Huawei and IUCN Launch Tech4Nature Initiative to Safeguard Kenya's Coral Reefs

Tech4Nature: A New Era for Coral Reef Conservation in Kenya

In January 2025, Huawei and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) alongside the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), officially launched the Tech4Nature project aimed at monitoring and protecting the coral reefs and biodiversity in the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve of Kenya.

This three-year initiative aligns with Huawei's TECH4ALL initiative and the IUCN Green List, emphasizing enhanced management and monitoring efficiency in this protected area. The Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park faces numerous conservation challenges, including illegal fishing, limited resources for effective surveillance, inadequate long-distance monitoring of coral islands, and low public awareness regarding reef protection. Moreover, the region is under pressure from tourist activities due to its popularity as a diving destination. The project's aim is to leverage technology to address these challenges and promote sustainable practices.

Khadija Mohamed, Huawei Kenya's Director of Media Relations and Government Affairs, stated, "Tech4Nature is a comprehensive initiative under the TECH4ALL program where we explore ways to integrate technology and innovation into everyday life, enhance global standards, and ensure a sustainable living environment."

To monitor marine life, including fish biomass and populations, the project will deploy underwater cameras, photogrammetry, and sound monitoring technologies. Parrotfish, a keystone species in many coral reef systems, will play a crucial role in preventing coral suffocation due to excessive algae and seaweed through their grazing. The rollout will also include monitoring the substrate coverage of reef ecosystems, seagrass beds, and the habitat of endangered species, including the giant tortoise and the bottlenose dolphin, both of which are classified as vulnerable or threatened by the IUCN.

The technology being implemented represents a breakthrough in underwater life conservation in Kenya. It will serve as a primary monitoring tool for collecting, analyzing, and managing data within this protected marine area. Furthermore, this innovation opens up the possibility for the park to achieve IUCN Green List certification, aiming to meet sustainability goals appreciated by tourists while ensuring that marine parks can be used by future generations.

AI trained to recognize specific monitored species by sight or sound will provide real-time data on behaviors, population distributions, and biodiversity within the areas being evaluated. The system will also identify vessels used for illegal fishing, sending alerts to park rangers for almost instantaneous intervention.

Enhanced digital capabilities and improved network connections throughout the park will facilitate rapid data transfer to cloud servers, where AI will further analyze the information collected. The project will operate in partnership with the KWS and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI). Based on the information and insights gathered, Tech4Nature partners can implement targeted protective measures to ensure the conservation of the reserve.

"To carry out our mission to protect and conserve our wildlife in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, we need comprehensive data. That's why we're collaborating with Huawei and IUCN to deploy underwater cameras that will gather critical data about marine mammals, corals, and fishing activities to make informed decisions. The advantage of this technology is its capacity to cover larger areas that cannot be patrolled daily, operational both night and day, allowing us to make truly informed decisions," stated Adan Kala, Deputy Director of Kenya's Coastal Protected Area.

Additionally, the project will involve outreach efforts aimed at raising awareness regarding biodiversity changes over time and the presence of various species, especially those that are endangered or critically endangered. The site will be assessed according to IUCN Green List standards, with the goal of achieving Green List certification for the reserve.

About the Tech4Nature Project

The Tech4Nature partnership between Huawei and IUCN began globally in 2020 with the objective of enhancing nature conservation success through technological innovations. In line with Huawei's TECH4ALL initiative and the IUCN Green List, the Tech4Nature initiative has supported eleven key projects across eight countries, delivering solutions tailored to specific conservation challenges.

For more information visit: Tech4Nature and Huawei TECH4ALL. Follow us on X: @HUAWEI_TECH4ALL.