How to use AI for managing overlapping conservation areas

December 14, 2025

Dear subscriber, 

The speed of AI adoption in conservation is outpacing policy. Africa needs to accelerate training and development of clear ethical guidelines for its adoption.

Treezer Michelle Atieno - Editor

Experts at the 7th Session of the UN Environment Assembly recommend artificial intelligence as a key tool to streamline the management of Africa’s internationally designated conservation areas. Known as Multi-Internationally Designated Areas, these sites carry overlapping protection, each with distinct reporting and governance requirements.

  • The areas face management challenges that hinder conservation and integrating AI tools, like large language models, can harmonise monitoring and synthesise data across frameworks for different countries.

  • The use of AI in African conservation is fast moving. It is currently used in anti-poaching e.g drones and thermal cameras with AI, wildlife monitoring like identifying individuals via patterns and tracking populations, habitat management and data like satellite imaging and disaster response.

  • AI can improve the reporting mechanisms for MIDAs, which have the potential to amplify environmental protection and improve benefits for local communities…Read more (2 min)

The role of wildlife ranger might at times attract people who thrive on being in the wild and who may not take into account the dangers. The truth is rangers face organised poachers and trafficking rings, tough conditions, occasional clashes with locals and animals that might see them as a threat. In this context, many rangers are undervalued.

  • Mohamed Awer is a seasoned conservationist and the former CEO of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature WWF-Kenya. He says that rangers face unstable employment, limited training, insufficient equipment and exposure to serious risks with inadequate protection.

  • He says, “Competent rangers are the bedrock of any effective area-based conservation. Yet many enter the profession with limited training and inadequate support. Investing in ranger education, capacity-building and leadership development are essential and must be backed by sustained funding from all partners.”

  • Read the full opinion…Read more (2 min)

Conservation International has eight open roles across Kenya, South Africa and Madagascar. In Kenya, openings include Manager, Behavioral Science, Economic Incentives Policy Manager and Senior Director, Tourism Finance. Madagascar has Field Agent, Accounting and Grants Manager positions while South Africa has one other.

  • There are over 60 other job openings in different areas of conservation and different regions and countries in the continent. 

  • The highest concentration is in Eastern and Southern Africa but there are other open roles from West and Central Africa.

  • Find the full list here…Read more (2 min)

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Source: Asilia

New study published in the Nature highlights alarming decline in biodiversity and urgent need for restoration efforts

Events

🗓️ Attend the Conference on Biodiversity Conservation in Kenya (Dec 16)

🗓️ Be at International Conference on Biodiversity and Ecology in SA (Dec 17)

🗓️ Join Annual Congress on Soil and Water Conservation (Dec 18)

Various 

🌳 Kenya re-affirms commitment to marine conservation

🌳 Conservationists look to add aircraft for wildlife protection

🌳 Tech tracking could tackle human-wildlife conflict

Seen on LinkedIn 

Dimitri Selibas, a Conservation Expert, says, “Over 80% of remaining wild plant and animal populations occur on unprotected working lands - forests and rangelands where people co-exist with and depend on biodiversity. This is an incredible opportunity for conservation approaches that celebrate the intertwined flourishing of biodiversity and human beings.”_________________