Expanding the Horizons of Nature Conservation: Tech4Nature at IUCN World Congress
Expanding the Horizons of Nature Conservation: Tech4Nature at IUCN World Congress
On October 14, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Huawei announced the expansion of their global partnership, Tech4Nature, at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. This year's congress featured a range of forums emphasizing the power of technology in conservation efforts. Highlighted among the key projects were innovative initiatives addressing critical environmental challenges across the globe.
One significant project from Tech4Nature China involves audio monitoring and AI analytics to create a database of vocal signatures from Hainan gibbons, a species that remains critically endangered with only 42 individuals left worldwide. By identifying family groups and solitary individuals, this project aims to guide repopulation efforts and identify crucial areas for habitat restoration.
In Brazil, Tech4Nature is utilizing low-cost sensors to assess climate change impacts on mangrove ecosystems on Marajó Island. The project also studies factors affecting mangrove crab populations, contributing vital data to comprehend how climate change reshapes these critical environments.
Operated under IUCN's Green List and Huawei's TECH4ALL initiative, Tech4Nature seeks to scale up conservation results using digital technologies. Since its launch in 2020, the initiative has successfully executed 11 flagship projects across eight countries, collaborating with various partners and local communities. Currently, Tech4Nature is also implementing Phase II projects across different locations, including:
- - Mexico: Focusing on jaguar protection in the Dzilam de Bravo State Reserve.
- - Turkey: Monitoring umbrella species as indicators of overall ecosystem health, particularly targeting wild goats and deer.
- - Kenya: Protecting coral reefs and combating illegal fishing.
- - Barcelona, Spain: Investigating the impact of recreational activities on Bonelli's eagle populations.
The congress also hosted the inaugural Tech4Nature Awards ceremony, recognizing excellence in three distinct categories. In the category of Technology Innovation, Distant Imagery Solutions emerged victorious for its revolutionary approach to democratizing climate technology aimed at ecosystem restoration. The African People Wildlife Foundation was honored in the NatureTech Stewards category for empowering communities through the development of sustainable grazing lands. Lastly, the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) took the prize in the Species Conservation category for its project protecting the endangered Olive Ridley turtles along the coast of Odisha, India.
Grethel Aguilar, IUCN’s Director General, emphasized the importance of these awarded solutions, stating, “These award-winning solutions demonstrate how innovative technologies, in the hands of conservationists and communities, can lead to real change for both nature and people. They bring us closer to a fair world where nature is valued and preserved.”
Tech4Nature Awards candidates were evaluated by a group of global experts in technology and environmental conservation. Max Cuvellier Giacomelli, head of mobile technologies for development at GSMA and a judge in the Technology Innovation category, shared that “Digital innovations play a crucial role in supporting nature-positive, sustainable, and inclusive solutions that can be used to monitor, protect, and restore wildlife populations and their ecosystems.”
The IUCN World Conservation Congress occurs every four years, bringing together global experts in conservation. This year, the discourse focused on scaling up conservation actions, mitigating climate change risks, ensuring justice, transitioning towards a nature-positive economy, and revolutionary innovations in environmental leadership. The Tech4Nature initiative is a testament to how collaborations between tech companies and environmental organizations can lead to transformative advancements in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.
In summary, Tech4Nature's participation at the IUCN World Congress not only emphasizes the significance of integrating technology into conservation efforts, but also showcases the potential for innovation to solve pressing environmental challenges. As the partnership grows, it inspires hope for a future where technology and nature conservation work hand in hand to ensure a sustainable planet.
Topics Environment）
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