Huawei, Smart, DENR reveals tech to prevent illegal logging and poaching in Philippine rainforests

Huawei Technologies Philippines, Smart Communications, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), are collaborating to pilot test an Internet of Things (IoT) solution that uses mobile technology to detect rainforest sounds that can help prevent illegal logging and poaching activities in the country's rainforests.

Pilot installations in New Guinlo, Taytay, Palawan

Huawei, Smart, DENR reveals tech to prevent illegal logging and poaching in Philippine rainforests

The group uses a tech called Rainforest Connection (RFCx) that utilizes old cell phones to monitor and record ambient sounds of priority forest areas identified by the DENR. The old cellphones dubbed as "Rainforest Guardians" will be are installed in strategic areas of the rainforest. They will be powered by solar panels and wireless connectivity.

Photo 1 shows representatives of Huawei, PLDT-Smart, Rainforest Connection and DENR namely: Daniel Guo Zhi, Huawei Philippines Vice President/COO; Chaye Cabal-Revilla,  PLDT SVP & Group Controller and concurrent PLDT Group Chief Sustainability Officer; Topher White, Rainforest Connection CEO; and  Brian Lachica, DENR Information Systems Analyst.

The bio-acoustics it'll record will be uploaded to a cloud service using Smart's network and the information can be accessed via Rain Connection mobile app.

Rainforest Connection CEO Topher White with the RFCx Dashboard

The information gathered will be used by community stakeholders to interpret patterns of forest activities and take action in affected areas.

The data can also be accessed by DENR's forest rangers in real-time. With the use of the tech, they can receive real-time alerts on sounds of chainsaws, trucks, and other sounds of forest destruction.

As of writing, the solution has been successfully deployed to five DENR-designated areas in Palawan.

Smart provided wireless connectivity to all the designated pilot sites, namely: Cadlao Island, Maranlao and Pasadena in El Nido; and New Guinlo and Pancol in Taytay.