ONE AMAZON has announced the launch of the world’s first Internet of Forests (IoF), a groundbreaking initiative designed to digitally monitor and protect the Amazon Rainforest while fostering sustainable development for its communities.
Unveiled in collaboration with MIT Media Lab, Veea, and AECOM, the IoF, marks a revolutionary approach to forest conservation and community empowerment. The official demonstration of this pioneering project will take place at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP 16) in October 2024.
A Bold Vision for the Amazon’s Future
As the driving force behind the IoF, ONE AMAZON has developed a five-phase technological roadmap in collaboration with MIT Media Lab’s City Science Group. This roadmap integrates a diverse array of sensing technologies, from satellite and drone imagery to ground-based environmental sensors and bio-sensing techniques, to provide an unprecedented level of insight into the health and changes within the Amazon’s ecosystems. With the IoF, ONE AMAZON aims to digitally connect and safeguard every hectare of the rainforest, promoting environmental resilience and creating sustainable economic opportunities for the 50 million people who depend on it.
ONE AMAZON at the Center of a Technological and Environmental Transformation
The Internet of Forests is more than just a digital monitoring initiative; it embodies ONE AMAZON’s commitment to preserving the world’s largest tropical rainforest by harnessing cutting-edge technology. As the primary architect of the IoF, ONE AMAZON ensures that the project remains focused on its core mission—preserving the rainforest while enhancing the livelihoods of its communities. The IoF platform will enable real-time data collection and analysis across thousands of hectares, using a wide variety of technologies such as remote sensors, ground-based cameras, satellite-based LiDAR, and advanced bio-sensing to track deforestation, biodiversity shifts, and environmental stressors with unprecedented granularity.
Empowering Communities Through Innovation
At the heart of ONE AMAZON’s IoF initiative is the belief that technology can transform conservation efforts into sustainable economic growth for local communities. By creating a digital ecosystem that supports activities such as precision agriculture, renewable energy, eco-tourism, and smart climate adaptation, ONE AMAZON empowers local inhabitants to better manage their resources and improve their quality of life. The IoF also enables satellite-based internet connectivity, providing remote communities with access to essential services like education, healthcare, and training.
The integration of diverse sensors and satellite images enables comprehensive monitoring, ranging from large-scale biomass assessments and deforestation detection to localized environmental changes like air quality fluctuations and water reserve levels. By providing this data in real-time, the IoF helps communities, governments, and other stakeholders respond swiftly to environmental threats, illegal activities, and natural disasters.
Veea and AECOM: Supporting ONE AMAZON’s Vision
While ONE AMAZON leads the IoF initiative, key partners Veea and AECOM play supportive roles by providing specialized expertise. Veea’s hybrid edge-cloud computing technology facilitates real-time data processing and edge AI applications in the rainforest, using mesh clusters to connect various sensors across vast areas. AECOM, the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, with its infrastructure consulting capabilities, is instrumental in planning and managing the deployment of the IoF’s physical and digital networks, driving innovation to tackle global environmental issues with sustainable solutions that provide social value, including projects aimed at reducing deforestation and promoting sustainable development through local initiatives.
Redefining Conservation with Data-Driven Solutions
ONE AMAZON’s IoF is not just about monitoring: it’s about transforming data into actionable insights for sustainable conservation and development. The initiative employs AI and blockchain-based smart contracts to enhance transparency and accountability in forest management. With these technologies, the IoF enables tokenization of protected land, allowing stakeholders to assess the environmental value of each hectare, with preservation efforts directly linked to economic incentives.
Through this innovative approach, ONE AMAZON is reshaping how the world views the rainforest—not just as a natural wonder but as a valuable, living asset that can drive economic growth while advancing ecological sustainability. The Internet of Forests sets a new benchmark for using technology to protect nature, offering a model that other regions can replicate to address environmental challenges.
A Call to Join the Movement at COP 16
As the Amazon faces escalating threats from deforestation, illegal mining, and climate change, ONE AMAZON calls on global governments, private investors, and international organizations to join its mission to preserve this critical ecosystem. The Internet of Forests will be a focal point of ONE AMAZON’s presentation at COP 16, demonstrating how a combination of cutting-edge technology and community-driven solutions can lead to long-lasting environmental and social impacts.
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