Huawei and IUCN Launch Tech4Nature Project to Protect Coral Reefs in Kenya

Tech4Nature: Protecting Kenya's Coral Reefs Through Technology

In an ambitious effort to safeguard the marine environment, Huawei, in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), has launched the Tech4Nature project. This initiative is focused on monitoring and protecting coral reefs and the rich biodiversity within the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park, located on Kenya's southern coast. The project aligns with Huawei's TECH4ALL initiative and IUCN's Green List program, aiming to enhance the management and monitoring of this vital protected area over the next three years.

The Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park faces numerous environmental challenges, including illegal fishing, insufficient staff for effective patrolling, and a lack of remote monitoring capabilities over the three coral islands within the reserve. These issues are further compounded by pressures from tourism, as the fringe reefs are popular diving sites. Community awareness about the importance of coral conservation and biodiversity remains limited, and the area struggles with inadequate communication infrastructure for technology-driven monitoring solutions.

Khadija Mohamed, Huawei Kenya's Director of Media and Government Relations, stated, “Tech4Nature is a comprehensive project under our TECH4ALL initiative, where we seek to leverage technology and innovation across various sectors of everyday life to elevate global standards and ensure sustainability.” To monitor marine life, the project will employ underwater cameras, photogrammetry, and acoustics technology.

Parrotfish are a crucial species within coral reef ecosystems, playing a significant role in preventing the overgrowth of algae that can suffocate corals. Consequently, the project also aims to monitor substrate coverage, seagrass distribution, and the populations of endangered species, such as green turtles and spinner dolphins, which are recognized on IUCN’s Red List as threatened and vulnerable.

“This technology marks a groundbreaking development in marine conservation in Kenya,