Deep Learning Application for Biodiversity Conservation and Educational Tourism in Natural Reserves

Natural reserves, such as the Santurbán Moor in Colombia, are ecologically important but face significant threats from activities like mining and agriculture. Preserving biodiversity in these ecosystems is essential for maintaining ecological balance and promoting sustainable tourism practices. Identifying plant species in these reserves accurately is challenging due to environmental variability and species similarities, complicating conservation efforts and educational tourism promotion. This study aims to create and assess a mobile application based on deep learning, called FloraBan, to autonomously identify plant species in natural reserves, enhancing biodiversity conservation and encouraging sustainable and educational tourism practices. The application employs the EfficientNet Lite4 model, trained on a comprehensive dataset of plant images taken in various field conditions. Designed to work offline, the application is particularly useful in remote areas. The model evaluation revealed an accuracy exceeding 90% in classifying plant images. FloraBan was effective under various lighting conditions and complex backgrounds, offering detailed information about each species, including scientific name, family, and conservation status. The ability to function without internet connectivity is a significant benefit, especially in isolated regions like natural reserves. FloraBan represents a notable improvement in the field of automated plant identification, supporting botanical research and efforts to preserve biodiversity in the Santurbán Moor. Additionally, it encourages educational and responsible tourism practices, which align with sustainability goals, providing a useful tool for both tourists and conservationists.