Land restoration is about more than planting trees, says environmentalist Susan Graham. Check out how her team combines drone technology with ecology-trained AI to restore degraded land and revive complex, biodiverse ecosystems — whether it’s on a small island or across an entire continent.
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Every year, humans change
10 million hectares of land,
and not for the better.
Right now, there are more than two billion
hectares of degraded land
around the world.
We need to fix this fast,
and technology can help.
Restoration is an enormous,
complex challenge.
It cannot be done
by simply planting trees.
We need to bring native,
complex ecosystems back to life,
and it requires deep ecological expertise.
Until now, we have been limited
to poor facsimiles,
like vast plantations
of a single kind of tree.
But drones change that
by allowing us to gather data
and plant the right mix of vegetation
quickly, at enormous scales.
And machine-learning analysis
enables us to plan the planting
and then monitor our restoration work.
For example, in Australia,
we’re using drone-based planting
and ecology-trained AI
to restore thousands of hectares
of land mined for coal.
Not just planting trees,
but bringing back biodiverse,
complex ecosystems.
On a larger scale,
native forests here in Australia
have been decimated
by catastrophic bushfires
and land-clearing for agriculture.
This means diminished food sources
and safe habitats for koalas.
A new project would allow us to accelerate
the restoration of thousands
of hectares of koala forests
over the next few years.
With these combined technologies,
we’re able to scale up restoration
from a small island
to an entire continent.
We can return forests to land
where a mine used to be,
or recreate ecosystems
like the one we’re hoping to restore
on Lord Howe Island,
birthplace of one of the world’s
largest insects.
This unique island
is plagued by imported species,
where we’re helping to eradicate
the undesirable plants
to allow endemic species to thrive.
It’s not just billions of trees.
It’s restoring nature
in all its complexity and beauty.
Thank you.
Arthur Knevitz
October 6, 2021 at 2:42 pm
Technology is awesome, but “ecology without class struggle is gardening”.
Chico Mendes always on point.
Arthur Knevitz
October 6, 2021 at 4:50 pm
@walperstyle Ecologia é o estudo do meio ambiente e dos seres vivos que o habitam, é a ciência que lida com as relações desses indivíduos e sistemas. Esses indivíduos, por sua vez, estão sujeitos ao sistema no qual nós nos organizamos como sociedade; e o sistema hegemônico hoje é o capitalismo.
Então discutir ecologia sem discutir como nós organizamos a produção de riqueza no mundo (capitalismo e luta de classes) é uma discussão pobre e que sequer tangencia os problemas em suas causas.
Tecnologia é um reflexo da sociedade e está sujeita a ela. Discutir seriamente como a tecnologia servirá para salvar os ecossistemas é discutir seriamente como se fundamenta nossa sociedade.
Leia Chico Mendes. Aprofunde-se no tema.
walperstyle
October 6, 2021 at 5:13 pm
@Arthur Knevitz Capitalism can protect lands should the market be allowed to function. how? Please read iPencil… It may have been one of Milton Friedman’s works. It was about the preservation of land because of the value it holds over time. Do you own any land and are you protecting any land? no, because you are an activist with a keyboard who votes in corrupted governments who control entire nations resources with debt based currency..
Please please see that you are being played by government officials.
Capitalism give you power to be the cure, socialism and corporatism give it to others. Dangerous.
Arthur Knevitz
October 6, 2021 at 5:36 pm
@walperstyle Eu esperava alguma colocação mais profunda do que “socialismo é ruim, capitalismo é bom”, mas infelizmente um pessegueiro jamais dará maçãs.
O liberalismo é, de fato, a negação da realidade e com isso eu não me misturo.
Tenha um bom dia e uma ótima semana.
walperstyle
October 6, 2021 at 6:59 pm
@Arthur Knevitz Sounds like you are just simply looking for an excuse to steal from others, and you’d probably vote to have someone do that theft for you. Entitled much?
Arthur Knevitz
October 6, 2021 at 7:46 pm
@walperstyle Em uma discussão séria eu colocaria todo o conceito de “roubo” em questão. Porém tu criou um personagem caricato na tua cabeça e atribuiu ele a mim pra ficar mais fácil de achar que tu tem razão de qualquer coisa que seja.
