Episode 46: Protecting Rainforests with Bioacoustics and Artifical Intelligence with Bourhan Yassin, Founder of Rainforest Connection

The Think Wildlife Podcast

Over the last few years, Artificial Intelligence has evolved immensely. Not surprisingly, advanced AI and machine learning algorithms are increasingly being incorporated in sectors across the world. One particular sector, which AI is revolutionizing is wildlife conservation! With an increasingly urgent demand for effective and affordable conservation action, scientists, NGOs, and governments are turning to AI and related technologies for solutions.

The earliest and most ubiquitous adoption of AI in conservation is the use of remote sensing to monitor natural ecosystems. Remote sensing has proved to be a far more effective and cost method than manual alternatives, to not only predict and detect threats to ecosystems but also collect high volumes of data for ecological research.

Around the world, conservationists are incorporating a wide plethora of remote sensing technology, such as satellites, UAVs, camera traps, and camera traps. These technologies aid in the monitoring of wildlife populations and diseases, analysis of vegetation, the detection of forest fires and environmental impact assessments.

One particular technology becoming increasingly popular for conservationists is bioacoustics. Countless species of wildlife produce sound for communication and navigation, hence broadcasting immense amounts of information about, not only themselves but their entire population in their environment. Additionally, acoustic monitoring helps in the detection of illegal logging and poachers. The use of acoustic monitoring systems allows researchers and conservationists to tap into this gold mine of ecological data. Moreover, other than being cost-effective, acoustic monitoring systems also can cover larger radii than camera traps, hence allowing for the collection of larger quantities of data.

In this episode, I interview Bourhan Yassin. He is the Founder and CEO of Rainforest Connection, one of the leading conservation technology start-ups in the world. We discuss in depth how bioacoustics and AI are revolutionizing conservation and some of the projects the organization is involved with!

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