
Phase Two of Tech4Nature Jaguar Protection Project Launched in Mexico
MERIDA, Mexico , April 14, 2025 /CNW/ -- At the recent 2025 Tech4Nature Summit, Huawei, International Union of Conservation for Nature (IUCN), and local partners launched Phase Two of the Mexico Tech4Nature project, which aims to strengthen the protection of jaguars in Dzilam de Bravo State Reserve and study the effects of climate change on biodiversity.
Alongside Huawei and IUCN, the launch was officiated by Mexico's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the State Government of Yucatán, and local partner C-Minds.
"In Mexico, 42% of our country's ecosystems face some degree of degradation that we have to work towards solving. This involves monitoring and a lot of restoration work, but it also means something more important, which is precisely what we're seeing thanks to this alliance," said Dr. Marina Robles García, Undersecretary of Biodiversity and Environmental Restoration for the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Mexico .
Aligned with Huawei's TECH4ALL initiative and the IUCN Green List, Tech4Nature is a global partnership launched by Huawei and IUCN in 2020 to scale up success in nature conservation through technological innovation.
"Today we celebrate a shared vision, a vision that understands that conservation can no longer depend solely on good intentions or isolated policies. We need science, technology, empowered communities, and committed governments," said Joaquín Díaz Mena, Governor of Yucatán in Mexico , at the 2025 Tech4Nature Summit.
Due to habitat loss and fragmentation, the jaguar is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. To contribute to its conservation, the first phase of the project installed 60 audio devices and more than 20 camera traps in Dzilam de Bravo State Reserve. Using trained AI models, the system is able to recognize the vocalizations and images of species that inhabit the reserve. By April 2025 , the solution had identified a total of 147 species and confirmed the presence of nine jaguars in the territory.
The second phase of the project focuses on gathering data about the distribution of jaguar populations, and providing data-driven insights to support decision-making and improve reserve management with a view to creating a biological corridor.
The 2025 Tech4Nature Summit brought together experts, scientists, and conservation leaders from around the world to share advances and strategies in technology-driven nature conservation.
"Digital technology is making biodiversity conservation much more efficient and helping governments and conservationists take faster, more targeted action," said Tao Jingwen, Director of the Board and Director of the Corporate Sustainable Development Committee for Huawei. "I want to call on more of our partners to join the Tech4Nature initiative to make digital technology a common tool for global ecosystem conservation."
As well as Mexico , the summit explored Tech4Nature Phase Two projects in Brazil , China , Spain , Kenya , and Türkiye, showcasing how digital technologies and AI analytics can be adapted to the specific needs of diverse ecosystems.
"Building on our momentum so far, we look forward to the second phase of this partnership with great anticipation. This new chapter will address six countries, promoting transformative change for species, ecosystems, and their communities," said Úrsula Parrilla, Director, Regional Office for Mexico , Central America and the Caribbean (ORMACC) for IUCN. "By integrating technology into large-scale conservation, we contribute to global goals that seek to put nature at the center of decision-making for sustainable development."
Tech4Nature phase two projects
Brazil will study the impact of climate change on Marajó Island and monitor the mangrove crab as an indicator of ecosystem health.
China uses networked digital solutions and AI analytics to track and support the repopulation of the world's rarest primate, the Hainan gibbon, just 42 of which remain in existence.
Spain aims to protect the Bonelli's eagle in Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Natural Park by using digital technologies to analyze the impact of park visitors on the eagles' reproductive success.
Kenya aims to improve monitoring in protected marine areas and coral reef in Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park and Reserve to help tackle issues such as illegal fishing and pressure from tourism, and monitor the parrot fish, which helps coral survive.
Türkiye represents a pioneering collaboration between NGOs, the private sector, and the government to evaluate biodiversity protection, with a focus on large mammals, including the fallow deer and wild goat in two pilot sites.
The 2025 Tech4Nature Summit attested to how collaboration between the technology sector, NGOs, governments, academic institutions, and local communities has created a new paradigm for protecting biodiversity and ecosystems.
About TECH4ALL
TECH4ALL is Huawei's long-term digital inclusion initiative and action plan. Enabled by innovative technologies and partnerships, TECH4ALL is designed to enable inclusion and sustainability in the digital world.