O conceito de roubo tem mil significados sociológicos na sociedade em que vivemos e outros mil na sociedade que desejo construir para meus filhos e parece que isso ainda não tá muito claro pra ti. Assim como não estão claros os significados e nuances dos termos “capitalismo”, “socialismo”, “comunismo” e “estado de bem estar social”.
Esses conceitos são importantes para a discussão séria que o tema em questão exige, então sugiro cautela ao sair tirando conclusões precipitadamente.
Espero que tu tenha um bom dia e uma boa semana, entretanto. E continue nutrindo o nobre desejo de viver em um planeta saudável para nossa espécie.
HorriBilis
October 6, 2021 at 2:58 pm
I wanna mute my overthinking 😣
jones wambua
October 6, 2021 at 3:00 pm
we have a secret to revert our semierid areas of east africa back as it was 50yrs ago
Arnold P. H.
October 6, 2021 at 3:04 pm
Those koalas 😓😭😥😢
Shyam Ramesh Ram
October 6, 2021 at 3:10 pm
hey I agree with you 100% anyway
TJ Tampa
October 6, 2021 at 3:15 pm
Yeah, find out what corporate Giants and small ones are causing the decimation and get to the source of the problem. Needs to be solved with a two-prong approach. On the front end exactly what you’re talkin about. And on the back end, going to the source and stopping it there.
walperstyle
October 6, 2021 at 4:29 pm
It isn’t just corporations, its unions and governments. The fact is, nuclear technology is here and can power entire nations should we get the government out of the way and let the nuclear scientists build them. The costs are high BECAUSE of bogus regulations created in the 60’s.
Aylbdr Madison
October 6, 2021 at 4:40 pm
We must insist on transparency from media, corporations, and especially governments.
Daryl Lee
October 6, 2021 at 3:38 pm
That’s the problem economics always win. Nature just can’t recover fast enough to make a difference
walperstyle
October 6, 2021 at 5:14 pm
disagree. if economics were allowed to function properly, people could make decisions with the money they spend instead of corrupt politicians. Socialism and Corporatism are evil, Capitalism is where you and your money and your customers decide the fate of the planet. To be honest, I would rather empower you than someone else…. yet I bet you vote hard every few years, expecting change.
yes i will help stop patriarchy
October 6, 2021 at 3:52 pm
Planting is an incredibly important part of the path we have to walk! At the same time we must abolish the white-supremacist, capitalist patriarchy that is destroying our world! No amount of planted trees will outgrow this monsters destruction.
Nikolay Nedev
October 6, 2021 at 3:57 pm
Average human IQ is 85/90 this can’t be fixed, no matter how much though you plant 🌱… Humans are focused on safety, reproduction, and to stuff themselves to death, to actually remember something you need to first understand it and most people don’t get out of the circle eat , reproduce, be aware of danger. Good luck with saving planet Earth…
MiO.
October 6, 2021 at 4:00 pm
‘La plantation par drone et une IA formée à l’écologie’ !
Imaginez-vous les transformations écologiques qui peuvent être engendrées par de tels moyens ? L’idée est belle mais de grâce, permettez à l’homme de planter lui-même là où il y a besoin et avec des graines primaires…
N’oublions pas que ces déséquilibres et désastres planétaires sont, pour la plupart, la conséquence impardonnable d’actes de certains humains.
Aylbdr Madison
October 6, 2021 at 4:38 pm
Nous pouvons être des guérisseurs, ou nous pouvons être des destructeurs. Nous pouvons donner le bon exemple, ou un mauvais exemple. J’échoue souvent, mais je m’en soucie suffisamment pour essayer de donner le bon exemple. J’ai de grands espoirs pour que les humains évoluent au-delà de cette destruction. ^-^
Hope the translator didn’t fail me too badly. lols
MiO.
October 6, 2021 at 6:52 pm
@Aylbdr Madison Vos mots sont justes et votre espoir est grand, alors cette belle planète sera protégée au-delà des mots, par des actes et des gestes de protection, de développement, dans le respect des hommes, des animaux et de la nature 🙏
Le traducteur a bien fait son travail 😉
Krunoslav Stifter
October 6, 2021 at 4:19 pm
Oh great TED hosting more watermelons. What could possibly go wrong? Last fruitcake wanted to give human rights to rivers and streams. Its a cult like religion they follow that has nothing to do with reality.
walperstyle
October 6, 2021 at 4:28 pm
NUCLEAR… TRUST THE SCIENCE YOU FOOLS.
