Photographers in South Asia, particularly in Bangladesh, are aiding biodiversity conservation through social media. Led by Dr. Shawan Chowdhury from the University of Queensland, an international team utilized Facebook nature photography groups to contribute photos to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
The study, published in Bioscience, One Earth, and Conservation Biology, uncovered 44,000 photos of nearly 1,000 animal species, improving habitat mapping and identifying high-priority conservation areas. The research suggests a transformative approach to gathering biodiversity information, especially in regions lacking structured monitoring.
In Australia, social media is also employed to track pest species, showcasing the potential for technology development to automate data collection from platforms like Facebook for global biodiversity databases.
In a groundbreaking study led by Dr. Shawan Chowdhury from the University of Queensland’s School of the Environment, the use of social media by nature photographers in South Asia has emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing biodiversity conservation mapping.
The research focused on harnessing the wealth of information embedded in photographs shared on Facebook nature photography groups in Bangladesh. The images were systematically collected and contributed to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility database, resulting in the discovery of 44,000 photos representing nearly 1,000 animal species.
Among the identified species, 288 are classified as threatened in Bangladesh, significantly bolstering habitat mapping efforts in a country where only 4.6% of land is officially protected. The study pinpointed high-priority conservation areas, encompassing 4,000 square kilometers for birds and 10,000 square kilometers for butterflies. This newfound data rectified previous gaps in distribution information for hundreds of endangered species, marking a substantial achievement.
Notably, the impact extended beyond South Asia, as the researchers highlighted the use of social media in Australia to track invasive species. The tawny coster butterfly, originating from South Asia and entering Australia in 2012, became a subject of scrutiny. By scouring Facebook for additional locality records, researchers analyzed the butterfly’s movement and expansion, revealing an average rate of 135 kilometers per year between 2012 and 2020.
Despite the success, the study underscores the manual effort required for such data collection and advocates for technological advancements. Co-author Professor Richard Fuller emphasizes the need for automated tools or apps that can seamlessly transfer biodiversity data posted on platforms like Facebook directly to global databases.
This, he believes, would streamline access for conservation scientists, revolutionizing the way biodiversity information is gathered, especially in regions lacking structured monitoring systems. The research opens new avenues for the intersection of social media and conservation, presenting opportunities for collaboration between scientists and tech companies to develop innovative solutions for ecological data management.
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