Visit the Huawei TECH4ALL website at https://www.huawei.com/en/tech4all.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Toronto Star
a day ago
- Toronto Star
New disputes emerge ahead of US-China trade talks in London
BEIJING (AP) — U.S.-China trade talks in London this week are expected to take up a series of fresh disputes that have buffeted relations, threatening a fragile truce over tariffs. Both sides agreed in Geneva last month to a 90-day suspension of most of the 100%-plus tariffs they had imposed on each other in an escalating trade war that had sparked fears of recession. Since then, the U.S. and China have exchanged angry words over advanced semiconductors that power artificial intelligence, 'rare earths' that are vital to carmakers and other industries, and visas for Chinese students at American universities. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW President Donald Trump spoke at length with Chinese leader Xi Jinping by phone last Thursday in an attempt to put relations back on track. Trump announced on social media the next day that trade talks would be held on Monday in London. Technology is a major sticking point The latest frictions began just a day after the May 12 announcement of the Geneva agreement to 'pause' tariffs for 90 days. The U.S. Commerce Department issued guidance saying the use of Ascend AI chips from Huawei, a leading Chinese tech company, could violate U.S. export controls. That's because the chips were likely developed with American technology despite restrictions on its export to China, the guidance said. The Chinese government wasn't pleased. One of its biggest beefs in recent years has been over U.S. moves to limit the access of Chinese companies to technology, and in particular to equipment and processes needed to produce the most advanced semiconductors. 'The Chinese side urges the U.S. side to immediately correct its erroneous practices,' a Commerce Ministry spokesperson said. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick wasn't in Geneva but will join the talks in London. Analysts say that suggests at least a willingness on the U.S. side to hear out China's concerns on export controls. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW China shows signs of easing up on rare earths One area where China holds the upper hand is in the mining and processing of rare earths. They are crucial for not only autos but also a range of other products from robots to military equipment. The Chinese government started requiring producers to obtain a license to export seven rare earth elements in April. Resulting shortages sent automakers worldwide into a tizzy. As stockpiles ran down, some worried they would have to halt production. Trump, without mentioning rare earths specifically, took to social media to attack China. 'The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US,' Trump posted on May 30. The Chinese government indicated Saturday that it is addressing the concerns, which have come from European companies as well. A Commerce Ministry statement said it had granted some approvals and 'will continue to strengthen the approval of applications that comply with regulations.' The scramble to resolve the rare earth issue shows that China has a strong card to play if it wants to strike back against tariffs or other measures. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Plan to revoke student visas adds to tensions Student visas don't normally figure in trade talks, but a U.S. announcement that it would begin revoking the visas of some Chinese students has emerged as another thorn in the relationship. China's Commerce Ministry raised the issue when asked last week about the accusation that it had violated the consensus reached in Geneva. It replied that the U.S. had undermined the agreement by issuing export control guidelines for AI chips, stopping the sale of chip design software to China and saying it would revoke Chinese student visas. 'The United States has unilaterally provoked new economic and trade frictions,' the ministry said in a statement posted on its website. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a May 28 statement that the United States would 'aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.' More than 270,000 Chinese students studied in the U.S. in the 2023-24 academic year.


Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
New disputes emerge ahead of US-China trade talks in London
BEIJING (AP) — U.S.-China trade talks in London this week are expected to take up a series of fresh disputes that have buffeted relations, threatening a fragile truce over tariffs. Both sides agreed in Geneva last month to a 90-day suspension of most of the 100%-plus tariffs they had imposed on each other in an escalating trade war that had sparked fears of recession. Since then, the U.S. and China have exchanged angry words over advanced semiconductors that power artificial intelligence, 'rare earths' that are vital to carmakers and other industries, and visas for Chinese students at American universities. President Donald Trump spoke at length with Chinese leader Xi Jinping by phone last Thursday in an attempt to put relations back on track. Trump announced on social media the next day that trade talks would be held on Monday in London. Technology is a major sticking point The latest frictions began just a day after the May 12 announcement of the Geneva agreement to 'pause' tariffs for 90 days. The U.S. Commerce Department issued guidance saying the use of Ascend AI chips from Huawei, a leading Chinese tech company, could violate U.S. export controls. That's because the chips were likely developed with American technology despite restrictions on its export to China, the guidance said. The Chinese government wasn't pleased. One of its biggest beefs in recent years has been over U.S. moves to limit the access of Chinese companies to technology, and in particular to equipment and processes needed to produce the most advanced semiconductors. 