Enviro News Asia, Guyana — An integrated approach to biodiversity monitoring is improving ecosystem protection by combining multiple data sources to generate more accurate and standardized insights for decision-makers.
The system integrates six monitoring methods—camera traps, environmental DNA (eDNA), soundscape analysis, bird counts, fish stock assessments, and Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK)—supported by artificial intelligence to enhance species identification and ecosystem understanding.
Developed through a collaboration between Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry and Map of Life Solutions, the initiative operates under the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme across five countries: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guyana, Papua New Guinea, and Zambia.
Chief Executive Officer of Map of Life Solutions, Chrissy Durkin, stated that the initiative addresses long-standing gaps in biodiversity data by combining advanced monitoring technologies with local and indigenous knowledge to produce reliable, decision-ready information.
Early results from Guyana have identified 741 species using integrated monitoring methods, including endangered and vulnerable species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
In addition to data collection, the initiative emphasizes capacity building through partnerships with platforms such as Wildlife Insights and WildMon, providing training to local communities, government representatives, and conservation teams.
Senior Scientist at CIFOR-ICRAF, Lauren Coad, highlighted that strengthening local capacity not only reduces dependence on external expertise but also ensures that traditional knowledge is recognized as a vital component of biodiversity management.
The integrated monitoring approach is expected to support more informed policymaking, strengthen nature-based financing mechanisms, and promote sustainable management of ecosystems that communities rely on. (*)
