People of Climate Change: How “AI for Changemakers” Supports Those Fighting for a Sustainable Future
By Jean Ekwa · October 28, 2024 — 5 minutes read
Today we talk with Phil Dickenson, the founder behind Replant World, an Indigenous community-led initiative revolutionizing forest conservation. Through their innovative DMRV (Digital Measurement, Reporting, and Validation) technology, Replant World is bridging the gap between traditional Indigenous wisdom and modern tech solutions.
Launched in March 2024, their platform not only tracks tree planting and biodiversity impacts but also ensures direct funding reaches Indigenous communities who protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity yet often find themselves excluded from major conservation efforts.
Shauna Blackmon: Hi Phil, so lovely to meet you. Thanks for taking the time to talk. To start off, can you tell us a bit about Replant World and your mission?
Replant World is an Indigenous community-led native forest and biodiversity project. We’re currently using technology, thanks to being matched by Tech To The Rescue. We’ve developed DMRV technology, which stands for Digital Measurement, Reporting, and Validation or Verification. We use it to capture, measure, and report biodiversity impacts, predominantly through tree planting within forest ecosystems, whether heavily cleared and degraded or needing biodiversity support, as identified by local Indigenous communities. We publish those biodiversity impacts on the blockchain so everyone can see the work that’s being done, where it’s happening, and all the associated metadata. We hope this technology enables direct funding for Indigenous peoples, who are often excluded from conservation efforts by large NGOs.
Shauna: When you say it was spread and adopted, does that mean Replant World is actively sharing this idea and technology with other groups?
Shauna: It seems like Replant World is very tech-heavy now. Was that always the case?
Phil: We’re primarily focused on forest ecosystems and their restoration, especially if they’ve been degraded by industry or climate impacts. But you’re right—our focus on tech came from a desire to use it for good. About two or three years ago, I started looking into tech that could capture tree planting and use third-party verification for it. I found a company beta-testing some technology, and we began using it. We provided feedback, helping them improve it, but it wasn’t moving in the direction we wanted. So we submitted a proposal to Tech To The Rescue to help us develop our own tech, which we launched in March 2024.
Phil: The two key impacts are transparency and direct funding for Indigenous peoples. Despite making up 5% of the global population, Indigenous peoples protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity but receive only a fraction of the funds they need to continue this work. Our technology enables them to measure and report their biodiversity impacts, allowing them to receive direct funding through a marketplace we’re developing.
Tree planting has grown in the past couple of decades, but the industry is opaque. A lot of the trees being planted are productive trees, like cacao or coffee, which are often cut down after they’ve served their economic purpose, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere. Transparency allows sponsors and the public to trust that nature restoration is being done by the right people in the right way.
Phil: Productive trees do have ecological value, especially in agroforestry systems. But biodiversity is about nature thriving and flourishing through natural regeneration. We’ve done a lot of damage to biodiversity, and now we need to restore it. Letting forests regenerate naturally would be ideal, but with climate change, we don’t have the luxury of time. We need to plant a diverse mix of trees to replicate natural ecosystems. Currently, only about 300 species are being planted, out of the 40,000-50,000 species available in tropical ecosystems.
Phil: The camaraderie has been amazing. It’s inspiring to be part of a network tackling climate issues from different angles. The technology will empower Indigenous communities, allowing them to take control of their own conservation efforts. AI will also help us access important data for conservation and combine it with Indigenous knowledge, creating powerful solutions. Fundraising is also a big part of what we hope to gain. Indigenous peoples protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity, yet they make up 15% of the global poor. We need to get more funding to these communities and ensure they’re recognized for their stewardship of nature.
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