WCS 3-Sentence Science

Better Conservation Through Technology

November 22, 2019

CREDIT: JULIE LARSEN MAHER/WCS

Each year, Wildlife Conservation Society scientists publish more than 300 peer-reviewed studies and papers. “WCS 3-Sentence Science” is a regular tip-sheet — in bite sized helpings — of some of this published work.

Here we present work by WCS’s James Watson arguing for an embrace of technology in conservation coordinated through a strategy that includes policymakers and technologists.

1. Authors contend that unleashing the power of technology for conservation requires an internationally coordinated strategy that connects the conservation community and policymakers with technologists.
2. Researchers argue an international conservation technology entity could (1) provide vision and leadership, (2) coordinate and deliver key services necessary to ensure translation from innovation to effective deployment and use of technology for on-the-ground conservation across the planet, and (3) help integrate innovation into biodiversity conservation policy from local to global scales, providing tools to monitor outcomes of conservation action and progress towards national and international biodiversity targets.
3. This proposed entity could take the shape of an international alliance of conservation institutions or a formal intergovernmental institution that would help society achieve biodiversity conservation goals.

Study and Journal: “A call for international leadership and coordination to realize the potential of conservation technology” from Bioscience
WCS Co-Author(s): James Watson, Director, Science and Research Initiative

For more information, contact: Stephen Sautner, 718–220–3682, ssautner@wcs.org.