As we confront the interlinked challenges of climate change, habitat loss, and biodiversity decline, the urgency to rethink our approach to nature conservation has never been more pressing. At the same time, this era of escalating environmental challenges is also marked by rapid technological advancement, and the potential for the responsible and ethical use of technology to protect and conserve nature is clear.

As we stand at the crossroads of a pivotal decade, the imperative and the opportunity to harmonise innovation with conservation have never been more compelling.

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This Tech4Nature flagship publication presents cutting-edge technologies and digital solutions for the fair and effective management of protected and conserved areas and threatened species. It is intended to help conservationists, policymakers, and the ICT sector explore the multifaceted intersections of technology and nature and navigate the rapidly evolving and dynamic landscape on the use and potential of innovative technology in conservation.

This publication has three primary objectives:

1. Showcasing technological innovations through a compendium of cutting-edge technologies, such as remote sensing, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and big-data analytics, and their applications for the fair and effective management of protected and conserved areas (PCAs) and threatened species. Real-world case studies show where these technologies are revolutionising decision-making processes that result in timely action for ecosystems and species.
2. Guiding policy and decision making by providing policy makers, conservationists, the ICT sector, and other stakeholders with actionable insights into the integration of technology into PCA management. We emphasise the importance of robust policy frameworks, ethical considerations, and cross-sectoral collaborations to leverage the full potential of technology and digital solutions for conservation.
3. Fostering global collaboration by catalysing partnerships among technology developers in the ICT sector, conservation organisations, governments, Indigenous Peoples and communities, youth groups, and academia and research institutes. By facilitating knowledge exchange and cross-disciplinary collaboration, Tech4Nature accelerates the development and adoption of technology-driven solutions.

Tech4Nature is a global partnership aimed at scaling-up success in nature conservation through digital technology innovation. Created by IUCN and the Huawei TECH4ALL programme, Tech4Nature is an open partnership to apply and promote digital solutions for fair and effective protected and conserved areas (PCAs). This growing partnership provides guidance on the appropriate use of technology in area-based conservation and directly involves the information and communications technology (ICT) sector in supporting nature conservation.

At the heart of the Tech4Nature partnership is the IUCN Green List Standard, which describes the steps and processes required to achieve long-term success for people and nature for . The Standard guides and ensures appropriate and responsible deployment of technology in this partnership. In adopting the IUCN Green List Standard, committed protected and conserved areas and their stakeholders build up a profile of actions and processes that allow them to set clear conservation objectives and demonstrate progress and successful results.