Tech Revolutionizing Africa's Conservation Efforts

The Power of Storytelling and Technology in Conservation

Three storytellers and technology experts have joined forces to use video games and virtual reality as tools for raising awareness about conservation efforts across Africa. Their mission is to engage a broad audience by meeting people where they are—through the games they play on various platforms. This initiative has led to the creation of several games, including Terra Nil, Beyond Blue, ustwo games, TreesPlease Games, PlanetPlay, and E-Line Media & Gibbon: Beyond the Trees.

The focus of these projects is on storytelling, ensuring that the narratives of Africa are told by and from the perspective of its people. This approach is central to the work of Noel Kok and Pragna Parsotam-Kok, who co-founded Nature Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers. In partnership with the National Geographic Society, they launched a collaboration called Africa Refocused, aiming to shift the narrative around African stories.

Gautam Shah, a former National Geographic Explorer Fellow and founder of Internet of Elephants, has lived in Nanyuki, Kenya, for over 14 years. His organization focuses on sharing wildlife and conservation stories through digital interactive approaches. Shah emphasizes the importance of engaging the next generation of people, meeting them where they are, and leveraging video games as a powerful medium for conservation.

“We believe that the Internet of Elephants utilises technology to promote conservation and biodiversity,” Shah said. He noted that traditional top-down solutions to conservation are often ineffective, and the urgency of saving the planet requires exploring all possible avenues to reach more people, especially the younger generation.

Traditional Data and Indigenous Knowledge

Parsotam-Kok highlighted that Africa Refocused aims to change who gets to tell the African story, ensuring that it is told by Africans themselves. With Shah’s expertise in game development, they seek to bring a fresh perspective to conservation and planetary protection. They support filmmakers through grants, enabling them to produce films that can be shared globally and locally.

Shah emphasized the importance of data in creating games, utilizing datasets such as GPS tracking, caller data, bioacoustic data, camera trap data, and webcam data. Additionally, observational data from fieldwork is crucial, particularly traditional knowledge data, which has been passed down orally for centuries across Africa.

“In the upcoming training lab for African storytellers, we aim to incorporate indigenous knowledge systems and data from that,” Kok said. This approach ensures that the stories are deeply connected to the cultural heritage of Africa.

Navigating Regulations and Collaboration

Addressing policies and regulations, Shah noted that data ownership can vary widely between countries, often belonging to universities, government entities, or individual researchers. However, there is a growing movement toward standardization in these areas. A significant effort is underway in Africa to make data open and accessible to all.

Currently, the initiatives of Shah, Kok, and Parsotam-Kok operate within the legal frameworks of available data at individual, organizational, research, country, and regional levels. They collaborate with researchers, organizations, governments, and multinational entities, emphasizing the benefits of data beyond scientific purposes.

“We call them fellows, and we have a network of more than 350 fellows from 32 countries in Africa,” Shah said. These collaborations benefit the community, including anyone participating in the labs or receiving funding for their projects.

Utilizing Existing Platforms and Technologies

To create conservation-conscious games, the team does not need to reinvent new technologies. Instead, they leverage publicly available platforms such as Unity and Unreal, as well as mobile platforms like Google Play and the App Store, consoles like Xbox and PlayStation, and PC via Steam. The cost to access these technologies ranges from three to five dollars per month, depending on the number of users.

Internet of Elephants developed a game called ‘Wilderverse’ in collaboration with an organization in DR Congo and a partner in Borneo. The game uses publicly available augmented reality technology provided by Google and Unity as a development platform, available on iOS and Android devices.

Parsotam-Kok praised the expertise of Shah and his partner Jake in gaming. She also mentioned that other game developers have applied but were not selected, bringing their own experience with existing platforms.

Interactive Games and Community Engagement

Despite challenges in accessing electricity and internet connectivity in remote areas, Kok believes this should not deter efforts to raise awareness about conservation using available technology. They highlight alternative methods such as roadshows to bring communities together and showcase films.

“Our programme strives for a balance between learning and practical application,” Kok said. While 25% of the day may involve lectures, the remaining 75% will be hands-on, allowing participants to actively engage in creating games and solutions rather than passively listening.

Participants will explore creative ways to make conservation fun and engaging, potentially through formats like party games or dance activities. They are encouraged to approach the topic from a pirate’s perspective, fostering innovative and unconventional ideas.

Passionate storytellers and technology experts come together to explore how to convey messages about environmental conservation and biodiversity through games, including video games and virtual reality. The goal is to make the planet better for future generations.