One year on, TGBS benchmark shows how to restore forests for biodiversity

Using artificial intelligence, scientists and conservationists can rapidly analyze vast environmental data sets—from audio recordings of nocturnal birds to millions of camera trap images—which has led to quicker and more efficient wildlife monitoring and decision-making, while also growing concern about ecological knowledge biases and decreased field engagement.

Since 2017, Rewilding Ukraine has reintroduced native grazing species like kulan and water buffalo to the Danube Delta, which has restored more than 18,000 hectares of wetlands, doubled carbon storage in soils, increased plant diversity, reduced wildfire risk, and helped native fish populations recover—even amid ongoing war.

Communities in Ecuador are building a “bioeconomy” through ecotourism and sustainable agriculture instead of relying on oil extraction. This can help protect the country’s biodiversity and increase locals’ incomes.

A community-led beetle-mapping project on Kaua'i, funded by a $25,000 county grant, has mobilized residents to track invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles. Together they created 700+ data points that identified thousands of beetles, empowering the community to fill gaps in government capacity.

Vermont maple producers adopted vacuum tubing systems, reverse osmosis machines, adjusted forest management practices, and earlier tapping schedules to address climate disruptions. This approach more than doubled sap yields per tap and increased state production to 3 million gallons annually (over half of the U.S.' production), enabling multi-generational operations to remain viable.

A regenerative farm in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district has prevented up to 80% of climate-triggered cacao fruit rot by inoculating soil with beneficial microorganisms instead of using chemical pesticides. This has nearly doubled the regional average yield of cacao and more than doubled the tree lifespans.

The KilimoAI app uses artificial intelligence to help Tanzanian smallholder farmers identify crop diseases through their smartphones, enabling thousands farmers to reduce unnecessary pesticide use. Using the app has lowered operational costs and improved yields by catching crop infections early instead of relying on agro-input shops that often oversell chemicals.

Silvopasture—combining native trees with rotational grazing on cattle pastures in the Peruvian Amazon—has more than doubled the number of cattle able to graze per hectare. Within a year, significant carbon has been sequestered and cattle health has improved.

GPS collars create virtual fences, allowing Wyoming ranchers to remove miles of barbed wire and enabling wildlife migration. This reduces fence maintenance costs and improves ecosystem management through flexible grazing patterns, though the technology faces challenges including high upfront costs, connectivity issues, and cultural resistance.

Scientists are using radio tracking technology to track invasive species like “murder hornets” to prevent them from overrunning the environment. The tagged hornet leads scientists to their nest, allowing them to eliminate the hive before an invasion occurs. Neither the U.S. nor Canada has had a giant hornet sighting since the last nest was destroyed in 2021, but this technology allows researchers to be prepared.