4 Ways We Can All Keep Our AI on Biodiversity

Did you know that biodiversity–the variety of life on earth–does more than just provide us with beautiful landscapes and stunning wildlife? It also helps us and our planet’s ecosystems withstand natural disasters like wildfires, floods, and storms. It supplies virtually everything we need to survive: food, water, clean air, and even jobs. 

Time is of the essence

Unfortunately, biodiversity loss is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time - and not many people know it. Most of the factors accelerating this decline are also responsible for global climate change. Human activities like deforestation, habitat destruction, and pollution are threatening species at an alarming rate. Stuart Pimm, ecologist at Duke University says, "We are driving species to extinction at a rate about 1,000 times faster than they are created through evolution."

That’s right: things haven’t been this bad since the K-T extinction–the one that killed the T. Rex–66 million years ago. Experts say the Earth is approaching its sixth major extinction event, and we’re running out of time. 

WE ARE DRIVING SPECIES TO EXTINCTION AT A RATE ABOUT 1,000 TIMES FASTER THAN THEY ARE CREATED THROUGH EVOLUTION

In December 2022, the world's leaders convened at COP15, the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biodiversity, to confront this challenge head-on. They made a bold promise to protect and conserve 30% of the Earth’s land, coastlines, and oceans by 2050. 

The truth is, the global conservation effort is not moving quickly enough. Recent headlines about devastating floods in California and the global coral crisis are just a few examples of how much work there is to be done. In fact, did you know that half of all coral reefs on Earth have already disappeared? 

Where do we start

Thankfully, advances in artificial intelligence (AI) offer new hope and guidance [1]. In this blog, we explore 4 revolutionary ways AI is being used right now to monitor and protect global biodiversity. 

Habitat Restoration and Management 

One of the most pressing challenges facing conservationists is the rate of global habitat loss. Let’s face it, habitat restoration is hard work. Fortunately, AI is here to help. For example, Brazilian researchers are using AI algorithms to predict how deforestation will affect the Amazon rainforest. By analyzing satellite images with machine vision, researchers can create models that show how different management strategies will affect the ecosystem. 

In Australia, AI is being used to monitor the Great Barrier Reef and identify areas in need of restoration. This machine vision solution analyzes images of the reef taken by human divers and drones to detect changes in water quality and coral cover. 

We’re strong proponents of using machine vision to protect our planet’s habitats. Read about how we partnered with a “stratospheric” startup to fight wildfires using machine vision and atmospheric balloons. 

Species Observation and Identification 

AI can also help us keep our eye on biodiversity trends anywhere on earth. Convolutional Neural Networks or (CNNs) are commonly used for machine vision solutions. For biodiversity monitoring, CNNs are used to classify organisms and identify unique features based on image or sound data. Current research aims to make this application fully automated to speed up the process. 

Semi-automated machine vision solutions are already being employed worldwide to monitor and classify biodiversity. NatureSpy, in partnership with numerous global conservation projects in regions like Africa and even Scotland, uses automated AI camera traps to monitor endangered species like pine martens and leopards in conserved areas. These cameras are equipped with facial recognition software and can identify individual animals, making tracking across different locations much easier [2]. In India, drones are used to track tigers, allowing conservationists to better understand their behavior and protect them against poachers. A side benefit to these solutions? They tend to deter sneaky poachers. 

Efficient Big Biodiversity Data Analysis 

AI is being used to analyze vast amounts of biodiversity data more quickly and accurately than ever before. Scientists are now using AI algorithms to analyze DNA sequences to identify new species, rather than doing it by hand. In Costa Rica, researchers turned to AI to analyze thousands of audio recordings of frog calls, identifying 22 new species. In 2018, a team of marine microbiologists used machine learning to analyze over 1.5 million genetic samples from the ocean, identifying over 1,200 new species of bacteria. And last year, the MapBiomas project in Brazil processed over 150,000 images generated by three NASA satellites, discovering that Brazil had lost over 15% of its surface water in the past three decades [3]. 

Citizen Science and Public Engagement 

And finally, the extraordinary: we are all able to be citizen scientists now. With the help of AI and a smartphone, we can actually protect endangered species and their habitats from the comfort of our own homes. AI-powered mobile apps are making it easier than ever for people to get involved in biodiversity research and conservation initiatives. The iNaturalist app allows users to record sightings of plants and animals and contribute to research projects. The app uses machine vision to help identify the species in photos, making it easier for users–and conservationists–to get accurate information about what they’ve seen. It’s like Pokémon Go, but instead of catching Pikachu, you’re actively aiding conservation efforts through public engagement. 

In the UK, the Big Butterfly Count encourages citizens to record sightings of butterflies and moths, helping researchers to monitor changes in their populations over time. We’ve also got our minds on how to mobilize this type of citizen science via AI too. Get an early glimpse of our machine vision solution in-the-works here. 

Takeaway

As experts in AI solutions, we understand the profound impact that technology can have in addressing the critical challenges facing our planet. We are committed to using our expertise to protect biodiversity and promote sustainability, all while strategically delivering value to businesses.

If you are an innovation leader with a shared vision of leveraging AI to drive positive change and foster growth, while keeping your AI on #TeamPlanet - let’s talk. You’re our kind of people.

Photo by Daniel Shapiro on Unsplash

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