The power of digital technology lies in its ability to transform the way we think, act and create value. When directed appropriately, digitalization has huge potential to contribute to the green transition by enhancing the transparency, monitoring and management of nature, increasing access to biodiversity finance and enabling a sustainable global food system. However, it can also bring negative impacts such as exacerbating inequality, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the spread of misinformation. UNDP takes an inclusive, whole-of-society approach to channel digital technology toward a society-wide green transition, while mitigating the unintended negative impacts.
UNDP’s Vision for Nature places nature at the heart of UNDP’s global understanding of development, reflecting the interdependence between humanity and nature that allows both to thrive. Yet now human actions – and inaction – threaten our very existence.
In alignment with UNDP Digital Strategy 2.0, and as part of the Nature Pledge, UNDP is providing support to countries on their green and digital ‘twin transformation’ journeys in the following areas.
Digital strategy and data policy withing the Global Biodiversity Framework. As countries upgrade their National Biodiversity Strategy and Plan (NBSAP), considering the evolving digital technologies and data ecosystem is necessary to better leverage the power of digital and achieve national and global goals.
Monitoring nature. UNDP encourages the use of digital technologies and innovative data sources, particularly geospatial and remote sensing, to facilitate science-based tracking, monitoring, and assessment of nature risks and investment impacts, thus improving the consideration of natural risks and impacts on nature in financing decisions.
Traceability for sustainable food systems. We promote the use of digital technologies to ensure transparent and traceable supply chains for the commodities most linked to ecosystem degradation such as beef, palm oil, soy, timber, fisheries and cocoa.
Transparency and access to finance. Emerging digital technologies that support both the transparent packaging of natural resources into tradeable securities and the monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of impact, enable new ways of connecting nature conservation with investments in local communities, human development and social progress. This also catalyses access to innovative biodiversity finance mechanisms.
Digital technology, when applied to nature, is especially important to indigenous people and local communities. Therefore the digital divide and its impact on various groups must be carefully considered. Local or small-scale actors, whether in rural or urban environments or anywhere in between, often lack access to essential resources needed to exercise control over the issues affecting their lives. The global digital divide continues to widen – while most of North America and Western Europe enjoy nearly 90 per cent digital access there are significant disparities across Latin America and Asia which have high adoption rates in urban areas but low digital access in the more remote, rural areas. Meanwhile Africa reaches over 30 per cent adoption in only a few areas.
Key messages
Nature underpins many of the SDGs: We depend on nature for food, water, clean air and ecosystem services such as carbon capture, as well as for recreation and cultural heritage. Nature is the foundation of human wellbeing and prosperity. It has the power to propel the eradication of poverty and support sustainable development.
UNDP’s Nature Pledge aspires to put nature at the centre of development through three shifts: Shift in the way we value nature; shift financial and economic incentives; and shift the way we design and implement policies. Each of these shifts can be accelerated with digital technologies
UNDP has a substantial portfolio of nature-focused programmes: Many UNDP projects are funded through environmental finance such as the Global Environment Facility and Green Climate Fund, as well as bilateral funding aimed at supporting those furthest left behind (SDGs). These projects deliver both poverty alleviation and environmental benefits
The power of digital technology lies in its ability to transform the way we think, act and create value. Instead of pursuing a limited definition of efficiency – doing the wrong things better – UNDP suggests channelling the power of digital to change the way we understand and interact with nature, empowering local communities, the people who are impacted the most by nature degradation.
When directed appropriately, digitalization brings huge potential to contribute to the green transition through:
enhanced transparency; based on new data sources, systems and analytics;
monitoring and ‘SMART’ management of nature via earth observation, mobile-based ground monitoring, “internet of things” (IoT) sensors, citizen science, automation and other approaches;
enabling access to innovative biodiversity finance mechanisms by effectively managing complex monitoring, reporting and verification procedures, and contract management and payments; and
enabling a resilient and sustainable global food system by improving traceability.
These benefits of digitalization require a whole-of-society approach and must be based on the “leave no one behind” principle, as more than one billion people are still not connected to the internet, most of them residing in developing countries and rural communities.
