Dossier
Innovative nature conservation
Modern nature conservation science operates at the frontier of technology. Innovative technology can enhance biodiversity conservation. Tags, sensors, camera traps, DNA sequencing, big data, new materials, high speed cameras, drones, facial recognition technology, bioacoustics, synthetic biology and AI are the new hand lenses and tweezers, enabling more effective biodiversity conservation.
WUR uses different innovative nature conservation techniques for better understanding nature, monitoring nature and take actions to conserve nature.
Making use of natural processes
WUR uses new technologies to develop biodiversity-friendly practices that work with natural processes rather than against them. Such building-with-nature concepts are employed in infrastructure development, such as artificial coral reefs.
Digital twins
Wageningen researchers use remote sensing and artificial intelligence to capture a digital reality ('a digital twin') of ecosystems or individual trees. Such 3D models can be used for calculations (e.g. the carbon content of a tree) and for understanding processes (e.g. the sand volume trapped by dune vegetation along the coast).
Smart techniques
An eDNA analysis uses traces of DNA in a water sample to obtain information about the prevalence and quantity of species. Virtual reality technologies can be used to reduce tourism pressure on protected areas. Real-time cameras can reduce nest disturbance by bird watchers. Synthetic biology technologies can produce nature or nature-based chemicals in the lab to replace harvesting from nature. High-speed cameras have revealed the flying behaviour of birds and insects which, for instance, helps us (together with Delft University of Technology) to construct better drones.
Monitoring nature
Monitoring is a basic technique to measure trends in the prevalence and movements of species, which is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of conservation. Camera traps, GPS, tags on animals, new sensors, facial recognition and bioacoustics all help us to better monitor nature. Such technologies, together with their real-time data streaming and advanced computer-based analytical tools, enable the early detection of threats to nature. A GIS keeps track of global deforestation, and advanced camera and sensor systems can trace illegal activities in protected areas.
Engaging citizens in nature conservation
New technologies offer a wide range of possibilities for engaging citizens in nature conservation and thus increasing public support for conservation. Camera traps, mobile phones, facial recognition tools, and interactive websites and apps have significantly enhanced citizen science for nature conservation.
Understanding nature
News
Projects
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SmartParks: using technology for anti-poaching
- The Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, together with Welgevonden Game Reserve, MTN and IBM, is working on a new anti-poaching system (called SmartParks) by combining animal ecology, sensor technology, internet of things, and artificial intelligence. -
Rainfall monitoring through mobile technology in Sri Lanka
- In 2019, microwave link data from Sri Lanka have been employed to obtain rainfall maps, allowing us to visualize showers with a much higher spatial resolution than satellites (see the video). -
Using technology to benefit bird conservation
- Lack of knowledge is one of the factors often limiting effective species conservation. Even in this day and age fundamental knowledge on species demographics and requirements is often not available. However, in the past few decades, rapid advancement and development of (new) technologies allow for non-invasive data collection that can aid species conservation. -
Arctic Aliens
- As climate change is driving the decrease in sea ice in polar regions, new shipping routes through the Arctic waters are becoming available for use. This increased human activity in the area, however, poses several risks for this stunning and relatively pristine area. -
On the merits and pitfalls of introducing a digital platform to aid conservation management
Showcases
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Forecasting bird food hunt using computer models
- An ultra-light smart sensor fitted to a bird can tell whether the bird is travelling, hunting or eating. Researcher Bruce Yu developed this technique to get a better understanding of the behaviour of birds. This will help scientists figure out how birds are adapting to climate change. -
Datalogging to map the effects of wind farms on seabirds
- The construction of wind farms is taking off in the North Sea. This leaves a smaller area for seabirds in which to search for food, as they tend to avoid wind farms. Scientists at Wageningen University & Research are developing a computer model to get a picture of what the loss of foraging area means for the survival of seabirds during the winter.
