Emerging technologies offer new pathways for biodiversity monitoring

From a monitoring and evaluation perspective, February focused on strengthening capacity, coordination, and data monitoring engagements. The Tropical Biology Association TBA hosted a workshop focusing on the role of emerging technologies in strengthening biodiversity monitoring across Africa, while examining systemic barriers limiting their effectiveness.

Discussions covered tools such as camera traps, AI, eDNA, underwater monitoring systems, acoustic sensors, drones, and integrated platforms like EarthRanger.

While technology is advancing rapidly, key challenges identified include high costs, weak infrastructure, limited technical capacity, fragmented and non-harmonized data systems, donor-driven sustainability gaps, and disconnects between data producers and policymakers.

The workshop emphasized the need for strong policy integration, institutional coordination, community involvement, capacity building, and long-term financing models, to realize successful biodiversity monitoring.

A panel discussion during the Tropical Biology Association workshop.