Smart Parks

The challenge:

Across the globe, wildlife populations have decreased by 60% in just the last 40 years. Illegal poaching, climate change, pollution, and deforestation have contributed to current rates of extinction that are now up to 1,000 times higher than before human impact on ecosystems was a factor. Public and private wildlife parks and concessions can help protect endangered species, but without technology, stemming off the rising tide of poaching is almost impossible, especially since most parks are remotely located and rarely have internet coverage or other mechanisms for real-time communication.

What can be done?

By implementing cost-effective specialized communication technology like sensors, monitors, and trackers, wildlife park rangers can collect information real-time information about the activity of wildlife, reduce human-wildlife conflict, and have access to early warning and detection systems for potential intruders and poachers.

How Smart Parks is meeting the challenge:

Smart Parks gives game parks 24/7 access to real-time information on all wildlife, actors, park assets and activities on their land. All information is collected in an easy-to-use web application which allows rangers to remotely monitor the whole area, and immediately take measures when needed.  Smart Parks has set up solutions in a variety of locations:

• Liwonde National Park, Malawi
• Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
• Elephant Protection, Assam, India
• Akagera National Park, Rwanda
• Mkomazi, Tanzania
• Orangutan Tracking, Borneo, Malaysia

In the United States, Smart Parks is a fiscally-sponsored project of Multiplier. Tax-deductible contributions received by Multiplier are re-granted to Smart Parks to support their philanthropic work.