Databases for nature conservation

A couple of weeks ago, I started making a list of databases for nature conservation. If one searches for nature conservation databases online, one finds them as a hit list of possible databases. It is a start but not an overview. Also, overviews do not show up, or they are very limited. So I started to make a list which I am trying to expand weekly. One can find it here. After a some of hours collecting, a couple of things started to become abundantly clear, which I want share here, as a heads-up for those interested.

October 29, 2021 0

Machine Learning against poaching and illegal logging

At the IUCN's World Conservation Congress I ran into two applications of machine learning (ML) to guard protected areas against direct detrimental human activity. Both stories are success stories but also both applications are in their early phases. In this post, I will compare the two and ask a couple of common sense questions that may be of interest for the long-term viability of the approaches.

October 7, 2021 0

Machine learning for dummies

This started as a post about particular applications of machine learning (or ML) in protected area management, but while writing the 'one paragraph' introduction into machine learning, it became two paragraphs and then some more. Then it became a post in itself. Obviously, you will find other introductions if you search for them. I suggest... Continue Reading →

September 24, 2021 0

IUCN 2021 conference. State of the art in data collection technology in nature conservation

Last Friday, the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2021 started. For me an excellent opportunity to learn about the state of the art of data collection in nature conservation. Let me just give a list of all the sessions that I thought would give some insight into the state of the art of digital tools, databases and methods

September 5, 2021 0

A design outline for a Sea Turtle Research Database

urtles and their nests is about ten years old or limited in their possibilities. I am considering developing new database software. In this text, I am calling for input from sea turtle NGOs and individual experts about their work practices and for feedback on the outline that comprises the bulk of this text

November 24, 2020 0

Variables in research databases need support

Variety in data-editors During my work on the SWINNO project and its database I noticed how the assistants who did the data work, I call them data editors, have different strategies of entering data. Also, they know the rules that govern the entry of the variables in various degrees, they have different ways of dealing... Continue Reading →

July 2, 2020 0