Huawei and IUCN launch Tech4Nature project in partnership with KWS to protect Kenya’s coral reefs
Nairobi, Kenya, January 13, 2025 (IUCN) – Huawei, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) have unveiled a Tech4Nature project kick-off that aims to monitor and protect coral reefs and other marine biodiversity in Kenya’s Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve upon completion.

Aligned with Huawei’s TECH4ALL initiative and the IUCN Green List, the objective of the three-year project is to strengthen monitoring and strategic adaptive management efficacy of the marine protected area. Located on the southern coast of Kenya, Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park and Reserve faces several conservation challenges. These include:
- Illegal fishing and inadequate human resources to effectively patrol the area.
- A lack of remote monitoring of the reserve’s three coral islands coupled with pressures created by tourism, as the fringing reefs are popular diving sites.
- Limited community awareness of the importance of reef and marine biodiversity protection.
- Insufficient communications network infrastructure for underpinning tech-driven monitoring.
- Pollution and rising ocean temperatures which directly impact on coral health
Underwater cameras, photogrammetry, and audio monitoring technologies will be deployed to monitor marine life, including the biomass and population of parrot fish. In many coral reef ecosystems, parrot fish are keystone species that, due to their diet, help prevent coral from being smothered by seaweed and algae. The Tech4Nature solution will also monitor substrate cover in the reef ecosystems, seagrass cover, and the occurrence of green turtles and bottlenose dolphins, which are classified on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as endangered and vulnerable, respectively.
Artificial intelligence (AI) trained to recognize specific target species by sight or sound will provide real-time data-driven insights into the behaviours, populations, and distribution of biodiversity in the reserve and reef ecosystem. A digital power solution and improved network connectivity covering the park and watch tower will enable the rapid transmission of collected data to a cloud server for analysis by AI. The solution in connection with existing technologies will also be able to identify boats used for illegal fishing and send real time alerts for timely responses by law enforcement officers.
The project will be implemented in partnership with KWS and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI). Based on the project’s data-driven insights, the Tech4Nature partners will be able to develop targeted conservation measures for the sustainable productivity of the reserve.
In addition, the project implementation will include community outreach to raise awareness about marine and terrestrial biodiversity changes over time and the presence of different species, including those that are threatened, vulnerable, or endangered.
Ultimately, the site will be assessed against the IUCN Green List Standard, with the goal of ensuring that the reserve obtains IUCN Green List certification.
Tech4Nature is an expansive project that falls under Huawei’s digital inclusion initiative TECH4ALL, where we look at ways to implement technology and innovation in various sectors of our day today life and improving global standards and ensure that we have a sustainable way of life in the world. - Khadija Mohamed, Director of Media and Government Relations for Huawei Kenya.
The technology we are introducing is a groundbreaking development for marine conservation in Kenya. It will serve as a cutting edge monitoring tool for data collection, analysis, and management in a marine protected area. Additionally, this innovation presents an opportunity to assist the park in attaining IUCN Green List certification, aligning with the sustainability goals valued by tourists and ensuring that future generations can continue to benefit from our marine parks. - Innocent Kabenga, Country Representative for the IUCN Kenya Country Office.
For us to deliver our mandate of protecting and conserving our wildlife in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, you have to understand your resources very well. We are partnering with Huawei and IUCN to deploy underwater cameras to acquire data on marine mammals, corals, and fish biomass to guide informed decisions. The advantage of this technology is that it can be deployed in a wider area that are often not within reach of our patrol teams on daily basis. Hence, data gathered will support informed scientific decision making in park management. - Adan Kala, Senior Assistant Director, Coast Conservation Area, Kenya Wildlife Service.
In the KWS Strategic Plan 2024-2028, increased adoption of conservation technology and innovation is among 24 strategic objectives while the conservation and protection of marine protected areas to support co-existence between people and wildlife is key.
Tech4nature will provide a platform where local community will have opportunity to contribute towards nature conservation for improved livelihood through continuous participation and engagement in wildlife conservation activities.
Notes to editors
For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:
Ng’endo Machua, Regional Communications Officer - ESARO, IUCN Office
Mobile: +254 733 591877, [email protected]
Khadija Mohamed, Media Director, Huawei Technologies, Kenya
Mobile: +35472237717, [email protected]
Adan Kala. Senior Assistant Director, Coast Conservation Area, Kenya Wildlife Service
Mobile: +254712369008, [email protected]
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 17,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
About Tech4Nature
Huawei and IUCN launched the Tech4Nature global partnership in 2020 to scale up success in nature conservation through technological innovation. Aligned with Huawei’s TECH4ALL initiative and the IUCN Green List, Tech4Nature has supported 11 flagship projects in 8 countries with tailored solutions to conservation challenges.
Visit the Tech4Nature website: https://tech4nature.iucngreenlist.org/what-is-tech4nature/
About TECH4ALL
TECH4ALL is Huawei's long-term digital inclusion initiative and action plan. Enabled by innovative technologies and partnerships, TECH4ALL is designed to enable inclusion and sustainability in the digital world.
Visit the Huawei TECH4ALL website at https://www.huawei.com/en/tech4all
Follow on X at https://x.com/HUAWEI_TECH4ALL
About Kenya wildlife Service – https://www.kws.go.ke/
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is a State corporation mandated to conserve and manage Kenya’s wildlife, as stipulated in the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act Cap 376 and other related laws and regulations for the Kenyan people and the world.