Combatting Deforestation and Protecting Biodiversity: Innovative Solutions in India and Indonesia
A recent study published in Science highlights the importance of environmental conservation in mitigating and possibly reversing biodiversity loss. The study found that while over half of conservation actions had a positive impact, they were not always sufficient to halt the decline in biodiversity. This underscores the need for a diverse range of conservation efforts to effectively address this issue.
World Nature Conservation Day is an opportunity to reflect on our responsibility to appreciate and protect the planet's biodiversity, which is crucial for the stability of ecosystems. At Cisco, building resilient ecosystems is a core focus of our *Plan for Possible*, an advanced environmental sustainability strategy. We encourage you to explore the meaningful work of our nonprofit partners in this area, as they demonstrate that every effort matters and collaboration is key to improving the health of our planet.
Reconnecting Northland
Reconnecting Northland, an NGO in Te Tai Tokerau (Northland, New Zealand), unites communities, organizations, and resources to support vibrant ecosystems and restore biodiversity for the benefit of nature and future generations. In response to environmental degradation, local taiao (environment) groups are actively working to protect biodiversity and improve ecosystem health by eliminating invasive species, planting native flora, installing fencing, and restoring wetlands. However, these groups often face challenges in securing the funding, expertise, skills, and support needed to carry out complex restoration projects. Efforts are frequently disjointed, leaving communities and agencies struggling to achieve their goals.
Reconnecting Northland developed their flagship program, Te Kete Hononga (The Basket of Connections), to strengthen the capacity of community and Indigenous groups in their efforts toward socio-ecological regeneration across the region, benefiting climate, freshwater, and biodiversity. The Cisco Foundation supports this program, which empowers communities to create, implement, and assess their own ecological solutions.
Te Kete Hononga provides tools such as monitoring systems, project management resources, and story mapping, as well as services like business development, leadership training, communications, and research. The program has led to increased collaboration among diverse community groups, agencies, and iwi (Māori tribes), greater government engagement and funding for community-led initiatives, enhanced knowledge sharing, and the development of more sustainable practices at the community level.
Pettania Hohaia, a Te Kete Hononga Kairaranga (Community Weaver) for the Waimamaku area, shared her experience: “You supported us as kaitiaki (guardians) to become resilient and self-sustaining, and you did it by empowering us to lead and make our own decisions.”
NetHope’s Climate Intersections Grant Program
NetHope’s Climate Intersections Grant program, a collaboration between NetHope and Cisco under the Digital Breakthrough Initiative, is dedicated to advancing digital solutions for climate adaptation and resilience. One of its partners, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), is leveraging digital innovation to further global conservation efforts.
WCS, in partnership with Birdlife International and the World Wildlife Fund, is involved in the Trillion Trees initiative, which focuses on the protection and restoration of forests worldwide. Central to this effort is FORMAPP, an advanced monitoring system developed by WCS’s Conservation Technology team for the Trillion Trees partnership. FORMAPP enhances data management efficiency and resource accessibility for reforestation projects through a smartphone app, database, and online portal, utilizing the ConSoSci toolkit.
With support from the Climate Intersections Grant, Trillion Trees upgraded the data integration technology behind FORMAPP and translated all materials—website, training resources, video tutorials, and forms—into French and Spanish. Accurate field data is crucial for measuring the climate and biodiversity benefits of restoration efforts.
Through strategic partnerships and technological innovation, WCS and its collaborators continue to empower communities and drive significant progress in conservation. The integration of digital solutions not only enhances their impact but also strengthens resilience in the face of climate challenges, demonstrating the transformative power of initiatives like the NetHope Climate Intersections Grant Program.
Farmers for Forests
A 2023 report on deforestation revealed that India ranks second globally in deforestation, having lost 668,400 hectares of forest cover over the past 30 years. Another recent study highlights a sharp decline in large farmland trees in India over the last decade. Climate change and deforestation are interconnected issues, each influencing the other. The resulting imbalances can lead to wildfires, disrupted water cycles, extreme weather events, and habitat changes.
