groups
- @briannajohns
- | she/they
Gathering for Open Science Hardware (GOSH)
Interested in the application of open source technologies for conservation research.



- 9 Resources
- 4 Discussions
- 4 Groups
I work in conservation on integrating the technology out there for custom solutions for partners.
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 23 Groups
- @JunglelaniTales
- | We
We currently producing an animation series meant to teach and inspire climate action to kids. Looking forward to networking opportunities.
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 9 Groups
National Geographic Society
Experience utilizing technology to inspire, educate, and create solutions to some of our biggest challenges. Currently, head of the National Geographic Society Exploration Technology Lab, overseeing the development and deployment of research and storytelling technologies.
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 16 Groups
Import/distribution business background and tech tinkerer with an interest in wildlife.
- 0 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 3 Groups
- @AthenaRycyk
- | she/her
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 8 Groups
- @SamuelHertz
- | He/Him/His
I'm a PhD researcher at Royal Holloway University of London (Centre for GeoHumanities) researching modalities of sound-sensing technologies across climate and conservation sciences. Interested in ethics and histories of acoustic monitoring as well as new visualization methods.
- 0 Resources
- 3 Discussions
- 10 Groups
- @rohikip
- | He/His/Him
A Techie with passion in biodiversity conservation.
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 5 Groups
- @stienheremans
- | she/her
Remote sensing researcher for environmental monitoring and nature conservation/restoration
- 0 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 5 Groups
- @issiecorvi
- | she/they
Ocean Vision AI Program Manager (MBARI)
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 7 Groups
Movement Ecologist studying the where, why, and how animals move throughout our world. Current work is investigating the movement and energetics of large neotropical bats in a changing environment with ephemeral resources.



- 0 Resources
- 23 Discussions
- 22 Groups
General Purpose Electronics Engineer
- 0 Resources
- 2 Discussions
- 3 Groups
- @tomwhite101
- | He/Him
Agroecology Geek
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 12 Groups
Weeds, by definition, are plants in the wrong place but Weed-AI is helping put weed image data in the right place. Weed-AI is an open source, searchable, weeds image data platform designed to facilitate the research and...
7 May 2025
Bringing you the latest in open-source technology for agriculture. This accompanies the Open Source Agriculture respository: Collating all open-source datasets, software tools and deployment platforms related to open-...
1 May 2025
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1 May 2025
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29 April 2025
Conservation International is proud to announce the launch of the Nature Tech for Biodiversity Sector Map, developed in partnership with the Nature Tech Collective!
1 April 2025
Modern GIS is open technology, scalable, and interoperable. How do you implement it? [Header image: kepler.gl]
12 March 2025
Join the FathomNet Kaggle Competition to show us how you would develop a model that can accurately classify varying taxonomic ranks!
4 March 2025
Last month, we spent four days trekking through Cerro Hoya National Park in Panama, where we hiked from near sea level up to the cloud forest to deploy Mothboxes.
14 February 2025
New paper - "acoupi integrates audio recording, AI-based data processing, data management, and real-time wireless messaging into a unified and configurable framework. We demonstrate the flexibility of acoupi by...
7 February 2025
Over the years, a large number of developments have gone up in the area that I live in and the municipality is not doing what they should when it comes to upholding the laws that have been put in place to protect the...
20 January 2025
Throughout November and December, the Mothbox team has been running field tests in Panama, cleaning up their data for post-processing, and starting an online shop with moth-themed merch!
19 December 2024
Article
SPARROW: Solar-Powered Acoustics and Remote Recording Observation Watch
18 December 2024
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December 2020
Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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Hi Akiba No worries, thanks for responding! I'd love to delve into more detail on this once the new series has started and I have an idea of the tools and kit required!... |
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Open Source Solutions, Sensors | 4 years 8 months ago | |
Hi Maxine, There are pros and cons to switching regulators and linear regulators. Linear regulators "throw away" the excess voltage in order to maintain a... |
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Open Source Solutions, Sensors | 4 years 8 months ago | |
Hi Luci. Did you ever get a response on this? I'd be interested in collaborating and helping develop out the system. We can probably assist in the manufacturing and... |
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Open Source Solutions | 4 years 9 months ago | |
Hello, Ours is the SensorStation: https://github.com/cellular-tracking-technologies/SensorStation/ It is a multi-channel radio receiver based on Raspberry Pi for a variety... |
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Open Source Solutions | 5 years 9 months ago | |
Hi Marysia, Naturebytes is a good start, there are a number of projects running using their Raspberry Pi wildlife camera traps. Kind regards, Alasdair |
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Open Source Solutions | 5 years 11 months ago | |
Daaaamn! That's a great list. Akiba |
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Open Source Solutions | 6 years 1 month ago | |
Excellent Akiba, Thank you for your detailed thoughts and for sharing your experiences. |
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Open Source Solutions | 6 years 1 month ago | |
Hi jlahoz. In reply to your questions: "I find commercial open source conservation technology to be a very exciting space, plenty of challenges but also opportunities.... |
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Open Source Solutions | 6 years 1 month ago | |
Hi everyone. This project is the first one that came out of this thread. @Rob+Appleby and I were discussing his WildSpy timer... |
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Open Source Solutions | 6 years 1 month ago | |
Field Instruments: Build it yourself From custom wildlife collars to underwater recorders, a... |
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Open Source Solutions | 8 years ago |