SERCA
SERCA: SMART–EarthRanger Conservation Alliance
Protected and conserved areas generate more data than ever—patrol observations, camera and sensor detections, wildlife tracking, incident reports, and operational notes. The challenge is turning that information into fast, coordinated action.
The SMART–EarthRanger Conservation Alliance (SERCA) is a first-of-its-kind global collaboration that brings together the SMART Partnership and EarthRanger to strengthen how protected and conserved areas are managed—combining field-proven patrol monitoring, real-time situational awareness, and advanced analytics to help teams protect wildlife, habitats, and people.
What is SERCA?
SERCA unites two widely used conservation platforms—SMART and EarthRanger—alongside shared expertise and field-based training to accelerate adoption, strengthen capacity, and scale impact across protected and conserved areas worldwide.
SERCA is built to help conservation teams move from fragmented tools to an integrated approach: real-time intelligence + operational monitoring + advanced analytics, supported by a global alliance.
EarthRanger: Real-time data for operational decision-making
EarthRanger is a real-time software platform developed by the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Ai2) to help conservationists and protected area managers make informed decisions to protect wildlife and ecosystems. It integrates multiple data sources—such as GPS collars, patrol reports, camera traps, and remote sensors—into a unified, interactive map view for situational awareness and response.
EarthRanger is built for real-time monitoring, field team coordination, and rapid incident response, enabling teams to act faster with clearer operational context.
SMART: Patrol monitoring, reporting, and adaptive management
SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) is a conservation management approach that combines software, training materials, patrolling standards, and best practices to help teams monitor wildlife, identify threats, and make patrols more effective. ZSL+2zeropoaching.com+2
SMART supports standardized field data collection and analysis so protected area teams can evaluate results, improve law enforcement effectiveness, and adapt strategy based on evidence over time.
Why SERCA matters now
SERCA brings SMART’s on-the-ground patrol performance and reporting together with EarthRanger’s real-time, multi-source operational picture—helping teams move faster from detection to decision to deployment.
SERCA is designed to support:
Real-time protected area situational awareness
Advanced analytics and decision support
Operational coordination and faster response
Field training and global support to strengthen implementation at scale
For teams searching for AI for conservation, real-time conservation intelligence, protected area monitoring tools, machine learning analytics for ranger operations, or integrated conservation technology platforms, SERCA represents a major step toward unified, actionable operations.
What SERCA helps teams do
SERCA supports conservation operations across a range of priorities, including:
Anti-poaching and wildlife crime response
Ranger patrol planning, performance monitoring, and adaptive management
Human–wildlife conflict monitoring and response coordination
Real-time incident awareness and cross-team communication
Long-term monitoring and reporting for protected area effectiveness
Who SERCA is for
SERCA is designed for organizations that need scalable, field-ready conservation operations support, including:
Protected and conserved area agencies
Ranger forces and operations rooms
Indigenous and community-led conservation programs
Conservation NGOs and site managers
National and regional initiatives working toward effectively managed protected area networks
Get involved with SERCA
SERCA is bringing together technology, expertise, and training to help conservation teams build stronger, faster, and more integrated operations—powered by real-time data, advanced analytics, and AI-enabled decision support.
If your organization is looking to improve protected area effectiveness through real-time monitoring, AI-driven analytics, and field-proven patrol management, SERCA is built to help you scale impact where it matters most.
