Illegal deforestation is a screaming injustice. But trees can't scream for help so we had the idea of giving trees a voice. We developed a warning system called Screaming Trees. It is a self-sufficient monitoring device hanging high up in the trees where it constantly measures the ambient noises. Whenever a chainsaw is used in protected areas, Screaming Trees infallibly detects it, sending out a warning signal via 3G. The local population and nature activists receive a notification on their smartphones, tablet pcs and notebooks, with exact location data of the tree. They can then take action and prevent trees from getting cut down.

Once the idea for Screaming Trees was born, we teamed up with an NGO, which was already fighting illegal loggers in the Romanian Carpathians. When developing the technology we faced several challenges before bringing the idea to life. The device had to be inconspicuous, cheap, self-sufficient and accurate. The result: A wooden birdhouse, easy to assemble and packed with the best in I.O.T. tech. In the mean time we also had been working on a promotional campaign, to raise awareness and funds to let the project grow. We came up with a live feed website, where people all around the world can get involved, by checking the device data in real-time.

The pilot-phase has just started in cooperation with Agent Green. The device is open source, so the blueprints are accessible for free on our website. This way we want to give like-minded people, activists and NGOs all around the world the opportunity to benefit from our initiative. Furthermore we will air a 30 seconds spot on a popular German TV channel to drive awareness and raise funds for our endeavours. Additionally via different digital touch points and active communication we want get as many people involved as possible. Screaming Trees is our contribution for a global movement to protect the nature and move inactive governments.

The initiative utilised data insights across two key areas:

1 – It provided live data on tree attacks enabling immediate responses, as well as a continual data pool providing further insight on areas most targeted, required response times, etc.

2 – Provided opportunity to gather consumer data on campaign interaction, enabling tracking and optimization.

TARGET AUDIENCE (CONSUMER DEMOGRAPHIC/INDIVIDUALS/ORGANISATIONS)

Our targets included NGO’s directly fighting this cause, by offering them tools to enable their work at no extra cost to them.

Additionally we engaged directly with consumers active with this cause, gaining direct contributions (funding), and protective help as well recruitment of peers.

APPROACH

Ultimately aimed at achieving 4 objectives:

1 – Give nature a voice it’s never had

2 – Help activist’s with an effective tool to counter illegal loggers

3 – Get concerned consumers to actively participate

4 – Put pressure on the government to up their game

Romania is home to Europe’s last primeval forests, which stretch over at least 218.000 hectares of land. Sadly more and more woodlands vanishing due to illegal logging. 8,8 million cubic meters get cut down, right behind our backs, every single day. Ignorance and corruption keep the Romanian authorities from stepping into action. The urgency of this problem leaves no time for procrastination and calls for direct communication via real-time data. Thus activists and population have the chance to act quickly.