AI-Powered Drones Are Transforming Biodiversity Conservation

The planet is undergoing a quiet catastrophe—species are disappearing at a pace never seen in human history. Unlike past extinction events driven by natural causes, today’s biodiversity crisis is largely man-made and accelerating.

According to the 2019 United Nations (UN) report on biodiversity, over one million species are at risk of extinction, so the race is on to find smarter, faster, and more effective ways to protect the natural world.

Why is preserving biodiversity important?

Biodiversity refers to the incredible variety of life on Earth—from the smallest genes to entire ecosystems—and the natural processes that support it. It is the foundation of a healthy planet and vital to the well-being of all living things, including humans.

Our survival is deeply intertwined with biodiversity. It provides the oxygen we breathe, the food we eat, the clean water we drink, and the stability of the climate we depend on. From medicine to pollination to natural disaster protection, the natural world is critical in sustaining our daily lives (12 ways, 2024).

Methods of protecting biodiversity

Traditional methods for protecting biodiversity include establishing protected areas, reducing habitat destruction and fragmentation, promoting sustainable agricultural and forestry practices, enforcing conservation policies and laws, and raising public awareness about the importance of biodiversity and its preservation.

As technology advances, monitoring and tracking animal behaviour to support conservation efforts is increasingly being used. Traditional tools like Global Positioning System (GPS) collars and camera traps have been deployed, but these methods have significant drawbacks. Camera traps can be cumbersome to set up, and both techniques are often slow, costly, and invasive.

Given the growing threats to biodiversity, more efficient and faster tools are needed that can provide real-time data without human intervention while covering larger areas without disturbing wildlife.

This is where drones equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) come in. The EU-funded WildDrone project transforms wildlife monitoring by integrating autonomous drones with AI.

Ulrik Pagh Schultz Lundquist, WildDrone Coordinator and Head of University of Southern Denmark Unmanned Aerial Systems (SDU UAS), says the European-based project is significantly focused on Africa.

It currently works in conservation projects in Kenya, Namibia, and across all of these locations, using drones to collect information at a much larger scale than seen before. This provides valuable information to stakeholders and policymakers who need to decide what to do in the future.

These drones can cover extensive areas, automatically identifying and tracking species such as elephants, rhinos, and lions, providing valuable real-time data without human presence.

In addition to species recognition, the technology also tracks individual characteristics of animals, such as size, weight, and markings, enabling real-time monitoring without human intervention. Drones are faster, more cost-effective, and scalable, offering a solution that can be deployed over large areas with minimal human resources.

The WildDrone project combines expertise from multiple fields. Biologists bring a deep understanding of animals and conservation needs, while engineers and computer scientists contribute their knowledge of drone navigation, AI, and autonomous systems.

By collaborating, the team is developing solutions that address the needs of both wildlife and conservationists. Through this cross-disciplinary approach, they are creating a new paradigm in conservation technology that can be scaled globally.

In the face of an escalating biodiversity crisis, cutting-edge technology and conservation science fusion offer a powerful lifeline. Projects like WildDrone demonstrate how AI-powered drones can revolutionise monitoring, protecting, and understanding wildlife, especially in regions where traditional methods fall short.

By harnessing innovation and cross-disciplinary collaboration, we can turn the tide and preserve Earth’s rich biodiversity before it’s too late.

Click the link to learn more about WildDrone, its people, mission, and the tools and technology it is developing.