Rainforest Connection

The Straits Times: What does deforestation sound like? Eavesdropping on the rainforest to detect threats

October 15, 2021

The tropical forest can be an assault to the senses. The air is laden with strong scents, and the bright colours of flora and fauna are distracting. Above all, it is hard to miss the hum of life. In a bid to protect the tropical forests of the world, Rainforest Connection has scaled the trees from Cameroon to Sumatra with gadgets and gizmos aplenty. In this article from The Straits Times, the process by which RFCx detects illegal logging to save forests and reverse the effects of climate change.

HUAWEI BLOG: PROTECTING INDONESIA’S FORESTS THROUGH THREAT RESPONSE

October 15, 2021

In this Huawei blog post, we discuss the technologies, processes, and use cases that enable rangers and communities to take action to protect endangered ecosystems, with a focus on West Sumatra.

Washington Post: Listen for the Trees

June 8, 2021

What if you could use technology to listen for the tell-tale sounds of loggers from a distance, and maybe even catch them before they have a chance to cut down a single tree? The Washington Post outlines the origins of Rainforest Connection, and how the concept earned its CEO the Rolex Award for Enterprise .

Forbes: Protecting Rainforests with Big Data and AI

April 19, 2021

You might not think saving the world’s tropical rainforests is a data challenge, but the urgent task of protecting the last remaining two million square miles of forest is precisely that. What is more, the challenge holds vital lessons for anyone tackling a data project with seemingly insurmountable odds. In this piece, Hitachi Vantara CEO Gajen Kandiah explores Hitachi Vantara’s partnership with CEO to develop AI algorithms to detect the sounds of illegal logging.

Five Media: The Spy Tech That Listens Out for Illegal Logging

April 6, 2021

A major challenge for those protecting the forest is actually finding illegal loggers in time to stop them. Rainforests spanning thousands of hectares are not easy to patrol, and resources to do so are often minimal. In the face of this huge problem, the latest weapon is a very small gadget. Five Media explores Rainforest Connection’s technology and its applications in threat detection and bioacoustic monitoring.

Silicon Republic: Smart Whale Sounds, A first-of-its-kind project off the coast of Ireland

March 24, 2021

RFCx has helped launch a first-of-its-kind project to monitor the acoustics of whales, dolphins and porpoises off the southern coast of Ireland. Sound data from a data-gathering buoy will be used to create machine learning models for wildlife detection and classification.

RFCx, Huawei, DENR & Smart join hands to save Philippine rainforests

February 22, 2021

In a landmark initiative, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), PLDT wireless unit, Smart Communications, and Huawei Technologies Philippines are collaborating with Rainforest Connection to pilot test an IoT solution that taps mobile technology to detect and record rainforest sounds that can help prevent illegal logging and poaching activities in the country’s rainforests.

WIRED UK: Deep in the rainforest, old phones are catching illegal loggers

February 18, 2021

WIRED UK outlines Rainforest Connection’s threat detection and bioacoustics capabilities, with a focus on Ecuador’s Mashpi reserve. By monitoring trends in illegal activity, local efforts to halt illegal deforestation and poaching are more targeted and effective. RFCx technology has also been used to automate the identification of hundreds of species.

Air Quality News: Listening to the algorithm of the rainforest

February 12, 2021

Hitachi Vantara and Rainforest Connection’s recent partnership is demonstrating the usefulness of artificial intelligence as a tool to save the world’s endangered rainforests. Air Quality News outlines the use of AI to analyze sound recordings to create bio-acoustic signatures, in order to identify illegal logging activity.

Thomson Reuters: Treetop sensors help Indonesia eavesdrop on forests to curb illegal logging

February 10, 2021

Using artificial intelligence, audio sensors detect the sound of chainsaws to help local officials address illegal logging in the Indonesian rainforest. Rainforest Connection is recording sounds to protect vulnerable ecosystems with funding from some of the world’s largest technology companies.

RFCX IN THE NEWS