Macau SAR, 2 July, 2025 – To facilitate advancement for conservation and sustainable development, WWF-Hong Kong (WWF) and the United Nations University Institute in Macau (UNU Macau) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will allow them to accelerate the power of digital technologies.
The strategic collaboration will combine WWF’s conservation expertise with UNU Macau’s research to drive impactful solutions for pressing environmental challenges, focusing on three key areas:
1. AI Applications: Joint research projects leveraging artificial intelligence for wetland and ocean monitoring, biodiversity conservation, and visitor management.
2. Policy Innovation: Developing advanced tools to combat wildlife crime and implement One Health approaches that address global health challenges.
3. Knowledge Exchange: Capacity-building on AI-driven digital technologies for wildlife monitoring or forecasting to mitigate zoonotic disease outbreaks.
The cooperation will showcase how ecosystem monitoring and management can be enhanced through advanced technologies, enabling more effective conservation outcomes and better habitat health. Both organisations will actively pursue cooperation through various channels, including collaborative research initiatives, seminars, workshops, and conferences.
The MoU signing ceremony, “AI for Nature: Enabling Partnerships for Green Transformation”, took place at UNU Macau, featuring insights from leaders of both organisations.
Ms. Nicole Wong, CEO of WWF-Hong Kong stated, “Digital technologies demonstrate remarkable potential, particularly in terms of conservation and combating illegal wildlife trade. Time and again, technological innovations have proven instrumental in enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of conservation initiatives. WWF embraces these benefits – in recent years, we have deployed smart solutions using Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence to enhance our wetland and marine conservation work and devise new solutions to fight wildlife crime. We look forward to joining hands with UNU Macau to foster broader conservation collaborations and address global development goals.”
Dr. Jingbo Huang, Director of UNU Macau, remarked, “UNU Macau is committed to advancing research, training, and education on digital technologies for sustainable development. For this mission, it is essential to work with partners around the world to address global challenges, especially for the Global South. WWF has been a close partner of the UNU Global AI Network and the UNU Macau AI Conference. We are excited to see this partnership deepen through today’s MoU with WWF-Hong Kong, and look forward to exploring new opportunities where digital technologies can enhance conservation and sustainable development.”
The event also showcased real-world applications of AI in conservation, including smart initiatives in Hong Kong’s Mai Po Nature Reserve, and the application of AI agents for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A fireside chat and open discussions were held, with experts from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub, KPMG, ATOS, UNU Macau, and WWF-Hong Kong sharing insights on how AI can enable cross-sector collaborations and conversations about challenges and solutions, ethical considerations, and future opportunities.
A Model For the Future
The collaboration marks a significant step forward in leveraging AI technologies for environmental conservation and sustainable development in Hong Kong and Macau. As strategic centres at the intersection of technology and environmental stewardship, the two cities are uniquely positioned to demonstrate how AI-driven solutions can transform conservation efforts.
This collaborative initiative not only addresses local and regional challenges but also sets a global benchmark for leveraging innovation in the fight against biodiversity loss and climate change.
Press Enquiries:
WWF:
Steven Leung
Tel: 2864 1435 / 9028 8784
Email: stevenleung@wwf.org.hk
Christina Cheung
Tel: 2161 9639
Email: christinacheung@wwf.org.hk
UNU Macau:
Qian Dai
Email: comms_macau@unu.edu