Paradise Music Library
October 6, 2021 at 4:45 pm
Dear person that’s reading this, we may not know each others but I wish you all the best in life!✨ Stop blaming yourself, accept things and go forward. Your smile is precious 🥰 all the keys of happiness is in your hands, so open it up 🔓
David Wells
October 6, 2021 at 5:16 pm
Thank you. I really needed this message right now.
squeezeslemons
October 6, 2021 at 6:25 pm
Cringe
Bhupesh Kaushal
October 6, 2021 at 5:44 pm
So good
Bhupesh Kaushal
October 6, 2021 at 5:44 pm
Bhupesh kaushal from himachal pradesh state India
Chan Aidan
October 6, 2021 at 6:26 pm
Summary:
Restoration, bringing complex, biodiverse ecosystems cannot be made by only planting trees
Drones can let us plant quickly and monitor our work
Lord Howe island restoring ecosystem of large insects
Ayman Hosny
October 6, 2021 at 6:42 pm
I’ve subtitled these texts into Arabic to make it more useful for the environment.
Charlo
October 6, 2021 at 8:20 pm
You dont need AI to restore nature. Permaculture principle are already working and it have been proven in 1970.
j.s [기마이] Varaba
October 6, 2021 at 8:30 pm
오늘도 영상 👀잘보고 갈께요~
📰구독 👍좋아요 ⏰알람 ……….👌오케이
(^^) (__)(^^)
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October 6, 2021 at 8:35 pm
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October 6, 2021 at 9:42 pm
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October 6, 2021 at 9:43 pm
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October 6, 2021 at 9:43 pm
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October 6, 2021 at 9:44 pm
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Andrew
October 6, 2021 at 11:37 pm
Maybe you use your vast wealth for good . Try improving the environment rather than selling do nothing courses.
3finnian
October 6, 2021 at 8:50 pm
She seemed like she was trying far too hard to be professional in this video and it came across really faceless and lacking human character. I watched some AI videos the other day and they even seemed more realistic than her.
Lewis Santos
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October 7, 2021 at 1:31 am
Hello anyone?
WHAT App❶❻❸❻❼❸⓿❺❷❸⓿
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Pinned By Jason Pizzino
October 7, 2021 at 1:51 am
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WHAT App❶❻❸❻❼❸⓿❺❷❸⓿
October 7, 2021 at 1:53 am
Thanks.
Ryan S
October 7, 2021 at 1:49 am
Nice. Now we need to just stop big corprate.
Q Handmade
October 7, 2021 at 2:11 am
Leuke video, mooie machine ook!
Keith
October 7, 2021 at 2:51 am
Earth doesn’t need your help but it does appreciate it.
Hublexys
October 7, 2021 at 3:16 am
Please do this in the Amazon
kh Mg
October 7, 2021 at 3:43 am
米国プロテスタント教会とは、悪魔で有る日本人の教え普及活動の事です。 米国聖書とは、日本人が、神の名前無断拝借して、日本人に都合が、良い様に、改ざん、捏造、歪曲された書籍です。 偽り聖書に、振り回されて居ます。
hussain najmuddin
October 7, 2021 at 4:37 am
This was good but I was focused on her teeth
Jeff
October 7, 2021 at 6:19 am
Go Australia!
فوزيه حداقه
October 7, 2021 at 6:26 am
🌐
M1S4K1 Enshoiwa
October 7, 2021 at 6:56 am
Is this for real ? I’ll check google maps you hear or fly over there
Greg Gary
October 7, 2021 at 9:11 am
Actually interesting – more info on the trained AI would be super helpful – 2:27 is way too short for any meaningful understanding
The Proof is in the Plants
October 8, 2021 at 9:00 am
I agree. This video taught me nothing relevant.
Smile Please
October 7, 2021 at 9:33 am
The time is less than we think…
We have to do it fast
tom ellis
October 7, 2021 at 9:47 am
Could drones be developed to eradicate unwanted plant species? Here, in UK, giant hogweed is a problem. It spreads along inaccessible water courses, then invades other areas. Perhaps AI drones could cut off the flower heads to prevent seeding.
