Deforestation accounts for 15%-20% of Global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, while Illegal logging causes 50%-90% of deforestation worldwide. In response to this global challenge, Huawei has worked together with Rainforest Connection (RFCx) to apply cloud and AI technology to protect forest from illegal logging and poaching, and conserve the endangered species since 2018. With Huawei’s support, RFCx has created the world’s first scalable, real-time bioacoustics monitoring system named Nature Guardian which will monitor the ecosystem soundscape at selected locations 365 days a year. When the monitoring system detects sounds of illegal logging, such as chainsaws and trucks, it immediately pushes the specific location to forest rangers through an app so they can quickly locate the incident. Huawei's AI technology can also analyze the sounds of endangered animals, aiding research into protecting them. With the help of AI, forest rangers and biologists are no longer alone in their fight to safeguard the world's forests ecosystem.In partnership with RFCx, Huawei had deployed the nature guardian solutions in 18 countries by the end of 2020, with applications ranging from fighting illegal logging and poaching to monitoring spider monkey and the Darwin fox.
https://www.huawei.com/minisite/tech4all/en/environment.html
Ongoing
2018
Not set
Yes. The nature guardian project can be easily and quickly adapted to more countries and more scenarios due to its readily available and affordable equipment and advanced AI technology. * What sets our solution apart from other implementations is the ability for the sensors (Guardians) in the field to live stream the sounds of the forest 24/7. These solar-powered devices are self-sufficient and are able to operate without any human intervention. * As a technology provider, Huawei makes equipment and an intelligent system available to local communities to monitor local ecosystem more efficiently and using tools they can afford. * A wider range of sound patterns can be used to detect potential illegal activities such as logging or poaching in different forest environments. * Similar models could also protect other natural habitats where there is a need to monitor animal species or detect illegal activities.Over 2020, despite significant challenges due to COVID-19, RFCx and Huawei expanded the reach of real-time acoustic monitoring to five new countries, which are Philippine, Greece, Ireland, Chile and Malaysia. Till now the guardian project has been deployed to 22 protected areas in 18 countries.
Yes the project is sustainable for the reasons below:* The matured solution with affordable, self-sufficient devices and adaptable AI model can be easily replicated to more scenarios and more countries;* The successful deployment of the project depends on a robust and open partnership among Huawei, RFCx, local conservationist and private sector. For example, the local operator SMART in Philippine and Wind in Greece has provided free wireless connectivity to the guardian system in the local pilot area.* The successful deployment of the guardian project has attracted local government’s interest to replicate it locally, like in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Chile;* The collaboration with RFCx is part of Huawei’s TECH4ALL long-term Digital Inclusion initiative. Environment protection is one of the four priority domains defined by TECH4ALL. We will make continuous efforts on bringing digital technologies to the ones who need it.
The nature guardian project aims at using AI and cloud to enable on-the-ground conservation partners to save the world’s most threatened ecosystem and habitats. Huawei and RFCx are collaborating to develop an innovative platform that uses Huawei’s used mobile phones for data collection, Operators’ wireless network for data transmission, and HUAWEI CLOUD AI for intelligent analytics to protect the forest and endangered species by listening to them. With the help of AI, forest rangers and biologists are no longer alone in their fight to safeguard the world's forests ecosystem. This is putting technology specifically designed to be put in the hands of the people most capable of studying and protecting our planet’s threatened ecosystems.
Huawei Technologies Co.,LTD (Huawei)
China — Private Sector
https://www.huawei.com/
Chrissy Durkin, Director of International Expansion of Rainforest Connection (RFCx) , chrissy@rfcx.org
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