Biologist Daniele Silvestro has developed an innovative AI tool that could revolutionize conservation efforts in Madagascar, a biodiversity hotspot facing unprecedented threats. The tool, named Captain, has the potential to identify key areas for biodiversity protection, aiding in the preservation of the island nation’s unique flora and fauna.
The State of the World’s Plants and Fungi report highlighted the alarming rate at which biodiversity is declining, with 45% of all plant species at risk of extinction. Coupled with the impacts of climate change, this poses significant challenges to humanity’s survival, given our reliance on the natural world.
In collaboration with Hélène Ralimanana of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Kew Madagascar Conservation Centre, Silvestro’s team applied the Captain tool to a dataset of endemic trees in Madagascar. The results pinpointed crucial areas for conservation, such as the Sava region, home to the Marojejy National Park.
Madagascar already boasts a number of conservation areas and programs, but the application of this new technology to real-world data demonstrates its potential to enhance existing efforts. By leveraging AI technology, conservation planners can make more informed decisions and prioritize areas for protection.
Silvestro and his team hope that the implementation of this tool will contribute to more effective conservation planning and ultimately help safeguard Madagascar’s rich biodiversity for future generations. As threats to biodiversity continue to escalate, innovative solutions like Captain offer a ray of hope for the preservation of our planet’s natural heritage.
Source: The Conversation
