PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Waze for Wildlife Protection:
The Iberian Lynx

2-MIN READ

How technology, community, and real-time data unite to protect endangered species from vehicular collisions.

How can we protect critically endangered species like the Iberian Lynx from vehicular collisions? How can real-time data and community collaboration be leveraged to safeguard wildlife in areas shared with human infrastructure?

Seeking strategic and actionable answers to these questions, waze teamed up with Infraestruturas de Portugal, ICNF (Portuguese Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests), and its dedicated user community. Our successful partnership helped address key objectives to:

Enable real-time, mass communication to drivers about the presence of endangered animals near roadways.
Establish a direct and automated communication channel from tracked wildlife to drivers in the waze app.
Understand and plan for solutions that support both human mobility and wildlife conservation.

By turning to digital technology and community engagement, the Waze City Lynx initiative improved its overall approach to wildlife protection. They developed a system that better reflected the on-the-ground reality of lynx movements, and launched reliable, real-time messaging to drivers, thanks to increased precision in detecting animal proximity. This resulted in proactive warnings for drivers, aiming for a decrease in wildlife-vehicle incidents and enhanced protection for the critically endangered Iberian Lynx.

"Waze, with its vast user base and community-driven platform, has enabled us to gather precise, real-time information about our Iberian Lynx, directly from the animals themselves. It's a mutually beneficial partnership, where technology and community unite to protect precious biodiversity. And that, that's truly incredible! Now we have cats reporting themselves in the app!"

Impact:

By collaborating through the waze for cities program, the partners and waze community achieved their top objectives across wildlife conservation, driver awareness, and real-time data exchange. To improve the lives of these endangered animals and promote harmonious coexistence, the initiative:

Key Insights: Gathered key insights that help identify critical zones and enhance preventative measures for lynx protection.
Driver Awareness: Optimized driver awareness tools by broadcasting real-time alerts about animals on or near roadways.
Innovative Integration: Implemented an innovative system where GPS-collared lynx directly feed location data into the Waze ecosystem, activating "Animals on Shoulder" alerts.
Targeted Broadcasting: Aimed to broadcast crucial wildlife proximity information to drivers, particularly in high-risk areas.
Pioneering Model: Offered a pioneering model for how mobile applications can contribute to critical conservation efforts.

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Waze for Wildlife Protection: The Iberian Lynx