Vodafone taps IoT and AI to help protect National Parks

Vodafone has embarked on a three-year collaboration to leverage its IoT and AI capabilities to help protect National Parks.

Announced today, the partnership represents a commitment to intertwining advanced technology with on-the-ground environmental stewardship across all fifteen UK National Parks and intends to bolster conservation efforts, enhance public engagement, and support the long-term sustainability of these vital natural landscapes.

Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer at Vodafone UK, said: “We all have a role to play in protecting nature for future generations. For more than 40 years, we’ve been connecting our customers to the people, places and things they love.

“This new partnership with the National Parks brings our technology together with on-the-ground initiatives to make a real impact.”

A key initial focus will be the deployment of AI to enhance habitat mapping. This initiative promises to accelerate the collection of detailed habitat and biodiversity data, accomplishing in a fraction of the time what traditional manual surveys would require. By providing comprehensive environmental intelligence, park authorities can make more informed conservation decisions.

Building on this, Vodafone intends to utilise its wider technological portfolio – including network-sensing capabilities – to furnish the National Parks with high-resolution, real-time data streams. This information will cover crucial aspects like biodiversity levels, the impact of visitor numbers on sensitive areas, and overall habitat health.

This application echoes Vodafone’s recent trial using its network infrastructure as a sensor system to aid flood forecasting efforts along the River Severn, demonstrating the potential for mobile networks to serve as large-scale environmental monitoring tools.

Beyond the direct conservation tech, the partnership incorporates a dedicated programme of initiatives designed to improve public access to nature and raise awareness of its significant health benefits. These projects will explore methods to deepen people’s connection with the natural world, simplify visiting the National Parks, and enrich the experience for the estimated 90 million people who visit annually.

The timing coincides with new research commissioned by Vodafone to explore the British public’s current relationship with nature.

Despite the value of outdoor recreation – estimated to be worth £8.4 billion to the nation’s health – Vodafone’s research highlighted a populace disconnected from the natural world. The survey revealed that only a small fraction, just 8% of Britons, manage to spend time in nature daily. 82% expressed a desire to increase their time spent outdoors.

Furthermore, the polling indicated that merely a fifth (21%) of people feel a strong connection to nature. Common barriers included ‘not having enough time’ (34%) and ‘not having someone to go with’ (19%).

Interestingly, the research highlighted technology’s role as a surrogate for direct experience. Over half (55%) of respondents admitted using technology – from viewing nature photography online to following relevant social media accounts – to engage with the natural world when physical immersion isn’t possible.

Younger generations (16-34 years old) were most inclined towards this digital engagement, with 47% using tech to feel closer to nature and support their wellbeing. This age group also showed the highest recent engagement with physical visits, with 35% having been to a National Park in the preceding two months.

The study also underscored a public expectation for businesses to contribute to addressing the UK’s environmental challenges. A majority (78%) believed companies could play a role, citing support for tech-enabled solutions (47%), habitat restoration programmes (45%), and initiatives to improve public access (40%) as key areas for corporate involvement.

“Importantly, our research not only shows that people want to engage more with nature, but that they expect businesses to play their part too, so we are proud to help meet that challenge,” Lyons added.

Catherine Mealing-Jones, CEO of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and National Parks Partnerships Board Member, commented: “The outstanding beauty of our National Parks is unquestionable, but their value goes far beyond that. They play a vital role in restoring nature, supporting climate adaptation and driving jobs. Created to soothe a nation post-war, they continue to act as a ‘natural health service’—supporting our wellbeing daily.

“Yet there are still barriers stopping some people spending time in nature—whether that’s confidence or simply knowing where to go. That’s why partnerships with organisations like Vodafone, are critical to help remove barriers and provide new tools and ideas that open up our National Parks to everyone whilst protecting them for future generations.”

This three-year commitment from Vodafone aligns with its broader environmental goals, including its target to achieve net zero emissions across its UK operations by 2040 and its focus on contributing to nature protection and restoration within the UK.

(Photo by Gary Ellis)

See also: Vodafone crosses 200M IoT connections milestone