Opportunities and risks
This section outlines the society-level opportunities and risks associated with digital in the context of the preservation of nature. These should serve as a foundation for developing programme-level theories of change and provide inspiration to programme teams on how digital can support or undermine programme activities relevant to the natural world.
Reducing inequality and the gender divide by enabling all members of society to access technologies related to nature, and by driving smallholder (SME) income and protections. This leads to more equitable opportunities and economic growth.
Strengthening rule of law related to territorial mapping, thereby combatting poaching, illegal logging, drug trafficking and wildlife crime.
Accelerating sustainable shifts such as deforestation-free commodities and sustainable supply chains through enhanced traceability within supply chains (including genetic DNA analysis used for tracing illegal logging and wildlife crime) or direct access to market for sustainable suppliers.
Empowering communities using digital tools for land titling and the mapping of territorial jurisdictions; uses for this technology include climate and carbon trading schemes such as UN-REDD, CBD targets and UNFCCC carbon markets.
Unlocking new, innovative financing mechanisms that are made possible as a result of the decentralised nature and reduced transaction cost of new technologies, such as the Payment for Ecosystem Services system.
Potentially unsustainable use of natural resources can be a consequence of improved harvesting techniques, for example: overfishing due to better sonar location of fish stocks, or increased poaching facilitated by infrared night vision.
Misinformation exacerbated by digital technologies or created using them (deep fakes), including falsified land titles leading to land grabs and dispossession.
Some digital technologies have high costs and barriers to access, making them unavailable to those who need their outputs most. A community ownership approach can help increase access
Technology requires a strong regulatory environment to prevent privacy violations, exacerbation of inequalities, environmental harm or other unethical practices.
Technology can exacerbate inequality if it is not equally and equitably available. This can be prevented by targeted support, training, access, and finance.
The global extraction of rare earth elements and other precious metals, such as cobalt and lithium, is growing steadily to meet increasing demand. Extraction often damages the environment. Further, this growth also contributes to the mounting issue of electronic waste. Implementing right-to-repair legislation and other similar measures is crucial to address both the responsible sourcing of these materials and the effective management of e-waste, ensuring a more sustainable approach to technology production and consumption.
Programming suggestions
Digital Strategy and Data Policy for Biodiversity
In order for countries to move away from approaching digital as only of relevance to IT projects, and to leverage on the power of digital transformation to change the way society values and interacts with nature, a policy level engagement is critical. Support to the development and implementation of a digital strategy or roadmap for the biodiversity sector can help identify longer term strategic programming opportunities which can be programmed into mainstream environmental finance (e.g. the Global Environment Facility or via bilateral donors). Digital Readiness Assessments and data needs assessments for the biodiversity sector can support further understanding the policy level and to unlock a whole-of-society green and digital transformation across government policy and regulations, personal behaviour and the private sector. In this programming area, UNDP will:
Conduct a whole-of-society Digital Readiness Assessment targeting the biodiversity data needed for monitoring and implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Capacity building on the application of data standards to the various and evolving biodiversity reporting needs.
Develop a digital and/or data strategy.
Engage in policy discussions to identify non-conventional partners and contributors to various components of the digital strategy.
Participate in national and international discussions on harmonised data standards across National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
Spatial Data Capacity for Planning, Monitoring and Transparency
Spatial data is a central component necessary for mapping SDG priorities at the national level, offering measurable data-informed priorities and plans. It is key to improve the transparency for the Global Biodiversity Framework.. Spatial data often combines powerful technologies, government planning processes, and civil society mobilisation. It is important to acknowledge the implications of recent advancement of big data and Artificial Intelligence technology when programming..
Core priorities include:
Geospatial information system (GIS) technical capacity building.
Support capacity building to use spatial data for integrated land and sea-use planning. This involves the use of earth observation and satellite imagery, remote sensing (e.g., drones) and IoT sensors.
Use spatial data to map indigenous territories and lands as part of the “30x30 target” to protect 30% of land and seas by the year 2030.
Provide spatial data on key information relevant to rights and livelihoods, such as access to data on carbon storage potential, land tenure, territorial planning, jurisdictional governance frameworks and more through the open data platform UN Biodiversity Lab.
Strengthen water security through digital technologies by analysing satellite data; overlaying watersheds and partnering with local water user organisations to monitor and validate data models and assumptions.
