The Bezos Earth Fund has awarded the Wildlife Conservation Society a US$2 million/~€1.7 million research grant.
The grant is meant to enable WCS to advance its study of artificial intelligence solutions capable of addressing the world’s leading environmental problems.
WCS aims to use AI and citizen science to come up with multiple solutions to support a wide range of issues, including biodiversity loss and food insecurity as well as climate change, which has a negative impact on coastal communities. The work will help meet the important worldwide 30X30 conservation goals.
Commenting on the award, Dr. Emily Darling, Director of Coral Reef Conservation at WCS, stated:
“This award helps us turn AI innovation into real-world conservation impact. With support from the Bezos Earth Fund, we’re advancing foundational AI models for coral reef monitoring and inviting divers and citizen scientists everywhere to join the effort to map, monitor, and protect the reefs most likely to survive climate change.”
While Kim Fisher, lead software engineer for MERMAID, added:
“Our goal is to make advanced AI tools accessible to every scientist and diver working to protect coral reefs. The power of open, shared models is that they grow stronger with every image and every user.”
Dr. Amen Ra Mashariki, director of AI and data strategies at the Bezos Earth Fund added:
“These projects show how AI, when developed responsibly and guided by science and local knowledge, can strengthen environmental action and ensure its overall impact on the planet is positive.”
Finally, Dr. Stacy Jupiter, executive director of WCS’s Global Marine Program, said:
“Our science is already showing that there are coral reefs around the world that can withstand even extreme climate impacts. As a key pillar of our newly launched Coral Reef Strategy, WCS is excited to harness the power of cutting-edge computing technology to help identify more of these high integrity climate-resilient reefs for targeted management action.”
