Conservation science has long defined itself as a crisis-solution field, rooted in problem-solving. Yet for years it has been better at identifying species and regions at risk than at delivering solutions to help them. Identifying this key downfall, Conservation X Labs has risen to the occasion. A non-profit focused on slowing biodiversity loss, it promotes innovation and the development of cutting-edge technology to tackle conservation challenges.
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One of their breakthrough developments is known as the Extinction Solutions Index, a framework that aims to identify and compare the effectiveness of solutions to biodiversity loss by assessing each one’s potential success rate, cost, and impact. It works in five steps. First, a coalition of partners is assembled, gathering experts across conservation science, including in model development, data analysis, and impact evaluation. Second, they identify potential solutions from groups across society and the economy. Third, a qualitative and quantitative framework is created, tailored to the solution being assessed. Fourth, the solution’s effectiveness is evaluated using that framework and expert input, validating assumptions about the feasibility of the solution and a cost-benefit analysis. Fifth, the findings are compiled into a publication or interactive dashboard that can be utilized by an array of stakeholders across the public sector, private sector, and academia. Ultimately, the Extinction Solutions Index aims to enable solutions to be diverse, impactful, and ready to scale from the very beginning.
Where do these solutions come from? Every year, Conservation X Labs organizes several challenges and competitions to bring together the brightest minds to address the most pressing environmental problems. In 2025 alone, five challenges were organized. The Fire Grand Challenge, for example, sought new ways to manage and live with fire, asking participants to pair traditional knowledge with innovative technology to create scalable solutions. Alternative Proteins: The Amazon aimed to mitigate deforestation in the Amazon by developing alternative proteins for food products. Through these competitions, the organization has been able to support more than 100 innovations and award over 12 million dollars towards breakthrough solutions.
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Conservation X Labs has also developed innovations of its own. Among their most impactful is Wild Me, an open-source software that supports efficient wildlife population research and assessment. It combines artificial intelligence, computer vision, and citizen science to identify and track wildlife. Anyone can take a picture of an animal and upload it to the platform, where the software identifies the animal and adds the picture to a broader set of citizen science records. Several platforms within Wild Me are specific to different species, including Sharkbook and GiraffeSpotter. The software was recently used in a study that revealed a broader range for whale sharks across the American West Coast than previously understood, demonstrating its value to wildlife research.
Another technology, Sentinel is an AI-powered environmental monitoring system that draws on information from cameras, acoustic sensors, thermal sensors, and other systems to automatically identify events, including poaching and habitat disturbances. Unlike other camera-trap systems, it utilizes edge-AI, processing data directly on the device in the field rather than sending it to the cloud. As a result, the data is processed in real-time, allowing for faster responses to the environmental situations on the ground. The system has been used to track invasive species, detect signs of Feline Leukomyelopathy (FLM) in Florida Panthers, and eliminate incidents of human-elephant conflict in India.
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Conservation increasingly depends on contributions from many fields, and organizations like Conservation X Labs are helping bring diverse voices with new solutions to the table. By opening conservation up to innovation, these new voices can help bring it into a new era.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.