Sustainable Food and Agriculture Commodity Supply Chain
To ensure food security for future generations, agricultural practices must become more sustainable, with support from innovative digital technologies. Emerging areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and the IoT hold the potential to revolutionise food and agricultural systems globally, especially by using data to support improved agriculture information services, early warning systems and the traceability of commodities. While it is tempting to apply cutting edge technologies to a part of the value chain, it is recommended to always consider digitalization opportunities as part of larger policy and practice around food and agriculture, making use of UNDP’s experience in talking to all relevant stakeholders.
Programming opportunities include:
Catalyse deforestation-free commodities, through traceability mechanisms for agricultural products, non-timber forest products and traceable fisheries.
Communicate the origin of products (farm to) to the end consumer to help connect producers and consumers.
Position UNDP as a useful partner for “ESG” sustainable investments: UNDP can help reduce risk with respect to governance concerns within supply chains through transparent traceability mechanisms.
Promote digital financial inclusion, insurance and market connections to enhance the economic well-being of smallholder farmers and SMEs. By improving digital financial literacy and collaborating with the private sector on financing packages and mobile money solutions, we can empower these groups to better manage their business operations. Initiatives like smart insurance can provide tailored coverage, further supporting the growth and stability of smallholder farmers and SMEs.
Establish data standards and Digital Public Infrastructure for agriculture-related data, including registries of ownership of farms and plots of land. Connect individual and business registries with “Payment for Ecosystem Services” (PES)related systems and data. (Example)
Use digital solutions to connect with remote farmers and improve access to services.
Empower Local Actors for Inclusive SMART Environmental Management
Nature loss poses critical risks for countries. It exposes them to increased vulnerability to climate change, exacerbates poverty issues and reduces economic growth options. The loss of nature is often invisible, but digital tools to account for nature loss can help. Remote sensors can help predict natural disasters (as in Pakistan with respect to flooding) and radio frequency tags can help to curb illegal wildlife trade. A wide array of digital tools are available. Combining satellite and remote-sensed data with verification by local actors offers the potential for powerful partnerships with indigenous peoples, farmers and civil society .
Programme proposals include:
Employ SMART environmental management. Use precision agriculture, water and other ecosystem management IoT sensors and drones. Leverage the decentralised nature of digital technologies for citizen science and peer-to-peer verification, including by mapping the impact on natural resources after disasters such as cyclones and earthquakes.
Use detection technologies to avoid illegal logging and poaching.
Use detection and climate forecasting technologies for early warning of natural disasters as part of UNDP’s response under the Sendai Framework. Involve the most vulnerable communities including women, youth, elderly and persons with disabilities in the work.
Map technologies can combine GPS coordinates from hand-held devices as part of territorial identification. This can contribute to verifying UNFCCC and CBD targets.
Rapid deployment of technology, such AI, developments in remote sensing (e.g., bioacoustics), geospatial technology and environmental DNA (eDNA) capabilities, when combined with engagement of local communities in nature tracking (e.g., through CyberTracker or EarthRanger), is predicted to underpin data collation in the future.
Implement effective terrestrial, marine, and wildlife management through digital detection.
Improve sustainable resource production and prevent loss: This includes by using technologies for precision farming and on-farm food processing and for networking and communicating,.
Hold key training events: Including by using remote digital learning systems, radio and other media.
Improve access to market data and services: This includes through low-cost insurance and market and price intelligence.
Empower Local Actors for Inclusive SMART Environmental Management
Digital technology can enable access and benefit sharing to innovative finance mechanisms, such as PES, Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), performance-based payments and watershed payments for the provision of clean water. These are complex mechanisms that require high resolution or ground monitoring, verification, contract management and payment processes. UNDP takes a Digital Public Good (DPG) approach to support countries on digitalizing these procedures. Instead of developing one-off solutions, the suggestion is to utilize already existing open-source technologies and take a collective approach to developing systems that can be replicated and recycled by other countries. The other important concept is Digital Public Infrastructure, which looks at support to, or integration with, national digital ID systems, digital payment protocols and data standards to encourage private sector innovation.
