New Platform Connects Conservationists with Cutting-Edge Technology

Technology is playing a significant role in the fight for wildlife conservation. 

Tools like camera traps, radio transmitters, artificial intelligence, biologgers, and more are deployed worldwide to monitor wildlife, prevent human-wildlife conflict, inform policy decisions, and contribute to wildlife conservation efforts.  

When the conservation technology sector began growing rapidly, supporting the researchers, conservationists, and technologists who used and made tech for wildlife conservation became crucial. 

In 2015, WWF recognized the need to invest in this developing sector. It partnered with Fauna & Flora International, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Conservation International to form WILDLABS, a global conservation technology network. 

With over 8,500 members across 120 countries, WILDLABS fosters a thriving conservation tech community. They achieve this through collaborative programs, capacity-building initiatives that empower members, and products that bridge communication gaps across different sectors.

The latest feature launched on WILDLABS is The Inventory, a dynamic, wiki-style discovery platform for conservation technology. 

It is the place to explore what technology is available for conservation work, how others worldwide use it, and what the sector recommends. 

Why did WILDLABS build The Inventory? 

Because WILDLABS connects conservation tech experts worldwide, they can identify and address critical needs in the sector.A major challenge was the lack of well-organized information about conservation tools and the main companies developing and using them.

Information like what tools exist, how much they cost, where to buy them, and how they perform in the field was dispersed and sparse. There was limited access to a birds-eye view of the R&D landscape, with no way to know where a new technology stood in the research and development pipeline and who was involved in leading that project. Plus, it was difficult to see who all the major players in the sector were, including NGOs, tech developers, accelerators, and more.  

These barriers made it difficult for conservationists, researchers, and technologists to find the best tools for their work and connect with potential collaborators in the sector.  

What is The Inventory? 

The Inventory is a hub for all conservation technology information. It houses three main content areas: products, R&D projects, and organizations.  

Products: Explore hardware, software, and data source tools used globally by community members and experts. Quickly see how much a product costs, where to buy it, and how the community rates it.  

R&D Projects: Learn about and connect with conservation tech R&D projects developing diverse technologies. Stay current on their progress, see who is involved in the project, and discover how you can collaborate. 

Organizations: Browse conservation organizations, academic initiatives, and technology companies in the field to discover projects and products within the community and beyond. 

The most important aspect of The Inventory is the review system. As users leave honest, descriptive reviews of the tools they have worked with, other users can better decide what tech to employ in their research. Additionally, tech manufacturers and product developers get direct feedback on their products.

The Inventory’s integration with the WILDLABS platform allows users to connect directly with tech developers, fostering a space for conversations around product feedback, improvements, functionality, and updates.  

Start contributing today!

WILDLABS is thrilled to launch this critical resource that fills a missing gap in the conservation technology sector.  

Because the platform is wiki-inspired, it will become a more robust resource as more people contribute, empowering conservation technologists to make more informed and effective decisions. Help build this shared resource by adding your tools, updating existing entries, and leaving reviews!  

Learn more about how you can contribute by visiting The Inventory User Guide. 

This project was made possible with funding from the UK Space Agency, Arm, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Special thanks to the hard work of our collaborators in this project, Satellite Applications Catapult, Zoological Society of London (ZSL), Fauna & Flora, and Octophin Digital.