Conservation Technologies: AI, Drones and Beyond in Wildlife Conservation and Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade
摘要
The accelerating loss of biodiversity and the persistent threat of illegal wildlife trade have spurred the development and adoption of innovative digital technologies for wildlife conservation. Artificial intelligence (AI), drones, satellite remote sensing, genomic forensics, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, blockchain and autonomous systems are among the emerging tools revolutionising conservation practice across terrestrial and marine ecosystems. These technologies enable real-time monitoring, improve decision-making and support enforcement agencies in detecting and preventing wildlife crime. This chapter reviews the current applications of conservation technologies, highlighting recent advances in AI and automated image analysis, UAV-based surveillance, habitat mapping, forensic genetics and digital traceability systems. It also discusses the integration of big data and decision support platforms, and outlines challenges related to data interoperability, technical capacity and ethical considerations. Finally, the chapter presents future prospects and recommendations for scaling technology-driven conservation in an inclusive and sustainable manner.