Forest Conservation Goes High Tech

May 29, 2025

Forest conservation technology is transforming how we protect the world’s forests. From space-based carbon-tracking satellites to ground-level IoT sensors that detect smoke and chainsaws, these high-tech tools are helping prevent wildfires, preserve biodiversity and identify illegal logging.

“We’re moving from people in towers looking for smoke to being able to monitor wide areas and identify issues before they expand,” said IEEE Senior Member Paul Kostek.

Forests At Risk

Forests are critical global assets in the fight against climate change because growing trees store planet-warming carbon dioxide. But each year, the planet loses thousands of square miles of forests. Between 2020 and 2023, the planet lost an average of 15,250 square miles each year, an area roughly the size of Switzerland.

The reasons for forest loss are varied. Climate change has made wildfires worse. About one-third of all tree-cover loss each year is due to wildfires, outpacing other causes like mining and forestry. The loss of habitat is a particular threat to biodiversity in regions like the Amazon, a vast area that covers just 1 percent of the planet’s surface but is home to 10 percent of land-based species.

Urbanization and agriculture also result in tree loss every year.

Monitoring From Above

Satellites are an especially important asset in the forest conservation arsenal, because they allow researchers to monitor large areas of forest, for issues. The view from above can give conservationists an extremely accurate picture of how much forests are gaining or losing ground.

But satellite technology also can get a granular view of what’s happening inside forests.

“Synthetic aperture radar can deliver detailed data on specific forest areas, helping assess the impact of natural events, such as disease, fires, floods and insect outbreaks, as well as human activities like commercial logging and land conversion,” The ability to detect early signs of blight caused by insects or disease is especially valuable, as it allows conservation teams to limit damage and direct resources to the areas that need attention most.”

But conservation teams don’t have to go into space to get a bird’s eye view.

Drones are also frequently deployed to monitor large swaths of forests. They have the advantage of being able to map fairly large areas quickly, while also offering a level of precision satellites can’t match.

And, in remote and hard-to-reach locations, specialized drones have been used to rapidly plant trees in areas damaged by deforestation. These machines also use LiDAR technology, a sensing method that sends pulses of laser light to determine the presence, shape and distance of objects, to map out the height and shape of trees, or analyze the structure of tree canopy. These methods offer detailed information about the health of forests.

How IoT Boosts Conservation

IoT-enabled sensors have also been deployed to help preserve forests. They can monitor environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, smoke, CO2, methane and air quality. Acoustic sensors, meanwhile, detect fire sounds, distressed wildlife and illegal logging activities.

“IoT devices can collect and transmit real-time data on forest conditions with minimal delay,” said IEEE Senior Member Inderpreet Kaur.

The deployment of IoT sensors can have two purposes. First, data can be used for long-term analysis, as well as the integration into artificial intelligence systems.

“AI-powered data prediction and preventive analysis will act as a game changer by analyzing this data to detect early signs of wildfires, deforestation and biodiversity loss.”

Sensors can also help park rangers and conservation officials respond immediately if, for example, an acoustic sensor detects the sound of chainsaws in an area where logging isn’t permitted.

Technology Alone isn’t Enough

While technology is an emerging tool in the conservation toolbox, it still requires human expertise, funding and political will to have a meaningful impact. Conservation efforts often face resistance from local communities, and success typically depends on extensive dialogue with stakeholders.

“Do we stop them from using existing techniques, like burning areas to create farmland or cutting down trees for heat, and instead introduce newer methods of land management that utilize technology?” Kostek said. “And who will use and manage this technology, the communities themselves or outside providers? The same questions apply to pursuits like mining, oil drilling and forestry in long-protected areas. We need to balance the economic needs of these regions, such as jobs and businesses, against the long-term environmental impact and how it affects other users.”

Branch Out: Want to learn more about the ways technology can help drive sustainability? Check out Planet Positive 2030 from the IEEE Standards Association.