Wild Me reposted this
We at Conservation X Labs are so excited to be a part of this incredible project, alongside Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, USGS, Microsoft, and more. Our Wild Me lab will be applying next-gen AI tools for identifying giant sequoias that are threatened by catastrophic wildfire, drought, and now bark beetle attacks. Understanding what is happening and why is a herculean task, one that AI can actually help us solve. Without these measurements, scientists and managers simply can't begin to protect these most iconic of trees. As a native Californian, one for whom these forests and these trees helped inspire my own journey into nature, I couldn't be more excited about what this project will bring to protecting the Giant Sequoia.
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Giant sequoias are some of the most awe-inspiring species on Earth. These ancient giants can live over 3,000 years, meaning some trees began life when humans were building civilizations in ancient Mesopotamia. They’ve withstood centuries of natural fires, growing to incredible heights. The largest known giant sequoia is called General Sherman: it stands over 275 feet tall, nearly the height of the Statue of Liberty, with branches larger than most other full-grown trees. Very recently, these ancient giants have been facing threats to their survival. In the past five years, wildfires fueled by climate change have wiped out nearly 20% of the world’s sequoia population, a huge loss once thought impossible. Prolonged drought has further weakened these trees and enabled a new threat. Bark beetles have started infesting these trees, weakening them, eventually killing them within a few months. So, what can we do? We have to start by identifying where these trees are and which ones are dying. Recent advances in technology mean that we can attempt to use high-resolution satellite imagery and AI to monitor these trees over 50,000 acres of sequoia groves to pinpoint where action is needed most. I recently had the incredible opportunity to join researchers from the National Park Service, US Geological Survey, and Wild Me to scope out this effort. Photos don’t fully capture the majesty of these trees, but I’ve included a few below to give a glimpse. If you ever get the chance, seeing a sequoia in person is a humbling reminder of what we stand to lose. #sequoia #conservation #NPS #wildme