Plus: 5 myths about saving the Earth
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Dear readers, this week we explored how citizen science can help save the rainforest...
Some 15% of the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest and a crucial carbon repository, has been cut or burned down. And scientists are warning of an impending tipping point beyond which the Amazon will be irreparably transformed.
To help, experts have designed an artificial intelligence model that can recognize signs of deforestation. That data can be used to alert governments and conservation organizations where intervention is needed and to inform policies that protect vital ecosystems. It may even one day predict where deforestation is likely to happen next.
In order to better train the model, the researchers have turned to crowdsourcing. They invite users to visit their web app to flip through pictures of the Amazon looking for clues of human impact.
“You don’t have to be a climate scientist, you don’t have to be a data scientist, you just have to be a citizen that is concerned about the issue of deforestation,” said Elliot Inman, one of the researchers who helped develop the app. So, if you’ve got as little as 30 seconds and a decent internet connection, you can help combat the deforestation of the Amazon.
What do you think? We'd love to hear from you. Cheers, Laura, Amanda and Kyla |
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'Dramatic' Global Rise In Laws Defending Rights Of Nature At least 14 countries have passed such measures in the past dozen years. [Thomson Reuters Foundation]
Why ‘Biodegradable’ Isn’t What You Think It sounds positive, but there are a few ways the label ‘biodegradable’ may cause more problems than it solves. [New York Times]
Dozens Of City Governments Declare Racism A Public Health Crisis More than 50 city declarations put racism’s health impacts on par with disease and addiction. Health organizations and school districts are adopting them too. [Bloomberg]
How Affluent People Can End Their Mindless Overconsumption Every energy reduction we can make is a gift to future humans, and all life on Earth. [Vox]
The Wurst Is Over: Why Germany Now Loves To Go Vegetarian More than 40% of Germans are cutting down on meat, and vegan burgers are a shopping mall staple. [The Guardian]
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