WCS Secures $2M from Bezos Earth Fund for Urgent Coral Protection

UPDATE: The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has just been awarded $2 million by the Bezos Earth Fund to enhance artificial intelligence solutions for urgent environmental challenges. Announced on October 23, 2025, WCS is one of fifteen global teams selected for this initiative aimed at combating biodiversity loss and climate change through technology.

This funding will revolutionize coral reef conservation, utilizing AI and citizen science to monitor and protect the most climate-resilient reefs worldwide. WCS plans to identify these vital ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and coastal communities, and advancing global conservation goals under the 30×30 initiative.

Dr. Emily Darling, Director of Coral Reef Conservation at WCS, emphasized the impact of this funding: “This award helps us turn AI innovation into real-world conservation impact.” With this support, WCS aims to develop foundational AI models for coral reef monitoring, inviting divers and citizen scientists to contribute to the mapping and protection efforts.

The Bezos Earth Fund’s AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge, launched in 2024, is a significant $100 million initiative dedicated to harnessing AI to tackle climate change and biodiversity crises. This program connects innovators with crucial resources and mentorship from industry leaders, including AWS, Google.org, and Microsoft Research.

Dr. Amen Ra Mashariki, Director of AI and Data Strategies at the Bezos Earth Fund, stated, “These projects show how AI, when developed responsibly and guided by science and local knowledge, can strengthen environmental action.” The partnership with MERMAID AI will facilitate accelerated coral reef monitoring and policy impacts across more than 50 countries.

Kim Fisher, Lead Software Engineer for MERMAID, noted the importance of making advanced AI tools accessible to everyone involved in coral reef protection. “The power of open, shared models is that they grow stronger with every image and every user,” she said.

Over the next two years, WCS’s project will integrate global citizen science apps for divers into MERMAID, develop an open-source AI model capable of identifying over 100 coral species, and generate real-time maps of climate-resilient reefs. These tools will empower local scientists and communities with the data they need to safeguard reefs that sustain coastal livelihoods, fisheries, and biodiversity.

Dr. Stacy Jupiter, Executive Director of WCS’s Global Marine Program, highlighted the ongoing research that shows coral reefs can withstand extreme climate impacts. “As a key pillar of our newly launched Coral Reef Strategy, WCS is excited to harness cutting-edge computing technology to help identify more of these high integrity climate-resilient reefs for targeted management action.”

WCS combines the strengths of its zoos and global conservation programs to save wildlife and wild places, protecting over 50 percent of Earth’s known biodiversity. With this new funding, WCS aims to make significant strides in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss, inspiring millions to care for nature.

For more updates, visit WCS’s newsroom at newsroom.wcs.org and follow them on social media at @WCSNewsroom.