Conservation X Labs Joins Island-Ocean Connection Challenge, Commits to Deploy Transformative Technology to Protect Island Ecosystems
NICE, FRANCE –On June 13, Conservation X Labs announced that it is joining the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge (IOCC) as a supporting partner, and committed to invest three million dollars towards its contributions to the IOCC goal of holistic restoration of at least 40 island-ocean ecosystems to benefit biodiversity, climate, and communities by 2030. Island habitats are home to some of the most unique and imperiled species of plants and animals on Earth, and technology can play a transformative role in the cost effectiveness and success of their restoration and protection.
In the joint announcement at the United Nations Ocean Conference, IOCC partners recognized Conservation X Labs’ proven track record in developing and strategically deploying technology, including edge-AI-enabled Sentinel camera systems and real-time eDNA devices, called NABITs, for detection of invasive species. To date, Conservation X Labs has developed and deployed over 300 Sentinels in 12 countries, including enabling near-real-time detection of invasive species on Kaho’olawe, in the Galapagos, and on three islands in New Zealand. The organization has also run 19 open innovation prizes and challenges that have supported over 165 innovations that address root causes of extinction.
Paul Bunje, President and Co-founder Conservation X Labs and Carleigh McDonald, Manager of the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge
In New Zealand, Conservation X Labs has worked with the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) to support restoration of Ulva, Pomona, and Maud islands. Sentinels were deployed with AI models to detect invasive rodents, and to distinguish them from a range of native species. Following two months of continuous monitoring on Ulva, camera traps connected to Sentinel captured eight rodent incursions, which were all detected by the AI model among a sea of 27,000 images. The Sentinel systems enable near-real-time detections, faster response times and reduce the costs in staff time, money, and emissions involved in checking cameras manually.
“The past week our Ulva trial site has been proving very useful. A rat has swam to the island, and the Sentinels have relayed information that usually would take a month to receive (by manually servicing the cameras, bringing the downloaded data to the office, then running desktop AI over images). We’ve had daily updates … which has informed where and how the team there can respond.” - Emmanuel Oyston, New Zealand Department of Conservation
In addition to deploying technology, Conservation X Labs will work with IOCC partners to advance science-based guidance on where technology can make the most significant difference as part of a comprehensive strategy for protecting island-ocean ecosystems, and assess and publish guidance on the cost effectiveness, performance, and combined deployment of technology to support effective protection of the IOCC priority island-ocean ecosystems.
New Zealand Department of Conservation deploying Sentinels on Pomona Island.
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About Conservation X Labs
Conservation X Labs (CXL) operates at the intersection of biodiversity, technology and innovation to drive groundbreaking solutions to prevent the sixth mass extinction. By deploying cutting-edge technology, convening communities of interdisciplinary brilliance, and leveraging the power of the marketplace, CXL is uniquely positioned to boldly confront the planet’s most pressing challenges.
Learn more at www.conservationxlabs.com.
About Island-Ocean Connection Challenge (IOCC)
The Island-Ocean Connection Challenge is a global initiative led by Island Conservation, Re:wild, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, dedicated to beginning restoration and rewilding on 40 island-ocean ecosystems by 2030 through collaborative conservation efforts.
Learn more at https://www.jointheiocc.org/
Media Contact
Maria Fernanda Larrea
Conservation X Labs
press@conservationxlabs.org
Sally Esposito
Island Conservation
sally.esposito@islandconservation.org
