#Huawei #Tech4Nature #Mexico #IUCN #Merida

Launch of the Second Phase of Tech4Nature in Mexico

The 2025 Tech4Nature Summit in Merida, Mexico, heralded an ambitious new chapter in jaguar conservation as Huawei, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and local partners initiated the second phase of their joint project. This collaboration aims to enhance the protection of jaguars in the Dzilam de Bravo state reserve while also addressing the impacts of climate change on biodiversity.

During the event, notable figures from the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the Yucatan state government, alongside representatives from C-Minds, a local partner, honored the project’s commencement. Dr. Marina Robles García, Subsecretary for Biodiversity and Environmental Restoration, emphasized the severity of ecosystem degradation in Mexico, citing that 42% are under threat, thus necessitating robust action.

The Tech4Nature initiative, conceived in partnership with the Huawei TECH4ALL program and IUCN's Green List, stands as a model of international cooperation since its inception in 2020. The alliance underscores that conservation efforts must go beyond good intentions and siloed political strategies, requiring an integration of science, technology, committed communities, and accountable governments.

Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena of Yucatan highlighted the critical state of jaguar populations, which are listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss and fragmentation. In Phase One of the project, the team deployed 60 audio devices and over 20 camera traps within the reserve. Utilizing AI-trained models, the system can identify both vocalizations and imagery of various species. By April 2025, this initiative had successfully cataloged 147 species and confirmed the presence of nine jaguars in the area.

As this new phase unfolds, the focus will shift toward gathering data on jaguar populations and delivering data-driven insights to guide decision-making processes in reserve management, ultimately striving towards the creation of a biological corridor.

The Tech4Nature 2025 summit also brought together global experts, scientists, and conservation leaders who shared best practices and innovative strategies related to wildlife protection through technology. Tao Jingwen, a board member at Huawei, stated that digital technology significantly enhances biodiversity conservation efficiency by enabling faster and more targeted actions from governments and conservationists. He also urged other partners to join the Tech4Nature initiative so that digital technology could become a universal tool for global ecosystem protection.

Additionally, the summit showcased projects from the second phase of Tech4Nature across various countries including Brazil, China, Spain, Kenya, and Turkey, illustrating how digital technology and AI-driven analytics could be tailored to meet the specific needs of diverse ecosystems.

Úrsula Parrilla, director of the IUCN Regional Office for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (ORMACC), expressed enthusiasm for the new chapter of cooperation, which will span six nations and facilitate transformative changes for species, ecosystems, and their resident communities. By integrating technology comprehensively into conservation efforts, we are contributing to the achievement of global goals that place nature at the forefront of sustainable development decisions.

Upcoming Tech4Nature Projects

In Brazil, efforts will investigate the climate change impact on Marajó Island while monitoring the population of the mangrove crab as an ecosystem health indicator. China plans to use digital networking and AI analytics to support the repopulation of the critically endangered Hainan gibbon, whose population has dwindled to just 42 individuals. Spain aims to safeguard the Bonelli's eagle in Sant Llorenç del Munt Natural Park through the application of digital technologies to gauge visitor impacts on the species' reproductive success. Kenya will enhance monitoring of marine protected areas and coral reefs in the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park, tackling issues like illegal fishing and tourism pressure, while observing the parrotfish presence vital for coral survival. Lastly, Turkey exemplifies pioneering collaboration among NGOs, the private sector, and government entities to assess biodiversity conservation, focusing on large mammals in two pilot sites.

As highlighted by the 2025 Tech4Nature summit, cooperation among technology sectors, NGOs, governments, academic institutions, and local communities has established a new paradigm in biodiversity and ecosystem protection. The TECH4ALL initiative from Huawei is a long-term undertaking aimed at digital inclusion that fosters sustainability and integrates innovative technologies with collaborative partnerships. Further information about the Tech4Nature initiative can be found on Huawei's dedicated pages.