BOMB.COM
October 7, 2021 at 9:58 am
<3
Lars Hansen
October 7, 2021 at 10:57 am
But how? By drones? Nice words but no info
noel hutchins
October 7, 2021 at 6:24 pm
Any machine-flattened land should be returned to a disarranged state of irregular furrows and swales: flip asphalt chunks onto their sides at the bare minimum, exposing some soil and leaving a spot for standing puddles and high points for shade; increase the natural surface area geometrically, by breaking up the impervious straight flatness left by founders.
Ben Jones
October 7, 2021 at 8:52 pm
Lack of biodiversity will kill us before the c02, so projects like this are a good thing. Though beefing up the firefighters resources is going to be required to stop it all burning down again.
Venkatesh Prabhu
October 7, 2021 at 9:44 pm
I made a small mini forest, surrounded by apts.
Manu Natividade
October 8, 2021 at 1:17 am
Estou estudando por meio de seus vídeos, muito bom. 😁
American Politicians
October 8, 2021 at 1:20 am
Joe Biden Republicans Need To Stop Playing Russian Roulette With The Economy
Republicans forcing us to default on the debt would lead to a self-inflicted wound that would take o…
michaers
October 8, 2021 at 6:40 am
The video is so informative. Save our planet
Tony Pelliccio
October 8, 2021 at 1:08 pm
Just look at what happened to yellowstone when they re introduced wolves. It’s amazing
Carson Fenne
October 14, 2021 at 10:17 pm
How does this relate to drones planting biodiversity?
Tony Pelliccio
October 14, 2021 at 10:37 pm
@Carson Fenne it just shows that sometimes a simple change produces amazing results.
Invox
October 8, 2021 at 6:16 pm
My God… Her VOICE!
i was just caught offgard… 😓
emilio
October 10, 2021 at 4:12 pm
SHES FINE AF BRUH OMM SHE BADDDD
Vitaliy Ivashkevich
October 8, 2021 at 7:41 pm
Першочерговим завданням повинно бути збереження екосистеми, недопущення її змін за рахунок забруднення та не цільового використання. Як кажуть ” Чисто не там, де прибирають, а там, де не смітять”.
Vũ Hồng Nhung
October 9, 2021 at 5:55 am
Wow. It’s so amazing.
flex capacitor
October 9, 2021 at 5:54 pm
thank you. reforestation forest gardens dedesertification
totalfreedom45
October 10, 2021 at 10:29 am
Cattle ranching and the Bolsonaro government are killing the lungs of the earth—the Amazon rainforest. Mother Earth and people over profits! 💕 ☮ 🌎 🌌
Prove Me Wrong
October 10, 2021 at 12:12 pm
I think I’d steer clear of the term, “irradicate undesirables” in a public video even if I had an angelic face and heartwarming smile.
Some words just shouldn’t hold hands.
Why do you feel the need to defy gravity while saving the planet…it is not efficient unless your craft is lighter than air.
Watch a kite club do their thing or imagine your goal using balloons, esp for payload delivery. Low tech that is no longer under patent offers economics to your project that may offer you more flexibility.
Bad weather can ground your project or expedite it’s effectiveness.
Ben A
October 10, 2021 at 3:10 pm
very interesting idea
15x4 Talks - English
October 12, 2021 at 8:56 am
focusing on science and facts will lead us in the right direction to saving our Earth! great talk!
Christopher Mckay
October 12, 2021 at 10:16 am
And who’s going to pay for this stuff? And how can you monetize it? And who says biodiversity is actually a good thing? Where’s the evidence?
Loretta
October 13, 2021 at 8:32 pm
You need to research and understand microbes. Life is built on biodiversity. Everything helps each other. You’re body wouldn’t function without gut biodiversity. And where does that come from.. the soil.
Gaby Costa
October 13, 2021 at 10:56 am
Drones and all TECHY Solutions need MINING, a DEVASTATING PROBLEM! So HARMFUL FOR WATER…. Careful
Loretta
October 13, 2021 at 8:30 pm
Twice you showed a map of Australia without Tasmania. 🤷♀️