Artificial Intelligence in the Jungle Project

We define wealth differently for each of us. However, things that we place great value on usually have one thing in common: they are very rare. If we venture into the hostile realm of space for a change of perspective, it quickly becomes clear that we live in immeasurable wealth. We only know of one planet with life on it – and so much of it! There are probably well over 10 million species that make our home planet what it is. But this treasure trove is being plundered at an alarming rate. Not since the extinction of the dinosaurs have so many species become extinct as now.

What can be done about it? A lot! And the best place to start is at home. Germany was once covered in gigantic beech forests teeming with life. They are the "tropical rainforests" of Europe, highly biodiverse, extremely important, and at the same time highly endangered. Only a few percent of Germany is still covered by intact ancient beech forests, which provide a home for over 12,000 different species. To change this, Wohlleben's Forest Academy is constantly searching for ancient forests. In the UrwaldProjekt (Urwald Project), these forests are strictly protected and allowed to develop into the primeval forests of tomorrow.

Research and monitoring

Monitoring is underway to gain more precise information about who lives in these forests and how biodiversity benefits from their protected status. This is being done in cooperation with various universities in the region. The Forest Academy is also relying on satellite data, state-of-the-art sensors, and artificial intelligence. Sensors were recently installed on two parts of the project to continuously monitor the forest's health and record biodiversity. Temperature measurements are being taken to record the specific internal forest climate. Acoustic sensors also capture all sounds and, with the help of artificial intelligence, assign them to their sources in real time. This makes it possible to record the diversity of birds and insects, as well as bats, in real time without disturbing the wildlife – a total of 10,000 species can be identified using AI. Combined with satellite data, which precisely record the forest's health and cooling capacity, a comprehensive picture of the emerging primeval forest emerges.

In the future, project supporters will be able to track live which species thrive in their forest plot. To ensure that more and more species find a safe home, the UrwaldProjekt relies on your support. Would you like to sponsor the forest, just like Jack Wolfskin, and banish chainsaws from the forest? Then become a sponsor here !