– IUCN and Huawei launch Tech4Nature publication to showcase best practices in technology-based nature conservation
GLAND, Switzerland, Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Huawei today launched the PANORAMA Tech4Nature – Solutions in Focus publication, showcasing the role of technology in achieving of effective nature conservation results in 22 projects in 19 countries.
The cases referred to in the publication were selected from more than 50 solutions that address six major conservation challenges. These challenges include the management of protected areas, the monitoring of species, the cultivation of community participation and the financing of conservation actions.
“There is a clear and growing push and buy-in from the conservation community to use more technology, but also to develop and create new ways of applying it. The proper deployment of technology will help ensure more sustained benefits from its application to action. fair and effective conservation,” explained James Hardcastle, IUCN’s Head of Protected and Conserved Areas.
The projects carried out in Mexico and China are two typical cases included in the publication. In the Yucatan Peninsula, in Mexico, a solution has been deployed to monitor the population of jaguars and their prey through a network system of camera traps and acoustic monitoring, with AI algorithms trained to detect and identify individual jaguars. The data provided will also provide information on the impact of climate change on the priority ecosystems of the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. A key aspect of this project is community engagement throughout the project cycle to drive overall results.
In China, an intelligent fire prevention system designed to protect giant panda habitats has been deployed in several locations, including the Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, an IUCN Green List site. Satellite images are analyzed in real time in Sichuan panda habitats to detect possible fires. Hazards can be quickly verified and alerts sent instantly to rangers on the ground. In 2021, the system made it possible to reduce serious fires by 71%.
To support the adoption and replicability of technology solutions, the publication includes a detailed description of the success factors of each case study. It also provides a technology solutions architecture framework and checklist to help new implementers of technology solutions ensure their deployment is appropriate and capable of meeting conservation challenges.
The publication also highlights gaps in understanding of the impact of technology on both wildlife and people, and underlines the need for transparency, inclusiveness and accountability when deploying technology-enabled solutions.
“Digital technology is a key element for nature conservation. With an ever-increasing deployment of technology and multi-sector collaborations, we believe that the efficiency and impact of nature conservation will continuously improve,” said Catherine Du, director of the Huawei’s TECH4ALL program.
Launched by the IUCN and Huawei, Tech4Nature is developing digital solutions for piloting in five flagship countries: Switzerland, Spain, Mauritius, Mexico and China. The program aims to cover more than 300 protected areas worldwide by 2023 and assess conservation success through the IUCN Green List Standard.
Tech4Nature – Solutions in Focus is the first publication within the framework of the IUCN-Huawei association, whose objective is to provide guidance on the appropriate use of technology in the conservation of areas and to directly involve the ICT industry in supporting results of nature conservation.
The initiative itself is also the first time that IUCN has embarked on a major partnership with the ICT industry, combining the organization’s extensive conservation standards, knowledge and experience with the innovations enabled by technology.
About IUCN
IUCN is a Union of members comprised solely of government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organizations with the knowledge and tools that jointly enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, drawing on the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 member organizations and some 17,000 experts. It is one of the leading providers of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership allows IUCN to play the role of incubator and trusted repository of international best practices, tools and standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space where diverse stakeholders such as governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples’ organizations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and collaborators, IUCN runs a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects around the world. Combining the latest scientific advances with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
About the IUCN Green List
The IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas initiative is increasing and recognizing the number of protected and conserved areas around the world that are fairly governed and managed effectively to achieve successful conservation outcomes.
At the heart of the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas (IUCN Green List) initiative is the only global standard for best practice in effective area-based conservation. It is a certification system for protected and conserved areas – national parks, natural World Heritage sites, community conserved areas, nature reserves – that are assessed to be managed effectively and fairly. The full list of IUCN Green List sites is available here.
About Huawei
Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have more than 197,000 employees and operate in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world.
Our vision and mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected and intelligent world. To do this, we will promote ubiquitous connectivity and promote equal access to networks; we will bring the cloud and artificial intelligence to every corner of the earth to provide superior computing power where you need it, when you need it; we will build digital platforms to help all industries and organizations become more agile, efficient and dynamic; We will redefine the user experience with AI, making it more personalized for people in all aspects of their lives, whether at home, in the office, or on the go.
About Huawei TECH4ALL
TECH4ALL is Huawei’s long-term digital inclusion initiative that aims to leave no one behind in the digital world. In the field of the environment, TECH4ALL focuses on safeguarding biodiversity. To date, we have worked with partners such as IUCN and the Rainforest Connection, as well as many local partners, to apply digital technologies, such as telecommunications networks, IoT, cloud and AI, to protect forests, oceans and wetlands in more than 15 countries.
For more information, visit the Huawei TECH4ALL website at https://www.huawei.com/en/tech4all, or follow us at: https://twitter.com/HUAWEI_TECH4ALL
About PANORAMA
PANORAMA – solutions for a healthy planet is a collaborative initiative to document and promote inspiring and replicable examples of solutions across a range of conservation and sustainable development issues, enabling cross-sectoral learning and inspiration.
PANORAMA enables professionals to share and reflect on their experiences, increase recognition of their successful work, and learn with their peers how similar challenges have been tackled around the world.
Different disciplines and thematic communities contribute to PANORAMA. On the web platform, these communities are represented through portals. As PANORAMA evolves, we welcome additional topics and new partners.
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