Empowering Indigenous Communities with Environmental AI
Earth Genome is seeking participants for its Environmental AI Accelerator program, which will place its advanced environmental monitoring platform, “Earth Index,” directly into the hands of indigenous communities and their partners around the world.
The evidence is clear: when indigenous communities lead conservation efforts, nature wins. Empowering indigenous communities stands out as one of the most effective — and permanent — strategies for protecting our planet.
That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that Earth Genome plans to support the essential work of indigenous communities by sharing its AI-powered environmental monitoring platform, Earth Index, in an Environmental AI Accelerator program. This groundbreaking program is made possible with the generous support of The Rockefeller Foundation.
Earth Index is built around a set of core ideas:
- It shouldn’t require an advanced technical degree or years of training to understand the state of nature in your own community.
- Environmental challenges are global problems with local solutions. Models and data therefore need to be fine-tuned to the local context.
- Data is most effective when it is created by the community that will use it.
- Data about local communities should be owned by local communities.
In simple terms, Earth Index uses AI to make monitoring the planet with satellite imagery as easy as clicking on a map. In the animation below, a user finds locations of newly developed illicit gold mining in the Amazon Rainforest, a major threat to many of the Amazon’s indigenous communities.
We’ve already deployed Earth Index for this particular challenge, and were able to quickly establish that mining activity in the Yanomami Territory is “three times more than what was previously announced by other regulatory agencies” (as reported by our journalist partners at Repórter Brazil). This is the kind of high impact, essential data that can be quickly generated using Earth Index.
Participants in the accelerator program will receive technical assistance for using Earth Index to generate actionable data and insights, as well as ongoing access to the Earth Index platform. Participants will retain full ownership of any data generated as part of the program.
Interested in learning more or participating in the accelerator program? Please refer to the FAQs below. For more details or to explore partnership opportunities, please reach out to Ben Strong (ben@earthgenome.org).
FAQ
What is Earth Index (EI)?
Earth Index is a new technology for performing environmental monitoring, designed to place the power of advanced satellite imagery and machine learning in the hands of indigenous communities and their allies. It makes tracking of deforestation, infrastructure development, and other environmental change as simple as clicking on a map. EI enables the creation of datasets and insights in a day that traditionally would have taken months.
What is Earth Genome? What is your business model?
Earth Genome is an tech-oriented environmental nonprofit that was established in 2015. We have a long history in building and communicating impactful datasets for monitoring the state of nature and the environment, including Amazon Mining Watch and Global Plastic Watch. The majority of our funding comes from philanthropy and grants, allowing us to supply Earth Index and similar technology to our partners at low or no cost. This work with indigenous communities is made possible by the generous support of The Rockefeller Foundation.
What skills do I need to use Earth Index?
Earth Index makes searching the planet as easy as clicking on a map. You therefore only need a knowledge of what you want to find and how it appears in overhead imagery. A basic knowledge of GIS concepts and tools is additional beneficial, particularly for downstream use of Earth Index outputs. Machine learning knowledge is not required.
Why should I participate in the Environmental AI Accelerator program?
- Actionable data: Earth Index is locally fine tunable and can search for anything. That means you can easily monitor whatever trend you care most about.
- Data autonomy: Earth Index allows end-users to fully create and own their own environmental monitoring data.
- Technical assistance: Earth Genome offers training and support for indigenous communities and their partners.
What can I do with the datasets I produce?
Anything you want. Program participants will retain complete control over any data that is provided or produced. Privacy is a central concern for us, so any data produced will not be shared with any third parties without your consent. Potential downstream applications of monitoring data are diverse, including official land rights complaints or publishing as part of an awareness campaign. Earth Index outputs are currently available as a downloadable GeoJSON, and we are exploring additional output types and APIs.
What am I committing to by joining the Accelerator program?
All commitments are intended to foster a collaborative environment, ensuring that the Earth Index is most effectively tailored and utilized for the benefit of indigenous groups and their ecosystems.
- Dedicate a point of contact or team for regular interactions, ensuring streamlined communication and collaboration throughout the project.
- Provide insights into current mission and data usage, helping tailor the Earth Index to your specific needs and objectives.
- Share an overview of current capacities and capabilities, enabling us to tailor our technical assistance and support to your organization’s unique context.
- Attend training sessions designed to enhance familiarity and proficiency with the Earth Index tool.
What does the future look like after the Accelerator program concludes?
Ensuring a long-term impact and continued collaboration is central to our mission. At the conclusion of the program, indigenous group partners will:
- Retain perpetual ownership of any data created using Earth Index. Your outputs are downloadable, so you can store and access them anytime, anywhere.
- Retain cost-free access to Earth Index platform for a minimum of one year following program completion. We believe that Earth Index should always be a free and open tool, and we will make every effort to secure ongoing free access through grants and other funding streams.
- Have ongoing channels of communication for feedback, technical support, and further collaborations.
- Be part of a growing network, driving future phases of the Earth Index project and amplifying its impact.
