About
SMART Conservation Tools is a comprehensive, open-source software suite designed to empower conservationists and protected area managers with the data tools they need to effectively safeguard biodiversity. At its core, SMART enables users to collect, store, communicate, and evaluate data on wildlife, habitats, and conservation activities — whether rangers are deep in remote forests or managing coastal marine reserves. The platform supports a broad spectrum of conservation management activities, including biodiversity monitoring, law enforcement and patrol management, tourism and visitor tracking, natural resource use oversight, intelligence gathering, and threat level and performance assessments. SMART is highly customizable, allowing organizations to tailor data models, queries, and reports to fit their specific operational contexts. With the latest SMART 7 release and the companion SMART Collect mobile app, teams can gather field data even in offline or disconnected environments, syncing back to the central database when connectivity is restored. The newly announced SERCA alliance — a partnership between the SMART Partnership and EarthRanger — further enhances the platform with real-time intelligence and advanced analytics. SMART is non-proprietary and completely free, developed and maintained by eight leading conservation organizations. Its global community offers forums, online training, resource libraries, and a growing map of sites using SMART worldwide. It is the go-to platform for conservation agencies, NGOs, and government bodies serious about evidence-based wildlife protection.
Key Features
- Mobile Field Data Collection: SMART Collect enables rangers and field staff to gather structured data on wildlife, threats, and patrols directly on mobile devices, even without an internet connection.
- Standardized Analysis & Reporting: Built-in analysis tools and reporting templates help teams evaluate patrol effectiveness, threat levels, biodiversity indicators, and overall conservation performance.
- Highly Customizable Configuration: Data models, attributes, queries, and reports can be tailored to fit the specific needs of any conservation site, whether terrestrial or marine, large or small.
- Offline & Disconnected Site Support: SMART is designed to operate in remote, low-connectivity environments, syncing data back to the central system once a connection is available.
- Global Community & Training Network: Access an active community forum, online training courses, technical manuals, and a worldwide network of SMART practitioners and partner organizations.
Use Cases
- Wildlife patrol monitoring and ranger law enforcement tracking in national parks and protected areas
- Biodiversity surveys and long-term species population monitoring across terrestrial and marine environments
- Threat assessment and conservation performance evaluation for protected area managers and decision-makers
- Tourism and visitor management data collection in ecotourism and managed natural reserves
- Natural resource use monitoring and compliance tracking for community conservation programs
Pros
- Completely Free and Open-Source: SMART is non-proprietary and freely available to any conservation organization, removing cost barriers for NGOs, governments, and rangers worldwide.
- Works in Remote, Offline Environments: Designed specifically for field use, SMART supports disconnected data collection, making it practical in the world's most remote protected areas.
- Backed by World-Leading Conservation Organizations: Developed and maintained by eight major conservation partners including WWF, ensuring the platform reflects real-world conservation needs and best practices.
- Broad Conservation Activity Coverage: A single platform covers patrol management, biodiversity monitoring, threat assessments, tourism management, and natural resource use — reducing tool fragmentation.
Cons
- Steep Initial Learning Curve: Setting up SMART and customizing data models for a new site requires significant configuration effort and training before the system is fully operational.
- Narrowly Specialized Domain: SMART is purpose-built for conservation management and is not suitable for general-purpose data collection or non-conservation use cases.
- Desktop-Centric Core Application: The primary SMART desktop application requires installation and management, which may be challenging for organizations with limited IT capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SMART stand for?
SMART stands for Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool. It is a suite of software and analysis tools designed to help conservationists manage and protect wildlife and wild places through better data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Is SMART Conservation Tools free to use?
Yes, SMART is completely free, open-source, and non-proprietary. It can be downloaded and used by any conservation organization, government agency, or individual without licensing fees.
What types of conservation activities does SMART support?
SMART supports a wide range of activities including biodiversity conservation monitoring, law enforcement and patrol management, tourism and visitor management, natural resource use tracking, intelligence gathering, and performance and threat level assessments.
Can SMART be used in remote areas without internet access?
Yes. SMART and its companion SMART Collect mobile app are designed to work in offline and disconnected environments. Field data is collected on mobile devices and synchronized with the central database when connectivity is restored.
Who develops and maintains SMART?
SMART is developed and maintained by an alliance of eight leading conservation organizations. The platform is supported by a global community of practitioners, and the new SERCA alliance with EarthRanger further expands its real-time intelligence and analytics capabilities.
