Digital Mangroves: Promise and Peril

As part of the International Mangrove Day Webinar Series, the GLOW project is sharing a collection of short talks highlighting the science and innovation shaping the future of coastal wetland conservation.

Continuing this feature, Dr César Herrera Acosta from the Global Wetlands Project examines how digital tools — from sensors and AI to large-scale monitoring systems — are redefining how we study and manage mangroves. His talk, “Digital Mangroves: Promise and Peril,” explores both the potential and pitfalls of these emerging technologies.

Dr Herrera highlights the “proxy problem”, the challenge of using indirect data to understand biodiversity trends, and emphasizes the importance of expanding the depth and breadth of monitoring efforts. He calls for the creation of interdisciplinary, inclusive, and ethical digital systems that genuinely serve both ecosystems and the communities who depend on them.

🎥 Watch the video here to hear how digital technologies can bridge science, ethics, and community engagement in mangrove conservation.