Huawei and IUCN Initiate Innovative Tech4Nature Project for Coral Reef Protection in Kenya

In an ambitious endeavor to protect Kenya's coral reefs, Huawei, in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and local partner Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), has launched the Tech4Nature project within Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park. This three-year initiative is part of Huawei's TECH4ALL program, aligned with IUCN's Green List, aimed at enhancing monitoring and management effectiveness in protected areas.

The Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park is currently facing numerous conservation challenges, including illegal fishing and inadequate human resources for effective surveillance. Furthermore, three coral islands within the protected area are difficult to monitor remotely, leading to pressures from tourism, particularly in popular diving spots. There's also a noticeable lack of community awareness regarding the importance of reef and biodiversity conservation, coupled with insufficient communication network infrastructure to support technology-driven monitoring.

Khadija Mohamed, Huawei Kenya's Media and Government Relations Manager, stated, "Tech4Nature is a wide-ranging project aimed at applying technology and innovation across various sectors of modern life, driving the development of global standards, and paving ways for sustainable living worldwide."

The Tech4Nature project will deploy underwater cameras, photogrammetry, and acoustic monitoring technologies to track marine life, notably parrotfish populations and biomass. Parrotfish are critical to maintaining coral reef health as they help prevent macroalgae from overtaking corals through their diet. Additionally, the initiative will monitor substrate coverage, seagrass density, and the presence of endangered species like green turtles and bottlenose dolphins, which are classified as vulnerable and near threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Innocent Kabenga, Country Representative for IUCN Kenya, remarked, "The technologies we are presenting mark a groundbreaking advancement for marine conservation in Kenya. These tools will serve as the primary monitoring resource for data collection, analysis, and management in marine protected areas. This innovation will not only assist the park in obtaining IUCN Green List certification but also meet sustainability targets valued by tourists, ensuring that future generations continue to benefit from our marine parks."

Artificial intelligence will be utilized to recognize specific target species through visual or acoustic methods, providing real-time data-driven insights into the behavior, population, and distribution of biodiversity within the protected area and reef ecosystems. The system is also capable of detecting vessels engaged in illegal fishing, allowing rangers to receive alerts for near real-time intervention.

A digital power solution covering the park and observation tower will facilitate the rapid transfer of collected data to a cloud server for analysis through artificial intelligence. This project will be executed in collaboration with KWS and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI), enabling Tech4Nature partners to develop targeted conservation measures based on data-driven insights.

Adan Kala, Senior Deputy Director of KWS's Coastal Conservation Area, emphasized, "To fulfill our responsibility to protect and conserve wildlife in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, we must understand our resources thoroughly. We are installing underwater cameras to gather data on marine mammals, corals, and fisheries, enabling informed decision-making. The advantage of this technology is the capacity to cover broader areas where daily surveillance is not feasible, ensuring that we can gather data day and night for effective, on-site decision making."

Moreover, the project will include community outreach to raise awareness about changes in biodiversity over time, especially concerning species that are threatened, vulnerable, or at risk of extinction. The site will be evaluated according to IUCN Green List standards, with the goal of achieving Green List certification for the protected area.

About Tech4Nature: Launched in 2020, Tech4Nature is a global partnership established by Huawei and IUCN aimed at increasing conservation success through technological innovation. This initiative supports flagship projects addressing conservation challenges in eight countries. For more information, visit the Tech4Nature website.

About TECH4ALL: TECH4ALL is Huawei's long-term digital inclusion initiative designed to foster sustainability and inclusivity in the digital realm, supported by innovative technology and partnerships. For more details, visit the TECH4ALL website.

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