3edata, Spain - A collaborative approach to conservation innovation through habitat and land use mapping, change detection, and biodiversity monitoring

The partnership between Sensing Clues and 3edata, as part of the Nature FIRST project, demonstrates the transformative power of collaboration. Together, these organisations are advancing habitat and land use mapping, change detection, and biodiversity monitoring, creating tools that are adaptable to the needs of conservationists, administrations, and NGOs across the globe.

A shared mission, complementary strengths

At the core of this collaboration lies a shared mission to equip conservationists with the tools they need to monitor and manage ecosystems effectively. 3edata brings its expertise in habitat mapping and artificial intelligence, while Sensing Clues offers digital platforms like the data collection app Cluey, Focus 360 Situational Awareness, and the Analytical Toolbox that integrate data collection, synchronisation, analysis, and visualisation.

“We focus on creating habitat maps and detecting changes, while Sensing Clues integrates these maps into a broader system that supports real-time monitoring and decision-making. This is not only a great value for conservationists, but also for us, as it allows us to reach a broader audience of users with a shared need for environmental protection,” explains Boris, Head of Technology Area from 3edata.

Dynamic habitat mapping with training areas

One of the Nature FIRST project’s standout results between these two partners is their collaborative approach to habitat and land use mapping, which combines satellite imagery with on-the-ground observations. To allow for semi-automatic habitat mapping using 3edata’s AI model, training areas — locations where local data is collected to fine-tune algorithms and ensure mapping accuracy in the mapped territory –, need to be selected and classified by local experts. This process is made easier through leveraging Sensing Clues’ data collection app Cluey that allows for a user-friendly process in identifying and collecting data at the identified locations.

“Training areas are essential for building reliable habitat maps,” Boris notes, “Cluey makes it easier to collect and integrate this field data and verify training areas, especially for users without extensive GIS expertise.”

These dynamic maps, uploaded into Sensing Clues’ platform, allow conservationists to not only view ecosystems but also monitor changes and track conservation activities in real-time.

Change detection: identifying shifts, empowering action

The collaboration’s integrated approach extends to change detection, a critical tool for identifying habitat alterations like deforestation or illegal logging. 3edata’s satellite image classification model, paired with the Sensing Clues technology, provides a system that alerts users to changes and helps them prioritise interventions. In Zambia, this system is already making an impact by helping local teams monitor rural landscapes, assess the success of conservation projects, and ensure donor-funded activities are meeting their goals.

“We identify shifts in land cover, and Sensing Clues translates those insights into actionable alerts for conservation teams” says Boris on the importance for impact in the field.

Applications in practice

The partnership’s results are already visible in several regions:

• Europe: Habitat maps for sites in Ukraine, Bulgaria, Spain and Romania are helping local teams manage biodiversity, human-wildlife conflict and plan connectivity projects within the Nature FIRST project.

• Zambia: Land cover maps and change detection tools monitor deforestation and land-use changes, ensuring that conservation and restoration efforts are effective and measurable.

“The partnership allows us to extend the reach of habitat mapping and make conservation tools accessible to those who need them most,” Boris emphasises.

Looking ahead

“We believe that organising environmental data effectively is crucial for biodiversity monitoring. Administrations often produce vast amounts of data on nature conservation and environmental monitoring, but much of it remains scattered in PDFs or reports, lacking integration. The approach of Sensing Clues — structuring and connecting this data through a knowledge graph — is both ambitious and highly impactful. It simplifies access to insights, supports informed decision-making, and makes GIS tools more accessible, especially for those without advanced technical expertise.”