Kopački Rit symposium highlights AI biodiversity monitoring

The 15th International Symposium, titled ‘Kopački Rit Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow 2026’, is being held at the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences in Osijek. This year’s event marks the 50th anniversary of Kopački Rit being declared a Nature Park, the fifth anniversary of the Mura-Drava-Danube UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and 15 years of the symposium itself.

A key highlight is the conclusion of the Tech4All Nature Guardian Croatia – WatchOut project. Over three years, researchers recorded 4.4 million minutes of sound across 98 locations within the wetlands. Using an artificial intelligence model developed by the WildMon team, including experts from the Amazon, the system successfully identified 164 species of birds, mammals, and amphibians. The project aims to use these acoustic data to monitor the health of the habitat.

The symposium features 127 scientific presentations, including oral and poster sessions, focusing on environmental protection, biodiversity, and sustainable development.