How can AI benefit biodiversity? An international panel of conservation scientists, including UArctic Thematic Network Lead Finn Danielsen of the Collaborative Resource Management TN, and AI experts, have identified 21 key ideas. These span from refining tools for addressing human-wildlife conflict to enabling AI-driven advisory systems to inform policy. A key recommendation is to strengthen the connection between AI and the ecological and social realities of implementing and sustaining conservation actions on-the-ground. 

 

Publication Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an emerging tool that could be leveraged to identify the effective conservation solutions demanded by the urgent biodiversity crisis. We present the results of our horizon scan of AI applications likely to significantly benefit biological conservation. An international panel of conservation scientists and AI experts identified 21 key ideas. These included species recognition to uncover 'dark diversity', multimodal models to improve biodiversity loss predictions, monitoring wildlife trade, and addressing human–wildlife conflict. We consider the potential negative impacts of AI adoption, such as AI colonialism and loss of essential conservation skills, and suggest how the conservation field might adapt to harness the benefits of AI while mitigating its risks.

 

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The authors thank the following funders: ai@cam, European Commission (more4nature, Framework, BESTLIFE2030, European Citizen Science), UArctic (University of the Arctic), and DANIDA (Maarifa project).