Proposals include:
Encourage reporting and disclosing of risks and impacts on nature by the private sector through data standardization and data sharing policies. Standardized, credible, useful data is required to underpin global nature reporting standards that enable companies and financial institutions to report and act on nature-related risks and opportunities.
Consider the merits of developing decentralised data exchanges that pair open-source and commercially enhanced technological capabilities. It should be noted that a growing digital frontier of nature-related data has resulted in a diverse set of online platforms and tools tailored for specific uses. These platforms and tools have different aims, audiences and information. UNDP is well positioned to work with business associations in developing countries to help them embed technologies in their business reporting and decision making. and transform where appropriate.
Investment in nature experienced significant growth throughout 2022. According to Environmental Finance, thematic biodiversity funds have increased threefold in the last year. By the end of 2022, the combined assets under management of funds or strategies focused on biodiversity rose to $984 million, up from $313 million in 2021. As companies establish biodiversity funds or develop debt instruments to finance biodiversity programmes at scale, technology can improve efficiencies. For example, nature certificates., as advocated by the UNDP-supported Biodiversity Credit Alliance (BCA), can be fully developed by embedding digital technology. To attract the funding needed scalability should be a priority. Lack of trust, transparency and shortcomings in traceability will hinder rapid growth. The BCA aims to learn from the mistakes made in the carbon credit market development: many of those principles, whilst following science, did not account for scalability, including with respect to the design and deployment of technology like Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) in its architecture. BCA’s goal is to integrate verification within Web3 / DLT policy engines, facilitating a scalable and trusted biodiversity credits market.
Implementation of PES, a results-based financing mechanism compensating farmers and local communities for the ecosystem services provided on their land, is often challenged by a lack of effective digital systems to efficiently carry out the complex business process associated with the mechanism and by limited data sharing or coordination across similar incentive mechanisms. Each step of the PES (enrolling and managing contracts, ecosystem monitoring, processing payments) can only be done at the appropriate scale with digital technologies, requiring multi-stakeholder governance platforms/UNDP has experience in establishing these through decentralisation and sub-national planning processes. Digital systems will ease the introduction of complex business processes and increase transparency, encouraging more countries and programmes to adopt this approach. The same principles apply to certification schemes, where transparency in data management is key.
Stakeholders
It is critical to think of digital interventions as a part of broader theory of changes, which may encompass national biodiversity policies, strategies and green sector interventions.
Key stakeholders for digital:
Ministries and government agencies responsible for environmental regulation, policies, and conservation This includes coordination with various governmental bodies: The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, Fishery, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development, and related governmental agencies. Collaboration with these stakeholders ensures not only that the project complies with relevant laws and receives necessary approvals, but also that it facilitates the integration of a digital perspective into forthcoming strategies, policies and regulations pertaining to nature. This integration, in turn, expedites the implementation of digital solutions.
Ministries and government agencies responsible for IT or digital transformation Including government institutions responsible for the national digital transformation, connectivity and/or information technology experts is important for the successful design and implementation of projects, especially if it involves large scale digital system development. Digital and IT experts can often offer guidance on the integration of digital solutions with existing national data platforms, advise on digital related issues such as data privacy, cyber security or data ownership and ensure the project's technical viability.
Indigenous people and local communities Communities play a vital role in nature conservation efforts and can provide local knowledge and perspectives. Consulting them ensures that the project respects and reflects the values, needs and concerns of the people living in the area. Local communities can play an important role in data collection, using a citizen science approach.
Universities, research institutions, accelerator and innovation hubs By fostering partnerships with research institutions, nature experts can tap into cutting-edge innovations. Research institutions can provide valuable insights into local ecosystems, biodiversity and environmental considerations. Their expertise ensures that the project aligns with scientific principles, contributes positively to ecological preservation and contributes to reducing risks.
Environmental NGOs, CSOs, umbrella organizations, and advocacy groups: Because they are often at the forefront of environmental initiatives, collaborating with these organizations to implement a natural digital project can provide additional resources, expertise and support. It also helps ensure that the project aligns with broader conservation goals and would be welcomed in the communities
Private sector, investors, funders Researching and identifying potential private sector partners and investors who have a track record in funding nature digital projects can help generate funding, data or in-kind support. Their input can also help shape the project proposal. As investors often have a vested interest in the success of the project, they may actively support marketing and promotional efforts, helping to increase the visibility of your project. Investors may also spot hidden risks and opportunities to scale up the project.
