The National Park Brabantse Wouden, together with Amazon and regional innovation hub Leuven MindGate, has awarded €150,000 in total to five organisations through its Smart Solutions innovation competition. The winning projects will implement practical technology solutions to address specific environmental challenges within the park and improve visitor experiences. The competition is part of Amazon's €1.1 million commitment to support the National Park through its Right Now Climate Fund, which is also helping the park carry out scientific research, plant trees and expand habitat areas.
One of the organisations receiving funding is Belgium-based Natuurpunt, which aims to develop an automated insect monitoring system using AI technology. Unlike traditional monitoring methods that often harm insects, this non-invasive solution will identify and count delicate species while collecting valuable biodiversity data, including their biomass. The system will make information on pollinators and other insect populations accessible to visitors and researchers through an interactive dashboard, enabling the public to visualise conservation efforts.
“Insects provide a snapshot of ecosystem health. This funding empowers us to revolutionise insect monitoring with cutting-edge, no-harm, technology—unlocking insights into the park's biodiversity that were previously impossible to capture,” said Wouter Vanreusel, Head of Nature Study at Natuurpunt. “By combining our expertise with local research organisations and this funding, we can help researchers and the public better understand the role that the park plays in conserving pollinators and other insects, which are critical for our own resilience.”
“Since launching Amazon.com.be, we've been dedicated to creating meaningful impact in Belgian communities through innovation and sustainability,” said Eva Faict, Country Manager for Amazon in Belgium and the Netherlands. “These exciting projects showcase how technology can transform conservation efforts while enhancing visitor experiences in tangible ways. By partnering with local innovators and the National Park Brabantse Wouden, we're proud to support solutions that protect Belgium's natural heritage while demonstrating the positive role technology can play in environmental conservation.”
Four additional projects will also receive funding to develop their innovations:
- Sentigrate: A data integration system that tracks visitor movement patterns and activity types throughout national park trail networks to optimise ranger resources and facility placement.
- Nunki.ai's "Smartnature": An AI-powered park ranger that aggregates information to help visitors locate facilities and learn about nature trails and wildlife.
- Heliovision's "Bleaf Cam": An AI framework that repurposes existing wildlife camera networks for vegetation monitoring to enhance nature monitoring.
- LoFeNix "Connecting the Forest": Energy-efficient wireless sensors throughout the park to monitor environmental conditions.
The winning organisations will work with the National Park to implement their solutions, with progress to be reported throughout the year. “We were impressed by the innovative approaches these companies proposed to address our specific challenges,” said Steven Vanonckelen, Coordinator of the National Park Brabantse Wouden. “These technologies will help us balance nature preservation with more sustainable recreation as we develop Belgium's newest national park.”
Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund is a $100 million initiative supporting climate resilience and nature conservation in communities around the world. This fund finances nature-based solutions that complement Amazon’s broader efforts to improve the sustainability of its operations. Since 2019, Amazon has disbursed $67.4 million to finance 19 projects across 14 countries, together, this allows for the protection or restoration of approximately 49,000 hectares of nature - which is more than three times the size of the Brussels-Capital Region."
In March 2024, Amazon announced it would invest €1.1 million in the newly created National Park Brabantse Wouden through this fund, with the goal of helping to preserve its UNESCO-listed ancient woodlands and allowing more people to enjoy the benefits of being in nature. The new National Park is intended to strengthen the resilience of Belgian woods against climate change, and to benefit the local community. Since then, the National Park and Amazon have collaborated on initiatives supporting the local community and environment, including citizen science monitoring and more sustainable farming practices.
Learn more about our latest Right Now Climate Fund investments here.
To discover how Amazon is helping to protect ancient woodlands in Belgium, watch this video.
