GreenTech Festival - How Drones map Biodiversity in Peru’s Canopies
Researchers are using drones to reach the hidden world of the rainforest canopy, collecting samples to identify the species living there. This collaborative project between the Environmental Robotics Lab and NGO Wilderness International will be presented at the GreenTech Festival in Berlin May 16-17.
Our rainforests hold the title of the most species-rich habitats on Earth. But the real party happens high above the forest floor, in the tree canopy – a place difficult to reach. Here, the Environmental Robotics Lab joins forces with Wilderness International, a German NGO dedicated to protecting the last 2.8% of our planet's intact habitats. This partnership aims to unlock the secrets of the canopy using novel biodiversity monitoring solutions developed at ETH Zurich. Wilderness International and their partner Fauna Forever have a dedicated team of ecologists and biologists on the ground, but surveying these vast areas takes immense time and effort.
Canopy drones: A game changer for conservation
To enable rapid assessments, the Environmental Robotics Lab deploys innovative drones in Wilderness International's protected Peruvian rainforest. Their mission: collect environmental samples directly from the treetops. By analysing the genetic traces found within these samples, researchers at the Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution group of ETH Zürich can identify the species dwelling in this hidden world. This not only allows for a more comprehensive biodiversity assessment but also serves as a valuable comparison to traditional ground-based survey methods. Ultimately, this project paves the way for faster, more efficient biodiversity monitoring, a crucial tool to support global conservation efforts.