The Rainforest Connection: Ending Illegal Logging With Old Smartphones

Illegal logging has been a consistent problem for decades. And while we’ve witnessed a clear reduction in its activity, that hasn’t stopped other loggers from getting away with their crimes. Which is why it’s about time that we started getting creative in ways of catching these crooks red handed.

Say hello to the Rainforest Connection – an activist organization whom are using old smartphones to track down the location of illegal logging, in real-time, and alert the authorities.

Photo Credit: The Rainforest Connection

According to INTERPOL, “It is estimated that illegal logging accounts for 50-90 per cent of all forestry activities in key producer tropical forests,” of which “is highly lucrative and estimated to be worth between USD 51 and USD 152 billion annually.” To combat this, the Rainforest Connection wishes to use smartphones to monitor the sound, and determine the exact location, of chainsaw activity.

FUTURE IMPLICATIONS

It’s very unfortunate that, as a result of developing certain technologies, e.g. the chainsaw, we’ve caused great harm to our own planet. In doing so, not only did we lose some of our faith in humanity, we’ve also lost a bit of our faith in technology as well. But all of that can change, thanks to the Rainforest Connection. By using modern technology, such as smartphones and solar energy, we can finally start combating against the destruction of our planet and those perpetrating said destruction. This is us taking back our humanity and taking back our use of technology for the benefit of our planet and all those who reside within it.