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
- @Halima_Hassan
- | She
Halima Hassan is a geographer, environmentalist, educator, and climate change activist who is passionate about bridging science, community, and conservation.
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 6 Groups
- @DeepakSathyanarayan
- | he/his
Deepak is an experienced professional who has served in multiple leadership roles in technology, science, product development, and engineering programs. He has proven expertise in shaping and executing technology strategies across defense, space, health, and environment sectors.

- 0 Resources
- 5 Discussions
- 7 Groups
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 14 Groups
- @martinyonga
- | He/His
a Research Entrepreneur always looking for ways to demonstrate the interconnectedness of nature & our livelihoods

- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 3 Groups
- 0 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 7 Groups

- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 15 Groups
- @otgonbayartm
- | He / His
Many thanks to WILDLABS. This community aligns precisely with my professional interest in applying IT expertise to nature conservation.

- 0 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 7 Groups
Aeracoop & Dronecoria
Computer engineer, Drone Pilot, Seed researcher, Wild Tech Maker





- 3 Resources
- 37 Discussions
- 11 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
- @sopara
- | She/her
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 4 Groups
- @meredithspalmer
- | she/her
Yale University
Conservation, Innovation, Education



- 8 Resources
- 27 Discussions
- 9 Groups
- @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
Article
Ceres Tag sends just in time alerts and GPS location to have the power to track and trace.
22 July 2022
The Earth Species Project (ESP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to decoding animal communication and translating non-human language.
15 July 2022
Camera trap wildlife surveys can generate vast amounts of imagery. A key problem in the wildlife ecology field is that vast amounts of time is spent reviewing this imagery to identify the species detected. Valuable...
20 December 2021
This article provides a review of deep learning (predominantly ML) used in marine ecology and considerations for its future directions in conservation. In plain language, the authors provide a methodology for training...
20 December 2021
The 2021 Ebbe Nielsen Challenge has opened with the aim of recognizing innovative entries that leverage biodiversity data and tools from the GBIF network to advance open science.
20 January 2021
WILDLABS community member Thomas Gray from Argos has given us a preview of an upcoming grant program to develop open-source tags. Three years ago, Argos worked with the Arribada Initiative to develop an open-source...
17 August 2020
Community Announcement
WILDLABS is evaluating the State of Conservation Technology alongside researchers at Colorado State University in our third annual survey. Take the survey to contribute your thoughts on the community’s progress, needs, ...
8 July 2020
Creating bold conservation tech solutions requires each of us to find the intersection between our skills and passions. In this case study on the new Aqualink reef monitoring system, a unique citizen science project...
9 June 2020
Funding
The 2020 Hackaday Prize competition has begun! This year, Conservation X Labs has partnered with the Hackaday Prizes as one of four nonprofits seeking tech-based solutions to urgent challenges. Conservation X Labs'...
26 May 2020
May 2025
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September 2024
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Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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Hi Lucy,I now realised it is an old thread and you most likely have already found a solution long ago but this might be of interest to others.As mentioned previously, it is... |
+5
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Camera Traps, Data management and processing tools, Open Source Solutions, Software Development | 6 months 3 weeks ago | |
No problem at all Yu (@JY) and good luck with your studies! Happy to discuss this and any other ideas any time.All the best,Rob |
+10
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Sensors, Animal Movement, Connectivity, Drones, Open Source Solutions, Emerging Tech | 6 months 3 weeks ago | |
Hi all! I wanted to open a discussion on a topic that I've been thinking about ever since I entered the job market-- how to get a... |
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Software Development, AI for Conservation, Early Career, Open Source Solutions | 6 months 4 weeks ago | |
Hi Brett, I am interested in developing really low cost multi channel underwater acoustic recorders. Can you tell me a bit more about the board and stuff you were using... |
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Build Your Own Data Logger Community, Acoustics, Camera Traps, Climate Change, East Africa Community, Marine Conservation, Open Source Solutions, Protected Area Management Tools | 7 months ago | |
Jared's answer is excellent IMHO. One level down, you have a couple of options. One is to charge for the convenience of buying a finished, assembled, and tested product, that's... |
+8
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Emerging Tech, Funding and Finance, Open Source Solutions | 7 months 1 week ago | |
Do you use camera traps? If so, we'd love if you could take five minutes to fill out this survey: tinyurl.com/zambasurveyWith our WILDLABS... |
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AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Data management and processing tools, Software Development, Open Source Solutions | 7 months 2 weeks ago | |
Hi @benweinstein !Surely a general detector might be very useful for detecting objects in aerial imagery! Maybe something similar to what MegaDetector does in camera trap images,... |
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AI for Conservation, Open Source Solutions, Protected Area Management Tools, Drones, Geospatial | 8 months 1 week ago | |
Very interesting topic |
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Citizen Science, Community Base, Open Source Solutions, Geospatial | 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 | |
A community device isn’t just about the technology; it’s also about creating a collaborative community. Shout out to all innovators... |
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Animal Movement, Marine Conservation, Open Source Solutions, Sensors | 10 months 3 weeks ago | |
Fantastic!! |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Animal Movement, Build Your Own Data Logger Community, Community Base, Early Career, Ethics of Conservation Tech, Marine Conservation, Open Source Solutions | 11 months 2 weeks 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 |
WCS Conservation Technology Webinar Series
23 August 2024 3:20pm
23 August 2024 8:30pm
WILDLABS Virtual Meetup: Bioacoustics Data Analysis and AI
22 August 2024 7:22pm
WILDLABS Virtual Meetup: Bioacoustics Data Networks and Platforms
22 August 2024 5:45pm
Project Spotlight: OpenFlexure Microscope
22 August 2024 11:04am
Community Choice Award Winners: 2024 #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge
15 August 2024 2:41am
Cast your vote in the #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge Community Choice Awards!
12 August 2024 1:46pm
12 August 2024 9:15pm
13 August 2024 11:26am
July 2024 OSS paper round-up
11 August 2024 11:25pm
Open Source Solutions Announcement: Introducing New OSS Group Leaders