Tools
Publications
- 'Tracking down illegal timber', Wageningen World, June 2018
- A tiered approach for high-resolution characterization of the soil faunal community via dna metabarcoding
- Development of the benthic macrofauna community after tidal restoration at Rammegors : Progress report 1
- The ecology of Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle grylle chicks in the Baltic Sea region: insights into their diet, survival, nest predation and moment of fledging
- Estimating the spatial position of marine mammals based on digital camera recordings
- Drone brengt habitat jonge vis in uiterwaarden in kaart
- The impact of hunting on tropical mammal and bird populations
- The battle for the rhino (Wageningen World)
- Habitat Modification and Coastal Protection by Ecosystem-Engineering Reef-Building Bivalves (Book chapter, Nov 2018)
Presentation
- Presentation Reindert Nijland - MinION in the marine environment: from identifying tetrodotoxin producers to tracing sharks and rays using eDNA starting at 9:42
Relevant dossiers
Monitoring nature
Projects
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Biodiversity Sensing Box
- For the Biodiversity Sensing Box project (previously called the Fish Sensing Box project), researchers are developing a device that independently takes underwater samples for DNA analysis and observes with a camera and a hydrophone. -
Drone mapping of mussel beds
- The applicability of drones (UAVs) in marine monitoring is researched in running mussel bed projects within WOT by also analysing a selection of mussel beds with UAVs. The UAVs are equipped with different cameras such as RGB, hyperspectral and infrared. The search is for optimal techniques for mapping contours, but also for other parameters such as composition (oysters/ mussels), which will likely be needed shortly for fisheries and environmental policy regarding the oyster harvest in the Wadden Sea. Results will benefit the WOT programme, but will also be wider applicable within marine monitoring and research. -
Flatfish in the picture
- Flatfish in the picture creates under water video recordings of fish behavior in electrified (pulse) beam trawls. The recordings will help fishers to effectively develop selective trawls based on fish behavior. -
Towards more effective online environmental information provision
Showcase
Tools
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TIMTRACE
- An estimated 50-90 percent of the traded volume of tropical timber is illegally sourced. To implement new European legislation intended to eliminate this illegal trade, independent tools will be needed to verify the legal status of timber. We therefore propose to develop a fast, accurate and cost-effective commercial forensic tool for tracing the claimed origin of tropical timber. -
Improving access to Earth observation data and cloud computing for interactive biodiversity services
- NextGEOSS creates a federated data hub for the access and exploitation of Earth observation data (EOD), including user-friendly tools for data mining, discovery, access and exploitation. This data hub is supported by a strong commitment to the engagement of Earth observation and related communities, with the view of supporting the creation of innovative and business-oriented applications.
Factsheets
Publications
- Tracking down Illegal timber
- Weather-dependent community shiftsin the aerobiome: measuring airborne dispersal of plants, mesofauna and microbes simultaneously via DNA metabarcoding
- Detecting Mammals in UAV Images: Best practices to address a substantially imbalanced dataset with deep learning
- Detecting animals in African Savanna with UAVs and the crowds
- Ontwikkelen van een remote Sensing monitoringssystematiek voor vegetatiestructuur
- Comparing RIEGL RiCOPTER UAV LiDAR Derived Canopy Height and DBH with Terrestrial LiDAR.
- The battle for the rhino
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Engaging citizens in nature conservation
Projects
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Digital conservation in the Pantanal
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Citizens for biodiversity
- In addition to governments and companies, citizens also make an important contribution to the development, conservation and protection of nature and biodiversity, both as individual consumers and through social organizations and local initiatives. In doing so , they also have the potential to contribute to larger-scale transformations towards a sustainable society. In line with historical examples where committed citizens self-organized to protect natural resources and natural landscapes. However, at current moment, knowledge is lacking under what conditions citizen involvement may contribute to substantial system change beyond local effects.
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Publications
- Conservation 2.0: digital tools come to nature’s rescue
- Online and Offline Representations of Biocultural Diversity: A Political Ecology Perspective on Nature-Based Tourism and Indigenous Communities in the Brazilian Pantanal
- Digital technology and the conservation of nature
- Digital technology and human development: A charter for nature conservation
- Digital Conservation: An introduction
- Science as collective action