Using drones to protect biodiversity and spur economic growth in Madagascar

世界自然基金会估计，地球上每天有多达五种生物灭绝。最近一项汇编了全球动物种群调查的研究表明，这种“生物灭绝”的速度意味着地球历史上第六次大灭绝正在发生，而且比以前担心的要严重得多。这种惊人的下降速度可能会带来灾难性的后果，不仅对物种消失的生态系统，而且对世界经济和整个地球都是如此。世界银行估计，生态系统每年为全球经济提供33万亿美元，超过美国和欧洲GDP的总和。因此，在最近的世界经济论坛上，全球顶级商业领袖、国际政治领袖和知识分子将生物多样性丧失和随之而来的生态系统崩溃列为人类面临的十大危险之一，也就不足为奇了。有一个基本的需要，定期监测动物种群，使保护策略可以优化与这些信息。岛国马达加斯加正处于这场生物多样性危机的最前沿。自从大约1.6亿年前从非洲大陆分离出来以来，马达加斯加已经发展出了自己独特的生态系统和非凡的野生动物。马达加斯加大约95%的爬行动物、89%的植物和92%的哺乳动物是地球上独一无二的。因此，马达加斯加是地球上最热门的生物多样性热点之一。然而，目前生物多样性丧失的速度如此之高，以至于最近的研究表明，这是避免许多栖息地和物种灭绝的最后机会。在过去的几年里，在英国政府的资助下，我们开发了一种低成本，强大且操作简单的热红外无人机系统，该系统由现成的组件构建，可以（半）自动检测，识别和定位热红外镜头中的动物和火灾。2019年4月，我们与达雷尔野生动物保护信托基金会合作，将该系统带到马达加斯加，并证明该系统可以成功检测生物多样性和生态系统健康的关键示踪物种，比现有方法的效率大大提高。在这次成功之后，我们现在正在寻求英国的额外资助，以在马达加斯加建立建造、维护和飞行无人机的能力，并开始系统地监测关键地理区域的生物多样性。这将为保护机构和政府提供关键数据，以确保未来的政策决策在保护和确保珍贵生态系统长期稳定的同时实现可持续的经济增长。由于生物多样性是国家经济的基石，该提案将产生重大的、长期的社会和经济影响。在整个项目中，我们将与马达加斯加民航局（Aviation Civil de Madagascar）密切合作，后者目前正在为无人机操作建立国家框架和法规。多年来，我们一直是英国政府制定无人机政策的关键小组的一部分，我们拥有丰富的经验，可以帮助确保从一开始就在无人机飞行中实施最佳安全性和最佳实践。通过加速马达加斯加对无人机技术的采用，该项目将成为催化剂，在其他国家看到的经济和社会的所有领域引入同样的变革。

The World Wildlife Fund for Nature estimates that up to five species of life on our planet become extinct every day. A recent study compiling surveys of animal populations around the globe shows that this rate of "biological annihilation" means a sixth mass extinction in Earth's history is under way and is more severe than previously feared. This astonishing rate of decline has potentially catastrophic consequences, not just for the ecosystems where the species are lost, but also for the world economy and planet as a whole. The World Bank estimates that ecosystems provide $33 trillion every year to the global economy: more than the GDP of USA and Europe combined. So it is no surprise that at a recent World Economic Forum the top business leaders, international political leaders and intellectuals around the globe identified biodiversity loss and consequent ecosystem collapse as one of the 10 foremost dangers facing humanity. There is a fundamental need to routinely monitor animal populations so that conservation strategies can be optimized with such information. The island nation of Madagascar is at the forefront of this biodiversity crisis. Since it split from the African continent an estimated 160 million years ago, Madagascar has developed its own distinct ecosystems and extraordinary wildlife. Approximately 95 percent of Madagascar's reptiles, 89 percent of its plant life, and 92 percent of its mammals exist nowhere else on Earth. Madagascar is therefore one of Earth's hottest biodiversity hotspots. However, the current rate of biodiversity loss is so high that recent studies suggest this is the last chance to avoid many habitats and species becoming extinct. Over the last few years, with funding from the UK government, we have developed a low cost, robust, and simple to operate thermal-infrared drone system built from off-the-shelf components that can (semi)automatically detect, identify and locate animals and fires in thermal infrared footage. In April 2019, in collaboration with the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, we took the system to Madagascar and demonstrated that the system could successfully detect key tracer species of biodiversity and ecosystem health with a greatly increased efficiency over existing methods. Following this success, we are now seeking additional UK funding to build capacity in Madagascar to construct, maintain and fly drones, and begin systematic monitoring of biodiversity in key geographic areas. This will provide the key data that conservation agencies and the government need to ensure future policy decisions deliver sustainable economic growth while protecting and ensuring the long-term stability of the precious ecosystems. As biodiversity is a cornerstone of the country's economy, the proposal will deliver significant, long-term, social and economic impacts. Throughout the project we will work closely with the Aviation Civil de Madagascar [Civil Aviation Authority of Madagascar], who are currently building a national framework and regulations for operating drones. Having been part of key UK Government panels shaping drone policy for many years, we have extensive experience to help ensure optimal safety and best practice are implemented in drone flight from the beginning. By speeding the uptake of drone technology in Madagascar, the project will act as a catalyst introducing the same transformative changes in all areas of economy and society seen in other countries.