Welcome to our weekly environmental newsletter showcasing trends and solutions driving us towards a more sustainable future. In a recent development from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s nature strategy, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) has drawn attention. The conservation sector is embracing AI, aligning with other industries to enhance its operations.
This week’s highlights include the potential of AI in conservation efforts, the positive impact of wind energy, and a unique collaboration between Parks Canada and social media influencers to influence visitor behavior in Banff National Park.
AI technology is revolutionizing conservation work by enabling continuous monitoring of salmon migration and population numbers through camera systems. Alemu Gonsamo, based at McMaster University, is utilizing satellite and aerial imagery to assess Canada’s vast landscapes, including tree counts and carbon storage in remote areas. The new nature strategy announced by Prime Minister Carney emphasizes the importance of AI in expanding protected areas and restoring ecosystems.
Gonsamo, a Canada Research Chair specializing in remote sensing of terrestrial ecosystems, has partnered with organizations like World Wildlife Fund Canada and Indigenous communities to study carbon storage in Canada’s soils, particularly focusing on carbon-rich peatlands in Northern Ontario. Leveraging satellite data and machine learning, Gonsamo’s team can process large volumes of information efficiently.
By utilizing ground measurements of peat depth in the Hudson Bay Lowlands, Gonsamo’s team successfully calculated the peat depth for the entire region, showcasing the power of AI and technology in conservation efforts.