Tech-Driven Biodiversity Conservation
Research Challenges
22% reduction in tree cover from 2001 to 2023 globally
9.8% decrease in tree cover since 2000 in Lebanon
Forests are facing rapid depletion, largely due to climate change, which is driving more frequent pest outbreaks, diseases, and droughts
22% of the evaluated plant species in 2023 by the IUCN have experienced a decline
Worldwide, there is a decline in the identification and classification of plant
species. Furthermore, the ability to identify plant species is hindered by limited on-site identification capabilities
In densely populated urban centers, initiatives aimed at urban greening are increasingly scarce
Research on the contribution of green balconies to urban spaces is limited, with most studies focusing on public green roofs and green walls
Our Vision
Develop and apply tools from electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science to monitor and restore biodiversity ecosystems in Lebanon
Our Mission
Developing Robotic, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning solutions to document, safeguard, and restore the Lebanese biodiversity
Our Goals
At SLB, our team actively engages in diverse aspects of biodiversity conservation. Our primary goal is to protect Lebanon’s rich biodiversity and revitalize degraded plant species through a combination of AI cutting-edge technological tools, management and monitoring techniques, and community involvement
forest health
Developing forest health monitoring techniques for informed desicion-making
Resilience
Promoting citizen action through green balconies
ecosystem restoration
Developing robotic and automated solutions for reforestation
knowledge creation
Documenting plant species trends by the creation of an Artificial Intelligence-enabled classification and recognition tool for Lebanese plant species
citizen science
Empowering residents and all stakeholders by providing them with user-friendly Artificial Intelligence assistance tools and engaging them in co-creation
Our Research Topics
Monitoring Forest Lands
Projects aiming at creating cutting-edge forest land management solutions through collaborative decision-making and applying advanced technologies
protecting urban greening
Projects involving urban communities in transforming and greening their balconies
solving taxonomic impediment
Projects focused on the identification, classification, and documentation of plant species in Lebanon
1. Engel, M. S., Cerico, L. M. P., Daniel, G. M., Dellape, P. M., Lobl, L., Marinov, M.,…Zacharie, C. K. (2021). The taxonomic impediment: A shortage of taxonomists, not the lack of technical approaches. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 193(2), 381-387. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab07.
2. Exposito-Alonso, M. (2023). Understanding local plant extinctions before it is too late: bridging evolutionary genomics with global ecology. New Phytologist, 237(6), 2005-2011. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18718.
3. Global Forest Watch. (2024). Accessed from https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/global/ on [13/07/2024].
4. Global Forest Watch. (2024). Accessed from https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/LBN/ on [13/07/2024].