Digital technology and the conservation of nature

K.A.J. Arts; R. van der Wal; W.M. Adams

doi:10.1007/s13280-015-0705-1

Digital technology and the conservation of nature

K.A.J. Arts^*, R. van der Wal, W.M. Adams

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

249 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Digital technology is changing nature conservation in increasingly profound ways. We describe this impact and its significance through the concept of ‘digital conservation’, which we found to comprise five pivotal dimensions: data on nature, data on people, data integration and analysis, communication and experience, and participatory governance. Examining digital innovation in nature conservation and addressing how its development, implementation and diffusion may be steered, we warn against hypes, techno-fix thinking, good news narratives and unverified assumptions. We identify a need for rigorous evaluation, more comprehensive consideration of social exclusion, frameworks for regulation and increased multi-sector as well as multi-discipline awareness and cooperation. Along the way, digital technology may best be reconceptualised by conservationists from something that is either good or bad, to a dual-faced force in need of guidance.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	661-673
Journal	Ambio
Volume	44
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-015-0705-1
Publication status	Published - 2015

Keywords

Biodiversity
Digital conservation
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Innovation
Nature conservation
The Information Age

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

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AB - Digital technology is changing nature conservation in increasingly profound ways. We describe this impact and its significance through the concept of ‘digital conservation’, which we found to comprise five pivotal dimensions: data on nature, data on people, data integration and analysis, communication and experience, and participatory governance. Examining digital innovation in nature conservation and addressing how its development, implementation and diffusion may be steered, we warn against hypes, techno-fix thinking, good news narratives and unverified assumptions. We identify a need for rigorous evaluation, more comprehensive consideration of social exclusion, frameworks for regulation and increased multi-sector as well as multi-discipline awareness and cooperation. Along the way, digital technology may best be reconceptualised by conservationists from something that is either good or bad, to a dual-faced force in need of guidance.

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KW - Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

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Digital technology and the conservation of nature

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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