New Technologies in International Law / Tymofeyeva, Crhák et al.

“climate tech” nowadays includes multibillion wide-ranging businesses across multiple fields, and some authors predict a bright future for this area of technology. 251 2. Current relationship between technology and biodiversity This chapter will be divided into 2 parts. The first one will deal with technology in more of a literal form, while the second one will deal with biotechnology. 2.1 Technology versus biodiversity Talking about technology, its “bio-form” is not the first example in our minds. Computers, artificial intelligence, drones, etc. are the ones, that pop up in our heads first. And those are also the technologies we will briefly analyze below. Technology holds enormous potential in relation to the protection of biodiversity. On the other hand, its use should be a last resort. 252 Without further delay, what are currently the best adepts for biodiversity protection? Several studies have been conducted focused on current technologies and their potential to slow biodiversity loss down. One particular study showed, that among other technologies, machine learning and computer vision, eDNA 253 and genomics, and networked sensors (camera traps, biosensors, tracking devices, etc. 254 ) seem to have the highest potential. Secondly, conservationists opine that the biggest challenges standing in the way of technology are mostly finance-related issues and inadequate capacity building. 255 And these are just problems related to the application itself. For example, drones have potential, which has been already demonstrated. Nowadays they are easily accessible. But if we want them to properly monitor animals, people, or even detect poachers, we need drones with military-level capabilities. However, drones with these specifications are currently too expensive. 256 Also, we can’t forget another issue with technologies like drones, camera traps, and other “surveillance” technologies, namely privacy concerns. Technology is expensive. It is a simple fact, but it hampers the use of technology to its full potential. The severity of this issue can be demonstrated as follows. The 251 Sonnenfeldt M, ‘It took 30 years for climate tech investments to pay off. Now they’re best placed to survive the VC winter’ ( FORTUNE , 26 July 2023) accessed 1 November 2023. 252 Conway W, ‘Chapter 30: Can Technology Aid Species Preservation?’ in Wilson EO and Peter FM (eds), Biodiversity (NAS/SI, 1999), pp. 263–268. 253 eDNA, or so-called environmental DNA, is DNA collected from a variety of environmental samples (soil, snow etc.), rather than sampled from individual organism. 254 Davis E, ‘First-ever State of Conservation Technology’ Report Identifies Top 3 Emerging Technologies to Advance Conservation’ (WWF, 15 December 2021) accessed 1 November 2023. 255 Speaker T, O’Donnell S, Wittemyer G et al, ‘A Global Community-Sourced Assessment of the State of Conservation Technology’ (2022) 36(3) Conserv Biol 13871. 256 Pimm SL, Alibhai S, Bergl R et al, ‘Emerging Technologies to Conserve Biodiversity’ (2015) 30(11) Trends Ecol Evol 685.

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