SMART: Using Data to Prevent Poaching

"Conservationist, Xia Stevens, teaching anti-poaching scouts about SMART program, Sioma, western Zambia"
CONSERVATIONIST XIA STEVENS TEACHING ANTI-POACHING SCOUTS ABOUT THE SMART PROGRAM. SIOMA, WESTERN ZAMBIA.
© Sebastian Kennerknecht​​​​

Wild cats and their prey need well-trained to effectively protect them from poachers and other threats. Developed by a consortium of NGOs, SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) is an accessible computer-based platform used to measure, evaluate and improve the effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement patrols.
 
A key component of Panthera’s conservation strategy is law enforcement. In order to be effective, these law enforcement patrols need to be coordinated and monitored.

"Anti-poaching scouts performing SMART training exercise, Sioma, western Zambia"
Anti-poaching scouts performing SMART training exercise, Sioma, western Zambia
© sebastian kennerknecht


First, critical data is collected by anti-poaching teams and researchers in the field using a ruggedized mobile device with the SMART mobile app installed. This data includes:

  • The location of patrol efforts
  • Patrol outcomes (such as number of arrests, snares removed, guns confiscated)
  • Illegal activities (such as poaching, logging, setting snares)
  • Signs, behaviors and locations of key wildlife populations
"African Lion biologists, Xia Stevens and Milan Vinks, looking at images to identify lioness, Busanga Plains, Kafue National Park, Zambia"
AFRICAN LION BIOLOGISTS XIA STEVENS AND MILAN VINKS LOOKING AT IMAGES TO IDENTIFY A LIONESS. BUSANGA PLAINS, KAFUE NATIONAL PARK, ZAMBIA​​.
© sebastian kennerknecht​​​

This information is uploaded to SMART, which rapidly analyses the data and produces maps, graphs and automated reports. At Panthera’s sites, SMART answers questions like:

  • What is the patrol coverage of law enforcement teams?
  • Have there been any changes in the frequency, distribution or type of poaching over time?
  • What is the relative performance of different ranger teams?
  • Where have key species been sighted?
  • Have there been any changes in the frequency or distribution of key species?
  • Have the threats to key species changed over time?
  • Are wildlife populations increasing or decreasing in relation to law enforcement efforts? 

Along with a number of SMART consortium members and other NGOs, Panthera uses SMART data to shape law enforcement and conservation efforts in critical landscapes across Africa and Asia.