Rainforest Connection is an environmental tech company that uses innovative technology to combat illegal deforestation and poaching. Founded by Topher White in 2014, the organization repurposes old smartphones into solar-powered listening devices that are placed high in the trees of endangered forests. These devices capture the sounds of the forest in real-time, allowing Rainforest Connection to detect illegal activities such as chainsaws and gunshots, which are then relayed to local rangers for immediate action. This technology provides a vital tool in the fight to preserve some of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems and protect indigenous communities that rely on these forests.