Through the Cisco India Cash Grant program, Cisco partnered with Climatesense Pvt Limited, also known as Farmers for Forests (F4F), via an accelerator with Villgro. Farmers for Forests is a nonprofit dedicated to mitigating the effects of climate change on both the environment and human well-being by increasing India’s natural and biodiverse forest and tree cover.
Utilizing advancements in geospatial and drone technology, F4F is implementing and monitoring agroforestry projects. By employing drones, satellite data, and modified open-source AI algorithms, the organization is able to measure carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and water savings in forests and agroforestry plantations, allowing for accurate valuation of the ecosystem services provided.
The accelerator program helped F4F develop a tech-driven tree detection platform that assesses various tree parameters—such as species, count, and height—enabling more informed digital monitoring, reporting, and verification processes for carbon projects. This platform currently supports the management of 2,500+ acres of land under ecological restoration, with more land to be added as the organization expands.
Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN)
Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) is a nonprofit organization operating across 14 provinces in Indonesia, working to protect nature and preserve the biodiversity of an archipelago that includes 17,500 islands stretching 5,000 kilometers from east to west. Indonesia's fisheries, reflecting the country's rich marine biodiversity, are an integral part of coastal culture. Market surveys reveal that Indonesia's fisheries encompass over 873 species of bony fish and more than 137 species of sharks, rays, and chimeras. Unfortunately, many of these fisheries are overexploited, and some have little to no data on their status or life history, with some species even being new to science.
With support from the Cisco Foundation, YKAN is utilizing an innovative software application called FishFace (Fish Facial Identification Technology) to assist the government and local fishing communities in assessing the status of fish stocks and devising strategies to manage these fisheries for the benefit of both people and nature.
In collaboration with Geeks Without Frontiers and PT Intelion, YKAN is developing a new approach to tackle these challenges. Early trials have shown that the AI-powered FishFace system surpasses trained observers, achieving 99% accuracy. Combined with software that automatically captures images of fish as they pass through a digital camera’s field of vision, FishFace has the potential to revolutionize fisheries research and management in Indonesia. It offers real-time data collection and generates more accurate datasets on fish stocks, providing valuable insights for local fishery regulations that aim to protect the region's natural resources and biodiversity.
Thank you to the organizations that have shared their experiences with us. As we face the ongoing challenges of climate change, embracing innovative solutions and fostering global partnerships can help safeguard our ecosystems and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
World Nature Conservation Day is an opportunity to reflect on our responsibility to appreciate and protect the planet's biodiversity, which is crucial for the stability of ecosystems. At Cisco, building resilient ecosystems is a core focus of our *Plan for Possible*, an advanced environmental sustainability strategy. We encourage you to explore the meaningful work of our nonprofit partners in this area, as they demonstrate that every effort matters and collaboration is key to improving the health of our planet.
Reconnecting Northland
Reconnecting Northland, an NGO in Te Tai Tokerau (Northland, New Zealand), unites communities, organizations, and resources to support vibrant ecosystems and restore biodiversity for the benefit of nature and future generations. In response to environmental degradation, local taiao (environment) groups are actively working to protect biodiversity and improve ecosystem health by eliminating invasive species, planting native flora, installing fencing, and restoring wetlands. However, these groups often face challenges in securing the funding, expertise, skills, and support needed to carry out complex restoration projects. Efforts are frequently disjointed, leaving communities and agencies struggling to achieve their goals.
Reconnecting Northland developed their flagship program, Te Kete Hononga (The Basket of Connections), to strengthen the capacity of community and Indigenous groups in their efforts toward socio-ecological regeneration across the region, benefiting climate, freshwater, and biodiversity. The Cisco Foundation supports this program, which empowers communities to create, implement, and assess their own ecological solutions.
Te Kete Hononga provides tools such as monitoring systems, project management resources, and story mapping, as well as services like business development, leadership training, communications, and research. The program has led to increased collaboration among diverse community groups, agencies, and iwi (Māori tribes), greater government engagement and funding for community-led initiatives, enhanced knowledge sharing, and the development of more sustainable practices at the community level.
Pettania Hohaia, a Te Kete Hononga Kairaranga (Community Weaver) for the Waimamaku area, shared her experience: “You supported us as kaitiaki (guardians) to become resilient and self-sustaining, and you did it by empowering us to lead and make our own decisions.”
