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The Global Conservation Tech & Drone Forum (GCTDF 2026), taking place from 2–6 March 2026 in Nairobi and Konza Technopolis, is poised to be a landmark gathering bringing together rangers, community leaders, technologists, researchers, policymakers, and youth from across Africa and the world.

The event, themed “Technology in Service of Nature: Protecting Wildlife, Supporting People, Restoring Ecosystems,” has brought together partners including the Mara Elephant Project (MEP).

Founded in 2011 with the mission to protect elephants and their habitats across the Greater Mara Ecosystem, MEP serves as the primary first responder across a 3-million-acre area.

A 2025 aerial survey by the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) for the core Maasai Mara Ecosystem reported a slight increase to 2,702 elephants (from 2,595 in 2021), with the highest densities in the Mara Triangle.

The Organization has been at the forefront of conservation, combining a field-focused operational approach with data-driven research and strategic partnerships, and as part of its contribution to GCTDF 2026, will share its experience.

Since 2017, the organization has pioneered the use of drones for elephant monitoring and human-wildlife conflict mitigation, operating an active training facility at its headquarters in the Maasai Mara to upskill rangers in drone operations and conservation technology, extending these skills to partner organizations across Africa.

Moreover, MEP will support the forum’s centrepiece initiative, the inaugural Youth Conservation Tech Award 2026, a non-cash recognition programme designed to elevate young innovators aged 25 and under (as of 1 March 2026) who are applying technology to practical, field-based conservation work.

The award prioritises operational, real-world solutions such as drone monitoring, sensor networks, and data platforms that demonstrate measurable conservation impact, ethical use of technology, and leadership.

Winners will be selected through a transparent, multi-stakeholder judging process and honoured during a high-visibility plenary session at GCTDF 2026.

Awardees will receive a formal certificate of recognition, supported participation in the five-day forum, and inclusion in official communications, offering strong visibility and professional validation.

By spotlighting credible, youth-led innovation, the award aims to inspire peer learning and strengthen career pathways in conservation technology, with nominations now open across Africa and comparable conservation regions.

As MEP CEO Marc Goss explains, “Joining GCTDF 2026 is important to us because conservation today depends on sharing knowledge, building skills, and working together across disciplines and borders.”

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