The Unsung Heroes of the Forest: African Elephants and Their Crucial Role in Carbon Capture

When we think of elephants, we often picture these majestic creatures roaming vast savannahs. However, fewer people recognize the vital role they play in forest ecosystems. Dubbed “forest gardeners,” African forest elephants work tirelessly to nurture their habitats. Dr. Thomas Breuer from WWF Germany explains, “When an elephant moves through trees and bushes, it pushes them aside, reducing competition for nutrients. This process helps create bigger trees more quickly.”

This species, the African forest elephant, holds a special place in the ecosystem. By toppling small trees and stripping leaves from larger ones, these elephants play a key role in the growth of trees that can absorb significantly more CO2. In fact, estimates suggest that the impact of just one forest elephant can increase the net carbon capture of a forest by nearly 250 acres—equivalent to removing a year’s worth of emissions from about 2,047 cars!

These elephants’ dietary habits are equally impressive. With a daily consumption of up to 400 pounds of plant matter, they forage for nutritious fruits and contribute positively to the ecosystem by excreting seeds. Some seeds need to pass through an elephant’s digestive system to germinate effectively; the process weakens the tough outer shells, enhancing the chances of sprouting.

## The Grim Reality: Endangered Elephants

Despite their ecological importance, African forest elephants find themselves in dire straits. Their population has decreased by around 80% in recent years, a decline even steeper than that of their savannah cousins. This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these vital creatures.

Annually, approximately 20,000 elephants are killed for their ivory, with demand driven largely by markets in Asia. Dr. Breuer remarks, “If you look at the history of people and elephants, we are responsible for 99% of the species’ decline.” A significant portion of the threats these elephants face is unnatural, stemming from human activities. Many local communities fear elephants, especially when they haven’t seen them for years. Breuer elaborates, “Imagine a place where no one has spotted an elephant for 20 years; suddenly, the appearance of one could stir fears of black magic, prompting drastic actions.”

The loss of these magnificent creatures has catastrophic effects on their habitats. “When we lose an ecosystem due to the decline of elephants, it’s gone for good,” Breuer emphasizes.

## A Ray of Hope: Predictive AI in Conservation

However, all hope is not lost. Recently, IBM and WWF have joined forces to harness predictive Artificial Intelligence to aid in elephant conservation efforts. They’re adapting IBM’s Maximo Visual Inspection technology for wildlife monitoring, allowing for the identification of individual elephants from camera traps. By analyzing unique features like the wrinkles around their eyes and the patterns on their trunks, conservationists can track these elephants with unprecedented accuracy.

Oday Abbosh, Global Sustainability Services Leader at IBM Consulting, shares insights about the project, stating, “We will improve predictability by training foundation models, leveraging the combination of visual information and data.” This technology will not only help in counting elephants more reliably but also in understanding their movement patterns. “Being able to identify individual elephants can be a game-changer. Spatial data will reveal their movement habits, enabling us to safeguard critical wildlife corridors and maintain the forest’s capacity to sequester carbon,” Breuer adds.

Moreover, this technology has the potential to highlight the financial value of the forest elephants’ role in carbon capture. By emphasizing the importance of living elephants over their tusks, we can help halt poaching crimes. “An elephant alive is worth so much more than ivory,” Breuer emphasizes.

As the fight to save Africa’s forest elephants continues, the integration of AI and innovative technology offers a glimmer of hope.

The AI Buzz Hub team is excited to see where these breakthroughs take us. Want to stay in the loop on all things AI? Subscribe to our newsletter or share this article with your fellow enthusiasts.