From identifying wildlife in camera-trap images to using satellite imagery to spot early signs of illegal logging, AI is a useful tool for conservation efforts, helping organizations save time and money and respond more quickly to environmental threats.
The use of AI in conservation efforts is a topic Eric Nost, an associate professor of political ecology at the University of Guelph, analyzes.
“Say, even 15 years ago, if I wanted to know how land cover had changed in my watershed. I would need the right expertise on my team. I would need a researcher with access to specialized software to do that kind of analysis. I might even have to purchase the data,” said Nost.
