Bits and Atoms

The Artificial Intelligence craze has officially reached Namibia - so we could not ignore it. Though with a twist. Instead of just embracing the "bits" (data, algorithms, and the wonders of the digital world), we’re also keeping our feet firmly planted in the "atoms"—the soil, the water, the life that makes conservation real.

Turns out, we are not alone. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) established a Center for Bits and Atoms in 2001 to explore the boundaries between computer and physical science. Almost 25 years later, Löwen River Rewilding seeks to take a similar approach: leverage both cutting-edge technology and ‘old school’ field work to protect and restore biodiversity.

Getting Our Hands Dirty (Literally)

In a world where things move at hyperspeed (people, decisions, tariffs), the rhythm of atoms is rewarding: pruning plants, taking down fences, looking into irrigation and water tables, studying reptiles (more in our next blog). Elements that are unaffected by politics, social networks or stock markets. Being outdoors and bending down to trim a seedling is a surprisingly effective alternative to yoga (no judgment if you still prefer Pilates). 

For the older generations, that natural environment was the norm. Not much more than a century ago, a third of the world’s population worked on a farm. In the US, that meant 13 million farm workers out of a total workforce of 38 million! (1910 census). Then, mechanisation - tractors, power lifts, rubber tires - changed productivity and our landscapes forever. Many parts of Africa still look like the Western World did 100 years ago. 

baboons visiting our kitchen garden

Around 70% of Namibia’s population relies on natural resources for their livelihood. In the Karas region where Löwen River Rewilding is located, small-scale subsistence livestock and farming yields a gross income of N$11 per hectare (EUR/US$ 55 cents, you read correctly). In this rough environment, older people are worn out. Younger generations, seeing little opportunity to go up the sand dune (= social ladder in Namibia), move to urban centers or depend on welfare. 

A New Frontier: Conservation, Hospitality & AI

Fortunately, there’s another way. Conservation and ecotourism provide some of the best employment opportunities in Africa. Studies show that land dedicated to wildlife tourism generates 25-50 times more income per hectare than traditional farming. That’s why many African nations depend on tourism for a significant chunk of their GDP and job creation.

Successful conservation isn’t just about protecting animals—it’s also about technology and people. The hospitality industry (which supports many conservation projects) requires customer service, adaptability, and digital literacy. Being comfortable with a smartphone, taking decent pictures, and crafting a good social media post have become essential skills. 

Booking systems, financial software, and scheduling tools are standard. The younger generation is more than happy to comply with the digital shift—whether it’s snapping photos for Instagram or managing reservations. A leap that many African countries have taken. Mobile use for banking and payments/wires is even ahead of European countries. And then, of course, there is AI. 

AI and Conservation: The Future is Now

Conservation generates a massive amount of data - pictures, text, tables, videos. Namibia alone is home to 3’912 species found nowhere else on earth! Most of them are insects, reptiles, and birds (IUCN classification). Research and documentation ‘deficient’ (terminology of the IUCN). And, nature never stands still so systematic, long-term monitoring is a task AI is particularly suited for. 

At Löwen River Rewilding for instance, the use of a drone with a regular flying path (waypoints) and a high resolution of pictures/videos allows the tracking of changes over a large, diverse area. Walking and documenting the same space on foot or by vehicle can be enjoyable yet is time consuming and costly. In large nature reserves, censuses are carried out by plane, so no doubt that drones will overtake that process - with an unsurpassed cadence and accuracy, as well as less disruption to the animals. 

Löwen River’s use of AI so far concentrates on the analysis of camera trap pictures. With 4 cameras operating overnight (from 5pm to 8am), a volume of 10’000 pictures is collected in a few weeks. Going through them takes several hours and ranges from reviewing each picture to creating a video (merger of pictures) and increasing play speed (the human brain is superbly adapted to processing pictures a la spot the seven differences!). 

Among a review of several players both generic and specialised, our favorite AI platforms to date are:

1. Google AI & Google Photos

A simple and effective tool. Just type ‘zebras’ and Google will pull up relevant pictures. Limitations are a lack of tagging (metadata of the pictures are not accessed, pictures need to be saved in Google Photos) and analytics. 

2. EcoAssist & AddaxAI

Developed by a talented data scientist and ecologist in the Netherlands (kudos @Peter van Lunteren ;-)), Ecoassist/AddaxAI runs an API to a large open-source model (MegaDetector) to identify specific animals. A library of different regions (including the Namibian Desert) improves performance. If needed, videos are also supported.    

3. Traptagger: AI for Camera Traps

Requiring a steeper learning curve, Traptagger offers advanced features. Once all pictures are uploaded (storage is unlimited and free), the platform allows: 

✅ Count, classify, and individually identify animals

✅ Track migration patterns and generate heatmaps

✅ Compare seasonal behavior (who’s hanging around and who’s just passing through)

✅ Collaborate—we can grant access to other researchers for tagging and analysis

A real collaboration platform between AI, professional users and the wider community. 

dates not rightly set on camera traps. Batteries have a limited life...

4. iNaturalist: The Global Conservation Community

With 300’000 active users and over 220 million engagements, iNaturalist ranks as the go-to social network for biologists and nature lovers. Users upload images, request species identification, and discuss findings—creating a crowdsourced encyclopedia of biodiversity. 

Why It All Matters: The Bits + Atoms Revolution

The future of conservation is not just about protecting nature—it’s about enhancing it through technology. AI can automate tedious work, improve wildlife monitoring, and engage a global community in ways we never imagined.

And this shift is happening at the perfect time. Gen Z—the first true "Bits and Atoms" generation—is digitally native and purpose-driven. More than just a paycheck, they want meaningful work that makes a difference. So whether you’re an old-school conservationist who prefers tracking spoor in the sand or a digital whiz who can train an AI model to count zebras, there’s room for everyone in this movement. I may even know a few people who perfectly fit both categories…

Now, if you’ll excuse me, we have some fences to take down and some creepy crawlers to study.

horned adder (endemic to Chamaites)