Huawei initiates marine conservation effort in Kenya
Huawei has initiated a conservation project aimed at protecting marine ecosystems in Kenya. This initiative underscores the company's commitment to environmental sustainability and supporting local communities in preserving their natural resources. Through collaboration with various stakeholders, Huawei aims to implement effective strategies for safeguarding marine habitats and promoting sustainable practices along the Kenyan coastline. The project highlights the importance of protecting biodiversity and fostering a healthier marine environment for future generations.
TroibNews 
Chinese tech giant Huawei has collaborated with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to enhance the conservation efforts in a marine protected area along Kenya's south coast.
The initiative, announced on Monday, is a three-year project aimed at safeguarding the ecological integrity of the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve, a biodiversity hotspot situated in Kenya's Kwale County.
Alongside Huawei, other key partners in the Tech4Nature project, initially launched by IUCN with Huawei in 2021, include the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute, a governmental body. This information was revealed in a Huawei statement released in Nairobi on Tuesday.
This project is part of Huawei's TECH4ALL initiative and aligns with the IUCN Green List, focusing primarily on enhancing the monitoring and management efficiency of the marine protected area. This region is known for its pristine coral reefs and is home to endangered species such as green turtles and bottlenose dolphins.
Khadija Mohammed Ahmed, Media Director at Huawei Kenya, highlighted the importance of utilizing technology and innovations to strengthen the health and resilience of marine ecosystems, which are increasingly threatened by climate change and human activity.
"Innovative thinking and smart solutions are already helping to mitigate some of the world's most pressing environmental problems," Khadija stated.
The initiative will incorporate technologies such as underwater cameras, photogrammetry, and audio monitoring to observe marine life, including biomass and parrot fish populations within the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve, as noted by Huawei.
These technological solutions will also assess substrate cover in reef ecosystems, monitor seagrass cover, and track the presence of green turtles and bottlenose dolphins, which are listed as endangered and vulnerable, respectively, on the IUCN Red List.
Innocent Kabenga, the IUCN Kenya Country Office's country representative, commented that the implementation of innovative technology will facilitate data capture and analysis within the marine protected area, enhancing its conservation efforts and benefiting local communities.
The technology provided by Huawei and its partners utilizes artificial intelligence to recognize specific target species through visual and auditory means, offering real-time, data-driven insights into the behaviors, population dynamics, and distribution of biodiversity within the marine reserve.
It will also identify boats engaged in illegal fishing activities and send alerts for rangers to act promptly, according to Huawei. Furthermore, a digital power solution combined with enhanced network connectivity in the park and watch tower will improve the swift transmission of collected data to a cloud server for analysis.
Adan Kala, the senior assistant director at the Coast Conservation Area of the Kenya Wildlife Service, remarked that if digital tools are deployed strategically, they could significantly transform marine conservation efforts in the country.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
The initiative, announced on Monday, is a three-year project aimed at safeguarding the ecological integrity of the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve, a biodiversity hotspot situated in Kenya's Kwale County.
Alongside Huawei, other key partners in the Tech4Nature project, initially launched by IUCN with Huawei in 2021, include the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute, a governmental body. This information was revealed in a Huawei statement released in Nairobi on Tuesday.
This project is part of Huawei's TECH4ALL initiative and aligns with the IUCN Green List, focusing primarily on enhancing the monitoring and management efficiency of the marine protected area. This region is known for its pristine coral reefs and is home to endangered species such as green turtles and bottlenose dolphins.
Khadija Mohammed Ahmed, Media Director at Huawei Kenya, highlighted the importance of utilizing technology and innovations to strengthen the health and resilience of marine ecosystems, which are increasingly threatened by climate change and human activity.
"Innovative thinking and smart solutions are already helping to mitigate some of the world's most pressing environmental problems," Khadija stated.
The initiative will incorporate technologies such as underwater cameras, photogrammetry, and audio monitoring to observe marine life, including biomass and parrot fish populations within the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve, as noted by Huawei.
These technological solutions will also assess substrate cover in reef ecosystems, monitor seagrass cover, and track the presence of green turtles and bottlenose dolphins, which are listed as endangered and vulnerable, respectively, on the IUCN Red List.
Innocent Kabenga, the IUCN Kenya Country Office's country representative, commented that the implementation of innovative technology will facilitate data capture and analysis within the marine protected area, enhancing its conservation efforts and benefiting local communities.
The technology provided by Huawei and its partners utilizes artificial intelligence to recognize specific target species through visual and auditory means, offering real-time, data-driven insights into the behaviors, population dynamics, and distribution of biodiversity within the marine reserve.
It will also identify boats engaged in illegal fishing activities and send alerts for rangers to act promptly, according to Huawei. Furthermore, a digital power solution combined with enhanced network connectivity in the park and watch tower will improve the swift transmission of collected data to a cloud server for analysis.
Adan Kala, the senior assistant director at the Coast Conservation Area of the Kenya Wildlife Service, remarked that if digital tools are deployed strategically, they could significantly transform marine conservation efforts in the country.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
