• AI-Powered Conservation: IBM and WWF-Germany are developing an AI solution to enhance the monitoring and conservation of critically endangered African forest elephants.
• Natural Capital Insights: The technology aims to quantify the ecosystem services provided by elephants, supporting sustainable finance investments and climate change mitigation.
• Precision Tracking: AI will enable more accurate identification and tracking of individual elephants, revolutionizing conservation efforts.

IBM and WWF-Germany have announced a groundbreaking collaboration to develop an AI-powered solution aimed at supporting the conservation of keystone species, starting with the critically endangered African forest elephant. This partnership leverages IBM’s expertise in sustainability and technology alongside WWF’s extensive experience in wildlife conservation.

“At IBM, we strive to make a lasting, positive impact on the world in business, our environment, and the communities in which we work and live,” said Oday Abbosh, Global Sustainability Services Leader at IBM Consulting. “Our collaboration with WWF marks a significant step forward in this effort.“

The AI solution will use IBM’s Maximo Visual Inspection (MVI) software to analyze camera trap images and accurately identify individual elephants, focusing initially on head and tusk recognition. This innovative approach promises to provide more detailed and precise population estimates, which are crucial for effective conservation strategies.

“Our technology will play a crucial role in streamlining the process of identifying and accounting for the individual elephants,” said Kendra Dekeyrel, VP of ESG and Asset Management at IBM. “This is an exciting new use of IBM software, which in combination with our consulting services and WWF’s deep knowledge of the natural world, can help create new ways to accelerate organizations’ sustainability efforts.“

Additionally, the collaboration aims to assess the financial value of the ecosystem services provided by these elephants, such as carbon sequestration. By integrating AI with environmental data, the solution could enable more accurate predictions of elephant movements and quantify their contributions to carbon storage in their habitats.

“Counting African forest elephants is both difficult and costly. The logistics are complex and the resulting population numbers are not precise,” explained Dr. Thomas Breuer, WWF Germany’s African Forest Elephant Coordinator. “Being able to identify individual elephants from camera trap images with the help of AI has the potential to be a game-changer.“

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The AI-driven data will not only support conservation efforts but also open new avenues for sustainable finance investments by providing insights into the value of natural capital. As businesses increasingly focus on sustainability, tools that measure and enhance natural capital can play a crucial role in mitigating climate change.

IBM and WWF’s initiative represents a significant step toward using advanced technology to protect vital ecosystems and ensure the survival of species like the African forest elephant, whose role in maintaining healthy forests is irreplaceable.