Since the digital age began, technology has transformed nature conservation.
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data are just some of the many ways that we can identify and safeguard key habitats, make strategic decisions, and mobilise resources to conserve threatened species.
IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, is proud to champion digital tools. From Asia to the Americas, we have used innovative methods to bridge the gap between science and action – processing huge volumes of information and empowering communities to protect wildlife.
For example, we are using high-tech solutions like remote sensing and modelling techniques to improve how we track changes in where species live. This helps us to speed up assessments for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
However, this World Wildlife Day, we must remember that in the march towards progress, everyone should have equal access to the benefits of digital technology. We cannot allow a “digital divide” to grow, because it threatens progress, makes inequalities worse, and hinders effective conservation. This goes against the spirit and aims of the Sustainable Development Goals.
So, together, in our journey to protect and preserve our precious wildlife, let us embrace technology as a force for good – and as a force for all.