AI Shows Rainforest More Biodiverse Than Believed NVIDIA Blog

If a tree falls in Peru's rainforest, Greg Asner can tell you what kind it was. Asner, an ecologist at the Carnegie Institution for Science and Stanford University, uses artificial intelligence and a powerful spectral imaging method to map the rainforest in unprecedented detail. By identifying each tree species by its chemical composition, he has shown the rainforest is more diverse than anyone thought. Asner's map takes the guesswork out of protecting one of the most biodiverse places on Earth and pinpointing new areas for conservation. "It's really advancing our ability to save forests and curb climate change," he said.