Deforestation is typically defined as the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. In Southeast Asia, deforestation is fast becoming a major issue as more and more land is being cleared to make way for the building of homes and other related urban facilities. As it is an inevitability due to society’s ever-increasing need for more space to accommodate a growing population, careful planning is no longer an option but a must.

Uncontrolled deforestation can lead to many problems of which one such example is a loss of biodiversity. Biodiversity loss refers to the decline in the number, genetic variability, and variety of species, and the biological communities in a given area. For instance, in Southeast Asia our forests are home to some of the most endangered animals in the world such as the Tapanuli orangutans, Bawean deer, and Sumatran rhinoceros.

This matters because the loss of a species has massive adverse impacts on the environment and by extension, human society. To illustrate, many plants rely on insects and animals to pollinate; if the bee population ever declines it would cause a reduction in the number of pollinated which in turn would negatively impact crop yields and our overall food supply.

Not only that, but medical researchers are also still reliant on natural sources to find ingredients for much of the medication that we use. There are still many of our forests that are unexplored and one wrong move could cost humanity some potentially lifesaving cure.

That aside, this is not the only environmental issue that is of concern to leaders within the region. Just as deforestation is an inevitable fact of urban development, another unavoidable side effect of urbanization is pollution.

Today, air and water pollution are amongst the most critical environmental issues plaguing the region. Unabated, it

is not difficult to imagine what impact it would have on the local population; more people would get sick, mortality rates could increase for those with respiratory issues, and the development of young children will be jeopardised. In fact, Southeast Asia is already home to some of the most polluted cities in the world. For example, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phnom Penh. If ignored, the development of the region will be in jeopardy as it cannot maintain a healthy enough population that can contribute to that goal.

How is AI being involved?

As the saying goes “necessity is the mother of all invention” and with the aforementioned issues, that proverb rings true. We cannot ignore these problems if we desire a meaningful and sustainable future for upcoming generations. To that end, many individuals and groups have stepped up to answer the call for a solution to help or at the very least, mitigate these issues and with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), these solutions have only grown in efficiency and effectiveness.

One real-world example is right here in Malaysia in the state of Sarawak whereby the Sarawak Forestry Department and Sarawak Forestry Corporation has partnered with Huawei to install devices called ‘Guardians’ in the Similajau National Park to help monitor local wildlife and illegal logging activities through the use of sound. These devices use IoT and Huawei Cloud AI to do so and the data is sent back to the relevant authorities in real-time so immediate action can be taken whenever necessary.

Another example of how AI is being utilised in the fight for environmental sustainability is the SERVIR Southeast Asia project.  For this project, a number of nations were involved such as the Lao PDR, The Philippines, and Thailand.  How exactly does this project help in the fight for environmental sustainability?

One component of the system, using satellite data provided by NASA and through a regional application called the Southeast Asia air quality tracker keeps key decision makers informed about air quality, forest fires, and haze. The ultimate result has been greater regional collaboration and improved decision making in the goal to achieve resource conservation.

Let’s advance AI for sustainability

To conclude, it is heartening to see society’s dedication in trying to save this planet we call home. With the amount of investment being made to further develop artificial intelligence we have definitely made leaps and bounds in this endeavour. So much so that one could say that a greener future for ASEAN might not be that far off.  Join our Community Group and be part of the conversation to build a greener future.