This week, Peace Parks Foundation’s Jason Gilbertson brings us an enlightening Conservation Conversation with Cecilia Hertz, Swedish Founder and Managing Director of Umbilical Design. She invites us to expand our minds and connect the dots between space and wildlife.
Cecilia has created a project called Space for Wildlife that brings insights and technology from space to conservation. With an industrial designer’s mind, and inspired by a life-changing NASA visit, she has become a highly respected ‘space entrepreneur’ and considers it her calling. “NASA has this ‘everything is possible mentality’,” she says. “I really want to share this on a global level: how we can bring together technology and the mindset from the space sector, in Space for Wildlife.”
With Cecilia’s previous experience ranging from contributing to space research stations to designing thermally resistant underwear for steelworkers, the project came to life when she learned about the threats to Africa’s wildlife, and the immense challenges of protecting it. From elephant and rhino poaching to rangers’ everyday struggles, she knew that there was an opportunity to bring space solutions to the table. “One of my major interests has always been to see how we can support people living and working in extreme environments, no matter if they’re astronauts or rangers,” Cecilia explains. “It’s about looking to the needs of people. And I think it’s also important to show others that if you see something, you can also do something about it.”
At an event hosted by Helena Johnzon-Dahl, Peace Parks Foundation Sweden’s Strategic Development Manager, it all came together. “Helena said, ‘Would you like to do something with me, to save the elephants and look into biodiversity from the space perspective, and what we can do together?’ And, of course, I said yes!” Cecilia recalls. The project was subsequently launched at the Dubai World Expo Space Event in 2020, the perfect platform for a global conservation mission.
Cecilia uses Peace Parks’ approach to conservation at scale – across areas more than twice the size of her homeland – as an interesting comparison. For elephants migrating through vast transboundary landscapes, as for astronauts viewing the Earth from space, there are no borders. This helps her to communicate the concept of the project in a way that people can relate to.
One of the team’s first tasks was to improve rangers’ everyday safety and wellbeing on the ground. Their tents don’t weather the tough conditions well. The thin fabric is battered, and zips are jammed by sand, allowing snakes free entry as rangers sleep. Bringing innovation into a re-design of these tents promises to solve these problems, which are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to issues faced by Africa’s conservation efforts. Peace Parks’ Combatting Wildlife Crime team have workshopped with Space for Wildlife around the challenges of human-wildlife conflict, law enforcement and the support of communities in the landscape. Together, they recognise how these are compounded by a lack of infrastructure, resources, and electricity, making it difficult to implement and sustain high-tech solutions.
Space for Wildlife has been working to enhance elephant camera traps, enabling teams to improve wildlife monitoring and protection. The project has plans to develop drones and a range of sensors as a next step. Looking to the future, Cecilia believes that collaboration is key in sharing and using these new technologies, and that companies can work together with Peace Parks to advance conservation in southern Africa. “I think we have a lot of hope for the future if we can bring in more of the space industry, worldwide, to contribute to sustainable development, and to reach our vital 2030 global goals,” Cecilia says. “And we very much look forward to contributing continuously to Peace Parks’ fantastic work.”
If you are interested about learning more about Space for Wildlife and how you or your company can contribute, please contact Helena Johnzon-Dahl at Peace Parks Foundation Sweden: helena.johnzon@peaceparks.se.
