Following an announcement of opportunity on the Satellite Mobilization for Biodiversity Action in January, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has selected 20 projects that will each receive $250K.
The CSA said in a news release that the “Twenty Canadian companies, eight of which collaborate with Indigenous organizations, will develop projects to address issues such as declining species populations, habitat degradation, deteriorating water quality and forest disturbance. By applying artificial intelligence to satellite data, some of the funded projects will detect invasive plants, assess forest and agricultural landscapes, and monitor migratory birds which, in turn, will provide actionable information to safeguard biodiversity.”
CSA President Lisa Campbell made the announcement at the 76th International Astronautical Congress being held in Sydney, Australia saying, “…today, I’m pleased to announce that we’re providing funding to 20 Canadian companies through our smartEarth initiative. The Canadian Space Agency will invest $5 million to support
innovative solutions using satellite data to tackle biodiversity challenges. Some of these projects are AI driven. They’ll address issues including declining species population, habitat degradation, deteriorating water quality and also forest disturbance.”
In the news release, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change said, “Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy provides a blueprint for safeguarding our rich biodiversity that supports healthy and resilient communities and wildlife, and long-term economic prosperity. With this investment, we’re building expertise and unlocking opportunities for innovation and technological advancement to contribute to a nature-positive future for all Canadians.”
The 20 concepts listed below support Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy.
Organization Project title Description Arctus Inc. (Quebec) EeyouSat This project aims to enhance satellite-based mapping and monitoring of coastal ecosystems, with an initial focus on Eeyou Istchee, where the Cree Nation has reported habitat degradation. It will conduct R&D to improve mapping of submerged vegetation and coastal ice. A.U.G. Signals Ltd. (Ontario) AI-powered satellite-based approach for freshwater biodiversity and risk assessment This project aims to develop a web-based GIS software prototype that will provide remote sensing based algal bloom detection, algae concentration, and water quality assessments and monitoring. This technology will benefit Canadians by enabling healthier ecosystems that provide clean air, water, and local climate regulation. ASL Environmental Sciences Inc. (British Columbia) DeCAF-RRT This project aims to develop the DeCAF-RRT, a wide-area monitoring tool using satellite Earth observation (SEO), to support salmon habitat monitoring. Effective monitoring promotes healthy ecosystems, sustainable biodiversity, and stable salmon populations for food and economic security. Biodiversity Pathways (Alberta) SEO data in bird models This project aims to integrate SEO data into spatially explicit bird abundance models to enhance biodiversity conservation and land-use planning in Canada. Birds Canada (Ontario) Applications to integrate SEO information into NatureCounts platform NatureCounts, the largest biodiversity data repository in Canada, is a technology platform used to collect, analyze and share critical information on bird populations. This project aims to develop the tools needed to integrate SEO information into the collection and interpretation of biodiversity data. Complex System Inc. (Alberta) Satellite analytic This project aims to develop a trustworthy AI software based on a data-driven predictive-3D technology from a single 2D satellite image. It will provide new high-resolution 3D maps and change-detection to aid in assessing land, agriculture, and provide resilience to topography changes. Fluvial Systems Research Inc. (FSR) (British Columbia) Arctic marine mammal ecosystem SEO monitoring This project aims to develop a framework for using SEO to protect North Atlantic right whales. A three-step methodology using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical imagery will detect feeding areas, confirm whale presence, and identify individuals, supporting enforcement, reducing vessel strikes, and guiding conservation. Habitat Inc. (Eco2Urb) (Quebec) Detecting long-term trends in biodiversity change with EO This project aims to develop a framework to guide investments by analyzing spatial and temporal changes in land cover and biodiversity indicators using Earth observation and AI in five case study watersheds. H2O Geomatics Inc. (Ontario) BIOCLIM-EO This project aims to integrate SEO data with AI into a novel dashboard to track biodiversity and climate variables (EBVs and ECVs) to make climate and biodiversity monitoring more scalable and automated. Hatfield Consultants Partnership (British Columbia) Hatfield SAVER This project aims to integrate existing and novel SEO biodiversity products into a multimodal machine learning (MM-ML) model to assess ecosystem recovery, validated through two boreal forest case studies focusing on woodland caribou and birds. Korotu Technology Inc. (Ontario) Landsteward Farm This project aims to leverage Earth observations from satellites, drones, and ground-based technologies (e.g., mobile phones) to improve the ability to quantify, map, and monitor biodiversity in the complex mosaic of land use and land management of agricultural landscapes. Metaspectral, MLVX (British Columbia) AI-driven detection and monitoring of invasive leafy spurge This project aims to develop an AI-powered online platform using high-resolution satellite imagery to rapidly detect and monitor leafy spurge, a highly invasive plant threatening Canada’s agriculture and biodiversity, mapping populations and tracking changes over time to support decision-making. NorthStar Earth and Space Inc. (Quebec) SBEO TreeSpecies This project aims to develop a hyperspectral-based capability to map plant species from space, focusing on enhancing spatial resolution of hyperspectral data and assessing its effectiveness for plant species mapping. NextGen Environmental Research Inc. (Manitoba) Biodiversity and habitat restoration system This project aims to develop an SEO platform to monitor the Prairies with precision annually to track the effects of climate change that may result in further losses to habitat biodiversity. Northern Hardwoods Research Institute (New Brunswick) Advancing biodiversity monitoring and ecosystem change detection This project aims to develop an AI-powered system using satellite imagery and remote sensing technology to monitor biodiversity and track ecosystem changes in New Brunswick, including habitat features, forest regrowth, and the impacts of ecosystem management and climate change. Orcinus Technologies Inc. (Newfoundland and Labrador) Biodiversity-driven traffic optimization system This project aims to develop an advanced traffic safety system using AI, satellite imagery, drones, and smart sensors to detect moose movements and warn drivers in real time. By predicting high-risk areas, the system will send alerts to navigation apps, adjust speed limits, and enhance road safety. SkyWatch Space Applications Inc. (Ontario) VHR land cover products for biodiversity This project aims to deliver on-demand Earth observation tools for biodiversity monitoring using the SkyWatch cloud platform, combining VAP processing, VHR landcover, and specialized data to turn optical, SAR, and hyperspectral imagery into actionable insights. Vanderkooij Consult Inc. (Ontario) Vanderkooij Consult SAR time series This initiative aims to develop cost-effective monitoring tools for Northern Canada’s ecosystems, collaborating with government and Indigenous partners to track climate and biodiversity impacts and guide future SAR land monitoring strategies. WSP Canada Inc. (Quebec) SatCaribou This project aims to develop an AI and satellite-based tool to enhance boreal caribou habitat mapping in the Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam community, adding a spatio-temporal dimension and supporting research. Wildlands League (Ontario) EO & Indigenous knowledge for bird and community climate resilience This project aims to map climate strongholds for migratory birds in Canada and their links to U.S. and Latin American sites, then uses satellite data and Indigenous knowledge to assess conditions breeding climate strongholds in the Hudson Bay Lowlands and connected nonbreeding areas.