AI could help win ‘race against extinction’ of vital plants, say botanists
Botanists from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, highlight how AI and digitisation are becoming critical in the 'race against extinction' for vital plants and fungi, enabling rapid identification of new species and unlocking genetic data. This technological advancement is seen as a turning point, with approximately 40% of assessed plant species currently at risk.
Why it matters
The application of AI and advanced technology in biodiversity conservation offers significant hope for preserving essential plant and fungi species, which are fundamental to Earth's ecosystems, food supply, medicine, and climate regulation.
A botanist at Kew’s Madagascar research site scans a plant for digitisation. Photograph: Jeff Eden/RBG Kew View image in fullscreen A botanist at Kew’s Madagascar research site scans a plant for digitisation. Photograph: Jeff Eden/RBG Kew Plants AI could help win ‘race against extinction’ of vital plants, say botanists Tech is helping to identify and save new specimens and could open ‘genomic goldmine’ of fungi data
The article reports on scientific findings and technological applications in conservation, presented factually by a reputable environmental news source without overt political or ideological framing.
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