8 August 2024 3:24pm
Integrating Maps with VR/AR for Exploring Environmental Conservation and sensitization
3 August 2024 7:29am
3 August 2024 3:26pm
Very interesting topic
AI accelerator for nonprofits working in the Climate area
31 July 2024 3:01pm
31 July 2024 6:24pm
Great acomplishment!!!
1 August 2024 1:39pm
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 vision! :) I hope for the same in the Climate cohort!
Two-year Postdoc (extendable) in AI and Remote Sensing to Monitor Earthworms in the Field
16 July 2024 9:02am
Mega-OSH meetup!
11 August 2024 8:10am
20 August 2024 4:07pm
Keele University - KTP position
8 July 2024 5:07pm
Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial
5 July 2024 7:30pm
Global trials for "Reefie" the coral reef inspector
30 June 2024 12:52pm
FOSS Geospatial Tools
VIHAR-2024 deadline extension, June 30th (Interspeech satellite event)
5 June 2024 10:30am
5 June 2024 3:05pm
Thanks for sharing this @nkundiushuti ! I think this post would be better suited as an event, that way it will show up on the WILDLABS event calendar page. Let me know if you have any questions on how to make an event post! You just click the +Post button in the top right corner, then click "event."
7 June 2024 8:29am
hi Alex!! I already posted the event, I just wanted to posted an update: the deadline was extended.
7 June 2024 1:45pm
Fantastic!!
€4,000 travel grants for insect monitoring an AI
6 June 2024 4:49pm
New WILDLABS Funding & Finance group
5 June 2024 3:24pm
5 June 2024 4:14pm
6 June 2024 1:38am
6 June 2024 4:16am
Share Your Work in a Conservation Technology Video
17 May 2024 9:06pm
Travel grants for insect monitoring an AI
3 May 2024 5:20pm
CollarID: multimodal wearable sensor system for wild and domesticated dogs
3 May 2024 1:42am
3 May 2024 10:14am
Hi Patrick,
This is so cool, thanks for sharing! It's also a perfect example of what we were hoping to capture in the R&D section of the inventory - I've created a new entry for #CollarID so it's discoverable and so we can track how it evolves across any mentions in different posts/discussions that come up on WILDLABS. This thread appears on the listing, and I'll make you three the contacts for it too. But please do go in and update any of the info there as well!
Steph
3 May 2024 2:01pm
Hi Steph,
We appreciate the support! Thanks for the tag and your help managing the community!
Patrick
WILDLABS AWARDS 2024 - Underwater Passive Acoustic Monitoring (UPAM) for threatened Andean water frogs
30 March 2024 3:54pm
5 April 2024 12:13pm
Congratulations, very exciting! Keep us updated!
7 April 2024 6:09pm
This is so cool @Mauricio_Akmentins - congrats and look forward to seeing your project evolve!
1 May 2024 5:17pm
Congratulations! My first hydromoth was just arrived yesterday and so excited! Looking forward for the update from your project!!!
The Inventory User Guide
1 May 2024 12:46pm
Introducing The Inventory!
1 May 2024 12:46pm
22 July 2024 10:55am
23 July 2024 2:05pm
23 July 2024 2:53pm
Hiring Chief Engineer at Conservation X Labs
1 May 2024 12:19pm
Earth Blox dataset review: Meta Global Canopy Height (1m)
23 May 2024 7:23pm
27 May 2024 8:58am
Pytorch-Wildlife: A Collaborative Deep Learning Framework for Conservation (v1.0)
21 February 2024 10:30pm
26 February 2024 11:58pm
This is great, thank you so much @zhongqimiao ! I will check it out and looking forward for the upcoming tutorial!
17 April 2024 11:07am
Hi everyone! @zhongqimiao was kind enough to join Variety Hour last month to talk more about Pytorch-Wildlife, so the recording might be of interest to folks in this thread. Catch up here:
23 April 2024 9:48pm
Hi @zhongqimiao ,
Might you have faced such an issue while using mega detector
The conflict is caused by:
pytorchwildlife 1.0.2.13 depends on torch==1.10.1
pytorchwildlife 1.0.2.12 depends on torch==1.10.1
pytorchwildlife 1.0.2.11 depends on torch==1.10.1
if yes how did you solve it, or might you have any ideas?
torch 1.10.1 doesn't seem to exist
WILDLABS AWARDS 2024 - No-code custom AI for camera trap species classification
5 April 2024 7:00pm
10 April 2024 3:55am
Happy to explain for sure. By Timelapse I mean images taken every 15 minutes, and sometimes the same seals (anywhere from 1 to 70 individuals) were in the image for many consecutive images.
17 April 2024 5:53pm
Got it. We should definitely be able to handle those images. That said, if you're just looking for counts, then I'd recommend running Megadetector which is an object detection model and outputs a bounding box around each animal.
21 April 2024 5:19pm
Hi, this is pretty interesting to me. I plan to fly a drone over wild areas and look for invasive species incursions. So feral hogs are especially bad, but in the Everglades there is a big invasion of huge snakes. In various areas there are big herds of wild horses that will eat themselves out of habitat also, just to name a few examples. Actually the data would probably be useful in looking for invasive weeds, that is not my focus but the government of Canada is thinking about it.
Does your research focus on photos, or can you analyze LIDAR? I don't really know what emitters are available to fly over an area, or which beam type would be best for each animal type. I know that some drones carry a LIDAR besides a camera for example. Maybe a thermal camera would be best to fly at night.
23 August 2024 7:04pm