NetHope’s Climate Intersections Grant Program
NetHope’s Climate Intersections Grant program, a collaboration between NetHope and Cisco under the Digital Breakthrough Initiative, is dedicated to advancing digital solutions for climate adaptation and resilience. One of its partners, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), is leveraging digital innovation to further global conservation efforts.
WCS, in partnership with Birdlife International and the World Wildlife Fund, is involved in the Trillion Trees initiative, which focuses on the protection and restoration of forests worldwide. Central to this effort is FORMAPP, an advanced monitoring system developed by WCS’s Conservation Technology team for the Trillion Trees partnership. FORMAPP enhances data management efficiency and resource accessibility for reforestation projects through a smartphone app, database, and online portal, utilizing the ConSoSci toolkit.
With support from the Climate Intersections Grant, Trillion Trees upgraded the data integration technology behind FORMAPP and translated all materials—website, training resources, video tutorials, and forms—into French and Spanish. Accurate field data is crucial for measuring the climate and biodiversity benefits of restoration efforts.
Through strategic partnerships and technological innovation, WCS and its collaborators continue to empower communities and drive significant progress in conservation. The integration of digital solutions not only enhances their impact but also strengthens resilience in the face of climate challenges, demonstrating the transformative power of initiatives like the NetHope Climate Intersections Grant Program.
Farmers for Forests
A 2023 report on deforestation revealed that India ranks second globally in deforestation, having lost 668,400 hectares of forest cover over the past 30 years. Another recent study highlights a sharp decline in large farmland trees in India over the last decade. Climate change and deforestation are interconnected issues, each influencing the other. The resulting imbalances can lead to wildfires, disrupted water cycles, extreme weather events, and habitat changes.
Through the Cisco India Cash Grant program, Cisco partnered with Climatesense Pvt Limited, also known as Farmers for Forests (F4F), via an accelerator with Villgro. Farmers for Forests is a nonprofit dedicated to mitigating the effects of climate change on both the environment and human well-being by increasing India’s natural and biodiverse forest and tree cover.
Utilizing advancements in geospatial and drone technology, F4F is implementing and monitoring agroforestry projects. By employing drones, satellite data, and modified open-source AI algorithms, the organization is able to measure carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and water savings in forests and agroforestry plantations, allowing for accurate valuation of the ecosystem services provided.
The accelerator program helped F4F develop a tech-driven tree detection platform that assesses various tree parameters—such as species, count, and height—enabling more informed digital monitoring, reporting, and verification processes for carbon projects. This platform currently supports the management of 2,500+ acres of land under ecological restoration, with more land to be added as the organization expands.
Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN)
Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) is a nonprofit organization operating across 14 provinces in Indonesia, working to protect nature and preserve the biodiversity of an archipelago that includes 17,500 islands stretching 5,000 kilometers from east to west. Indonesia's fisheries, reflecting the country's rich marine biodiversity, are an integral part of coastal culture. Market surveys reveal that Indonesia's fisheries encompass over 873 species of bony fish and more than 137 species of sharks, rays, and chimeras. Unfortunately, many of these fisheries are overexploited, and some have little to no data on their status or life history, with some species even being new to science.
With support from the Cisco Foundation, YKAN is utilizing an innovative software application called FishFace (Fish Facial Identification Technology) to assist the government and local fishing communities in assessing the status of fish stocks and devising strategies to manage these fisheries for the benefit of both people and nature.
In collaboration with Geeks Without Frontiers and PT Intelion, YKAN is developing a new approach to tackle these challenges. Early trials have shown that the AI-powered FishFace system surpasses trained observers, achieving 99% accuracy. Combined with software that automatically captures images of fish as they pass through a digital camera’s field of vision, FishFace has the potential to revolutionize fisheries research and management in Indonesia. It offers real-time data collection and generates more accurate datasets on fish stocks, providing valuable insights for local fishery regulations that aim to protect the region's natural resources and biodiversity.
Thank you to the organizations that have shared their experiences with us. As we face the ongoing challenges of climate change, embracing innovative solutions and fostering global partnerships can help safeguard our ecosystems and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
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