Vultures are a highly intelligent group of birds that provide important ecosystem services. Yet, populations of old-world vultures decreased dramatically in the last decades owing to anthropogenic factors. Efficient conservation strategies that address critical threats such as indiscriminate poisoning or depleted food sources need to be developed. At the same time, their behaviour including social interactions is still poorly understood. Building on high-tech tracking equipment and AI-based analytical tools, GAIA aims at better understanding how vultures communicate, interact and cooperate, forage, breed and rear their young. Additionally, the GAIA scientists research the social foraging strategies of white-backed vultures and the information transfer within carnivore-scavenger-communities. In the animal kingdom it is common across taxa that the search for food is undertaken not only as individuals but in a group. Animals forage together or rely on knowledge from other individuals to find food. This so-called social foraging presumably yields benefits, for example concerning the amount of food that is found, the size of prey that can be hunted or the time required to access food. GAIA investigates species-specific mechanisms in behaviour and communication as well as the incentives, benefits and possible disadvantages for individuals.

By further understanding these intra- and inter-speficic connections and interactions, GAIA also contributes to better understanding roots of human-wildlife conflicts (which are often connected to carnivore behaviour) and to species management. In Namibia for example, research into the lion communities helps understanding their spatial behaviour and mitigating contacts with the local population (e.g. cattle farmers) to manage human-wildlife conflict (GBF target 4). This knowledge is also utilized to observe and manage local lion populations sustainably to benefit people (GBF target 9), balancing conflict mitigation and tourism.

Communities must benefit from the data collected, and we ensure they do.

We support quarterly data-sharing meetings between Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) community conservancies and Big Life Foundation, creating an open forum where data informs collaborative decision-making. This includes town planning, land-use strategies and community-led conservation initiatives.

By sharing insights on wildlife movements, environmental conditions and human activity, communities can plan together for peace, security and the prevention of human-wildlife conflict (HWC). These sessions empower conservancies to co-develop solutions across landscapes, strengthening cross-border cooperation and ensuring that data drives action where it’s needed most.

CCF provides a holistic digital ecosystem integrating landscape-scale technology, training and community engagement to drive meaningful change, contributing to GBF Target 20 – Strengthen Capacity-Building, Technology Transfer, and Scientific and Technical Cooperation for Biodiversity.

A visualisation platform for real-time protected area management, helping managers make informed, conservation-related operational decisions. A community of users is now sharing best practices and innovative concepts, engaging EarthRanger as it extends beyond just elephant protection to a diversity of wildlife, ecological and community applications.

From soil moisture and water levels to animal migrations and habitat health, data from sensors travels via Cisco LoRaWAN gateways and Actility’s ThingPark™ Platform to central operations rooms, where platforms like EarthRanger provide a comprehensive 360-degree view of ecosystem health and threats. Previously, these have been donated by Cisco Inc. 
These LoRaWan gateways now support over 800 IoT sensors across protected areas. 

Actility  LoRaWAN Things Park Network ServerThe network server connects sensors, gateways and end-user applications and ensures reliable and secure data routing all along the LoRaWAN network. Along with the Operation Support System (or OSS), they are the brain that controls the complete LoRaWAN network

With our platform and tools, we not only provide opportunities to raise funds, simplify data collection for monitoring, and detect forest fires earlier to enable faster response, but also foster a sense of ownership for small grassroots projects tackling the globally critical issue of the climate crisis. Each project on our platform is encouraged to share its challenges and success stories with us and the broader community. This engagement happens through regular Community Talks or direct connections with other projects facing similar challenges, fostering meaningful discussions and facilitating valuable knowledge exchange at both local and regional levels.

Our project badges further enhance this sense of belonging, serving as both a symbol of community membership and an official seal of quality for potential supporters. Additionally, our free and confidential advisory service offers Restoration Organizations tailored guidance from our team of experts, empowering them to sustainably develop and improve their initiatives.