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Identifying technology solutions to bring conservation into the innovation era
Author(s) -
Iacona Gwenllian,
Ramachandra Anurag,
McGowan Jennifer,
Davies Alasdair,
Joppa Lucas,
Koh Lian Pin,
Fegraus Eric,
Game Edward,
GuilleraArroita Gurutzeta,
Harcourt Rob,
Indraswari Karlina,
LahozMonfort José J,
Oliver Jessica L,
Possingham Hugh P,
Ward Adrian,
Watson David W,
Watson James EM,
Wintle Brendan A,
Chadès Iadine
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
frontiers in ecology and the environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.918
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1540-9309
pISSN - 1540-9295
DOI - 10.1002/fee.2111
Subject(s) - pace , biodiversity conservation , business , perspective (graphical) , conservation science , environmental planning , gap analysis (conservation) , environmental resource management , computer science , management science , knowledge management , process management , biodiversity , risk analysis (engineering) , engineering , geography , ecology , economics , geodesy , artificial intelligence , biology
Innovation has the potential to enable conservation science and practice to keep pace with the escalating threats to global biodiversity, but this potential will only be realized if such innovations are designed and developed to fulfill specific needs and solve well‐defined conservation problems. We propose that business‐world strategies for assessing the practicality of innovation can be applied to assess the viability of innovations, such as new technology, for addressing biodiversity conservation challenges. Here, we outline a five‐step, “lean start‐up” based approach for considering conservation innovation from a business‐planning perspective. Then, using three prominent conservation initiatives – Marxan (software), Conservation Drones (technology support), and Mataki (wildlife‐tracking devices) – as case studies, we show how considering proposed initiatives from the perspective of a conceptual business model can support innovative technologies in achieving desired conservation outcomes.