Space agencies In addition to earth observation data collaboration, space agencies often have accumulated expertise on environmental science, remote sensing and big data management. Partnering with these stakeholders offers unique benefits and often gives access to advanced satellite technology, providing high-resolution Earth observation data. This data can be invaluable for monitoring and understanding natural ecosystems and environmental changes. It may provide opportunities for technology transfer, allowing your project to benefit from advancements in sensor technology, data analysis and other relevant fields. Their projects can provide insights into global environmental issues.
Programming examples
UN Biodiversity Lab and ELSA
The UN Biodiversity Lab is a collaboration of more than 30 partners, convened through UNDP, the UN Environment Program and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, to provide high quality spatial data to governments and other users. In 2022, more than 44,000 users from more than 140 countries used the portal to access the more than 400 data layers. The portal, accredited as a digital public good by the Digital Public Goods Alliance, is also a foundation to enable governments to develop a “Map of Hope” – a consolidated map reflecting where to protect, restore and manage nature within a country to achieve national, nature-dependent sustainable development goals. To date, 14 countries have completed their own Map of Hope.
The UN Biodiversity Lab is a collaboration of more than 30 partners, convened through UNDP, the UN Environment Program and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, to provide high quality spatial data to governments and other users. In 2022, more than 44,000 users from more than 140 countries used the portal to access the more than 400 data layers. The portal, accredited as a digital public good by the Digital Public Goods Alliance, is also a foundation to enable governments to develop a “Map of Hope” – a consolidated map reflecting where to protect, restore and manage nature within a country to achieve national, nature-dependent sustainable development goals. To date, 14 countries have completed their own Map of Hope.
As a part of the PNG Natural Resource Management Hub, a digital toolkit of open-source tools to improve natural resource decision-making, the Lukim Gather mobile data collection application improves monitoring and data collection for remote protected area communities. The app is free and has been designed for users with varying literacy rates to collect geo-referenced social and environmental information, including photos and audio recordings offline. Once uploaded to the cloud-based server, data can be dynamically shared and filtered, and maps can be created to raise awareness and seek funding from donors.
As a part of the PNG Natural Resource Management Hub, a digital toolkit of open-source tools to improve natural resource decision-making, the Lukim Gather mobile data collection application improves monitoring and data collection for remote protected area communities. The app is free and has been designed for users with varying literacy rates to collect geo-referenced social and environmental information, including photos and audio recordings offline. Once uploaded to the cloud-based server, data can be dynamically shared and filtered, and maps can be created to raise awareness and seek funding from donors.
The Ocean Innovation Challenge (OIC) introduces a pioneering approach to expedite progress towards SDG14 (life under water), fostering entrepreneurial solutions for ocean and coastal conservation. Leveraging digitalization, the OIC aims to identify, finance and mentor innovative initiatives that support sustainable livelihoods and drive advancements in the ‘blue economy’. By prioritizing transferable and scalable innovations, including those encompassing technical, policy, economic and financial dimensions, the OIC seeks to amplify its catalytic impact, effectively contributing to the fulfilment of SDG14 targets. Emphasizing the pivotal role of digitalization in transforming both sea-based and land-based sectors, the project requires a synergy of technical breakthroughs and cutting-edge policy frameworks along with robust financial and economic incentives.
The Ocean Innovation Challenge (OIC) introduces a pioneering approach to expedite progress towards SDG14 (life under water), fostering entrepreneurial solutions for ocean and coastal conservation. Leveraging digitalization, the OIC aims to identify, finance and mentor innovative initiatives that support sustainable livelihoods and drive advancements in the ‘blue economy’. By prioritizing transferable and scalable innovations, including those encompassing technical, policy, economic and financial dimensions, the OIC seeks to amplify its catalytic impact, effectively contributing to the fulfilment of SDG14 targets. Emphasizing the pivotal role of digitalization in transforming both sea-based and land-based sectors, the project requires a synergy of technical breakthroughs and cutting-edge policy frameworks along with robust financial and economic incentives.