'The Chinese side urges the U.S. side to immediately correct its erroneous practices,' a Commerce Ministry spokesperson said. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick wasn't in Geneva but will join the talks in London. Analysts say that suggests at least a willingness on the U.S. side to hear out China's concerns on export controls. China shows signs of easing up on rare earths One area where China holds the upper hand is in the mining and processing of rare earths. They are crucial for not only autos but also a range of other products from robots to military equipment. The Chinese government started requiring producers to obtain a license to export seven rare earth elements in April. Resulting shortages sent automakers worldwide into a tizzy. As stockpiles ran down, some worried they would have to halt production. Trump, without mentioning rare earths specifically, took to social media to attack China. 'The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US,' Trump posted on May 30. The Chinese government indicated Saturday that it is addressing the concerns, which have come from European companies as well. A Commerce Ministry statement said it had granted some approvals and 'will continue to strengthen the approval of applications that comply with regulations.' The scramble to resolve the rare earth issue shows that China has a strong card to play if it wants to strike back against tariffs or other measures. Plan to revoke student visas adds to tensions Student visas don't normally figure in trade talks, but a U.S. announcement that it would begin revoking the visas of some Chinese students has emerged as another thorn in the relationship. China's Commerce Ministry raised the issue when asked last week about the accusation that it had violated the consensus reached in Geneva. It replied that the U.S. had undermined the agreement by issuing export control guidelines for AI chips, stopping the sale of chip design software to China and saying it would revoke Chinese student visas. 'The United States has unilaterally provoked new economic and trade frictions,' the ministry said in a statement posted on its website. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a May 28 statement that the United States would 'aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.' More than 270,000 Chinese students studied in the U.S. in the 2023-24 academic year.


CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
2 new species of crayfish identified in Pacific Northwest — and they're already at risk
Social Sharing Two new species of crayfish have been identified in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, and researchers say both species are vulnerable to extinction. One of those crayfish is called the "misfortunate crayfish," found primarily in central Oregon, according to biologist Eric Larson. The other, the Okanagan crayfish, is found in, well, B.C.'s Okanagan Lake. Both were previously mistaken for the signal crayfish, the most common species of crayfish on the West Coast, Larson said. "They are brand new species. It's the first time anyone has called this animal the Okanagan crayfish," Larson told CBC's Daybreak South host Chris Walker. The easiest way to differentiate the signal variety from the other two is a distinctive white mark on the signal crayfish's claw. "If you find that absent or really reduced, that might suggest you're looking at the Okanagan crayfish," Larson said. Eric Taylor, a professor of zoology at the University of British Columbia, said it's important to identify different species, even if they appear very similar, for several reasons. "There's sort of an inherent value in knowing," he said. "Humans like to know about the world around us, which includes the natural world, so it's important for an accurate understanding of the level of biodiversity we have." Additionally, it helps researchers better understand the ecosystem in which these species live. Thirdly, identifying individual species gives conservationists an idea of how widespread the species is. For example, Taylor said, there could be a stronger effort to protect a species if it's only found in one small area, as opposed to across a region. At risk of extinction Okanagan and misfortunate crayfish are already considered at risk of extinction, according to Larson. Taylor said this is no surprise, given that these are smaller groups of what was once thought to be a larger population. "The smaller an area an animal or plant lives in, the greater the chance that if something bad happens, it's going to go extinct," he said. The Okanagan crayfish is of particular concern, Taylor said, because it's located in Okanagan Lake — an area of "high human impact." Larson hopes the situation will inspire conservation action. "Crayfish don't get along that well," he said. "We have moved crayfish around for centuries," Larson added, pointing to stocking lakes with crayfish, using them as bait and even classrooms releasing them into the wild. They can also catch a ride to a new location on boats, similar to invasive mussels. Larson said that, in particular, scientists worry Okanagan crayfish will be displaced by invasive virile crayfish, while misfortunate crayfish could disappear due to invasive rusty crayfish. That's a much bigger risk for the misfortunate crayfish in Oregon that has the rusty crayfish from eastern North America spreading really rapidly in its native range. But for the Okanagan crayfish, we kind of wanted to discourage movement of other crayfish into its populations. Not only can invasive species be harmful to those native to the Pacific Northwest, they also feed on fish eggs and destroy aquatic plants, Larson said, as well as damage infrastructure like irrigation canals and dams. Invasive crayfish can also carry disease, according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.