Natural History Wanderings

National Geographic report on how donating old cell phones can help save the rain forests

Between 50 and 90 percent of the logging that happens in the world’s rain forests is illegal, according to White, yet detecting chainsaws and other sounds related to that activity can be tough, because the air is already filled with the cacophony of nature.

So he has developed a system in which he rigs a cell phone to stay charged by solar cells, attaches an extra microphone, and listens. From there, the device can detect the sounds of chainsaws nearly a mile away. (His group has details about how to donate your phone here.)

And believe it or not, cell phone reception often isn’t bad in the rain forest.

Learn more including how to donate your old phone at  Your Old Cell Phone Can Help Save the Rain Forest