Ericsson’s Connect Mangrove project, the first of its kind in the world, combines cloud, machine-to-machine and mobile broadband to help the local community in Selangor to better manage the growth of new mangrove saplings.
This is how it works: Volunteers plant mangrove saplings equipped with sensors that can monitor real-time information about soil and weather conditions, fires, water levels and any intrusion from third parties to ensure positive growth and rehabilitation of eroded coastlines.
The data are compiled and sent directly to a cloud system where users, such as farmers, NGOs, analysts and authorities, can have access to it to understand more about the current status of the saplings.
The “Connected Mangroves” project was awarded under the Momentum for Change-ICT Solutions focus area because it is a good example of how ICT and mobility can be used together to restore dwindling mangrove plantations and thus help absorb carbon emissions while protecting residents from natural disasters such as flooding.
Together with the other winning projects, it will be showcased at a series of special events during the UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech, Morocco from Nov 7-18.
Other winners of the award include a Google-led project that can catalyse the rooftop solar market for millions of people across the United States, an ingenious net that harvests fog from the air to provide drinking water for people on the edge of Morocco’s Sahara Desert, and a project that has established the first women-specific standard to measure and monetise women’s empowerment benefits of climate action.
A statement from Ericsson said NGO estimates showed that only 40 per cent of mangrove saplings had been able to reach maturity in recent years in Malaysia.
However, it added, pilot results from its project showed an improvement of 50 per cent in their mortality rate. This implies that with the “Connected Mangrove” approach, for every 1,000 saplings, around 700 or more could reach adulthood than normally would be the case.
Ericsson Malaysia and Sri Lanka President Todd Ashton said: “The Connected Mangroves project addresses the need to protect an important part of the ecosystem of the nearly 3,000 miles of coastline in Malaysia.
“By combining ICT innovation with collaborative partnerships that are built on a shared vision, we now see that a higher percentage of mangrove saplings will most likely reach maturity.
“In addition, through this Internet of Things solution, the community has been empowered to use data to manage their environment and take action to support the mangroves – and their community – to thrive.”
Phase 1 of the project involved the planting of 200 seedlings. Phase 2 will have 1,000 seedlings. The Ericsson team hopes to plant a total of 10,000 seedlings.
Mangroves are a vital part of Malaysia’s ecosystem, protecting villages near coastlines and river banks from environmental risks.
They are among the most effective trees in the world for soaking up carbon dioxide that generates dangerous climate change.