Bioacoustics: veritree’s Innovative Approach to Biodiversity Monitoring

We are dedicated to ecological restoration and harnessing technology to support nature-based solutions that address climate change and biodiversity loss. One of the ways to measure our impact is through bioacoustics — capturing and analyzing the sounds of wildlife, such as birds, to monitor species presence, abundance, and behaviour over time. 

Why Birds?

Birds are invaluable indicators of ecological health and restoration success due to their sensitivity to environmental changes, diverse habitat range, and the advanced capabilities of bioacoustics technology in monitoring their populations and behaviours. They often serve as umbrella species, meaning their well-being reflects the health of other species and the broader ecosystem. For example, changes in bird populations can indicate issues such as habitat loss or pollution.

How it Works

Installation

Bioacoustic sensors are part of our upgraded ROOT (Real-Time Observation of Trees) System which represents a major advancement in our approach to forest monitoring and restoration. With an extended array of capabilities, such as soil and bioacoustic sensors, heat and humidity trackers, and cameras, we are able to receive a comprehensive view of the forest’s health. The veritree team installs bioacoustic monitors at the sites to capture bird calls and songs by using dual microphones, enabling continuous and non-intrusive data collection. Gathering real-time data without frequent site visits significantly enhances the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of our monitoring efforts.

Signal Processing & Machine Learning Model

All the bioacoustic sensor data we receive from our monitors undergoes thorough data analysis, which includes quality checks, tagging, and labelling, as well as signal processing tasks like spectral analysis, designing spectral filters, and breaking audio into manageable chunks. These audio segments are then fed into our machine learning model (MLM). Another crucial input for the MLM is the local species catalog, which lists all the unique species in a specific area. By combining multiple data sources, we create a robust master data catalog that enhances and validates our bioacoustic detections.

Using the processed audio files and the local species catalog, the MLM predicts which species are present. After detection and identification, we perform a secondary analysis to derive key indicators, such as species richness, providing deeper insights into the health of the ecosystem.

Output

Bioacoustic sensors enable veritree to achieve accurate species identification, abundance estimation, and monitoring of habitat quality over time without physically observing or capturing the birds. Corporate partners can also easily access user-friendly outputs for their planting projects, including visuals of species, descriptions, relevant taxonomy, and audio recordings, through the corporate partner portal. These resources are part of veritree’s ongoing measurement and monitoring efforts.

Conclusion

Bioacoustics is an innovative approach to assessing the health of local ecosystems and ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of our restoration efforts. We specifically focus on birds as they are highly responsive to alterations in their habitats, making them effective indicators of ecological shifts. Our technology allows for accurate species identification, abundance estimation, and monitoring of habitat quality over time without physically observing or capturing wildlife.

Interested in learning more about veritree’s use of bioacoustics? Reach out to us today!