AI Intervention to help the Forest Ecosystems thrive

From the enormous biodiversity existing on Earth, one out of every five species is on the brink of extinction, and scientists predict that the number will increase to 50% if the trend remains unchanged. Targeted conservation efforts, supported by significant technological intervention, political support, and citizen engagement, will be critical differentiating factors for creating a better future for all the planet’s inhabitants, including forest t and animal ecosystems.

To reduce the dangers of human defilement over nature and biodiversity, disruptive technologies play a transformative role. Illegal practices motivated by greed for exploiting natural resources for personal benefits, such as poaching, acquiring lands for infrastructure, and deforestation, are the main reasons for our depleting resources. However, experts consider the possibility of positive results from the collaboration of the pioneers of artificial intelligence and experts in the field, including climate and materials scientists, biologists, and engineers.

Take, for example, forest research and survey. Forest surveys and data surveys help conservationists understand the effects of climate change and habitat protection. However, forest inventory is an activity that, if done manually, requires a census of each tree distributed on thousands of hectares of forest land. In addition to being laborious, this process is slow, expensive, and sometimes even unreliable.

But with the help of AI in combination with satellite imagery, the physical work involved in this tedious process can be significantly reduced. At the same time, benefits such as accuracy and quality of data can be obtained. SilviaTerra is one such company that solves the problem of forest inventory at the national level by creating detailed maps that predict the size and species of trees. Using pre-existing data and high-resolution satellite imagery, the resulting comprehensive tree-level maps can be used to determine the effects of climate change on sustainable terrestrial practices. This can help support or improve species habitats and provide more sustainable tree yield.

In addition to the threat to green forest cover, the local population of these forests also faces great dangers due to unwanted human activities. The elephant population is declining worldwide due to the illegal killing of ivory poachers. The ivory trade kills 20,000 elephants each year, and currently, less than 500,000 elephants remain on Earth. Microsoft’s Earth AI initiative uses cloud power and artificial intelligence tools to save this vulnerable species. The safety of elephants can be improved by observing animals as well as by immobilizing poaching. Using AI, it is possible to predict poaching patterns and alert forest officials before another animal falls prey to these illegal practices.

Some significant efforts are being made to provide a comprehensive observation of the Earth from space. Examples include work on government projects such as Copernicus, the European Space Agency, and NASA’s Earth Observing System. Private companies such as Planet, Digital Globe, and Orbital Insights also operate in this domain. Powerful insights from this data, using artificial intelligence techniques, will enable researchers and activists as they work to restore the natural green forest cover and create a safe environment for wildlife growth.