NATURAL STATE is building the credible foundation of the restoration economy by developing robust, cost-effective, transparent Research and Monitoring that can scale across biomes.
Technology for restoration
NATURAL STATE, an international NGO headquartered in northern Kenya, is developing the proprietary technology and methods needed to underpin high-integrity financial mechanisms for nature and catalyse large-scale restoration globally.
Our Research and Monitoring Team combines cutting-edge technology, purpose-built software, and efficient data collection methodologies to deliver affordable monitoring solutions for a wide set of stakeholders, including local custodians and communities, project managers, conservation organisations, donors, corporations, investors, and auditors. Our systems track outcomes across biodiversity, carbon, water, and human wellbeing, then incorporate third-party audit tools for forensic-level traceability and transparency.
New financing mechanisms for nature, underpinned by robust and cost-effective impact monitoring, have the potential to unlock billions of dollars for nature and catalyse large-scale restoration globally.
- Jonathan Baillie, President NATURAL STATE
Satellite data and AI can be used to measure trends in biodiversity, carbon, water, and human wellbeing, but for these models to work, they must be built and calibrated using high-quality data collected on the ground. NATURAL STATE combines verified locally collected data with cloud-based computing, machine learning, and satellite remote sensing to deliver monitoring that is both accurate and scalable—especially in regions where baseline data are scarce or non-existent.
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Technology
Kutuma & uKweli
Kutuma & uKweli: Our integrated tools, Kutuma (for field-to-cloud data upload) and uKweli (our monitoring and analytics portal), enable a seamless flow of verifiable data. They facilitate rapid transfer from remote sites, integrate diverse data sources like sensors, camera traps, and satellite imagery, and generate auditable reports with clear data visualizations for local custodians, project teams, and investors.
Kutuma: field-to-cloud data upload
Our monitoring systems rely on rapid, reliable field-to-cloud data transfer. Kutuma (Swahili: “to send”) streamlines the upload of raw field data and metadata into secure cloud infrastructure—minimising errors, ensuring transparency, and guaranteeing data provenance from the moment of upload.
KEY BENEFITS OF KUTUMA
Streamlined Data Upload
Seamless transfer of information from local devices to a secure cloud platform, even in areas with limited internet connectivity.
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Enhanced Data Security
Ensures the safekeeping of sensitive data through encryption and data protection regulations.
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User-Friendly
Interface
Accessible to all field teams regardless of technical expertise.
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Data Integrity Protection
Creates a "digital fingerprint" for raw data and metadata, guarding against unauthorized modifications from the point of upload.
Multi-data Type Handling
Accommodates multiple data types, from qualitative observations and complex quantitative measurements to images and audio files.
Accountability & Transparency
Logs user interactions, providing a clear data provenance and manipulation record.
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Kutuma exemplifies NATURAL STATE's commitment to innovation and efficient data management, turning field data into actionable insights for a healthier planet.
Ross Pitman, Head of Technical Delivery
uKweli: the Research & Monitoring portal
uKweli (Swahili: “truth”) is NATURAL STATE’s central Research & Monitoring portal. uKweli ingests data from Kutuma and other sources (including camera traps, satellite imagery, and sensor networks), then classifies, analyses, and presents results through intuitive dashboards and maps.
uKweli is built to clearly communicate project progress and outcomes across carbon, biodiversity, water, and human wellbeing, with all data digitally fingerprinted and traceable - ensuring it is straightforward for third parties to audit.
uKweli is fully developed and operational, and we are ready to work with partners to deploy and scale the system across diverse landscapes and biomes.
uKweli will transform impact monitoring for both conservation and restoration initiatives, providing the data needed to help trigger a range of financial mechanisms for nature.
Alex Godfrey, Systems & Strategy Implementation Specialist
Remote sensing and connected technology R&D
We are seamlessly integrating a wide range of sensors into our monitoring systems combining precision field measurements with remote sensing to deliver high-integrity, near-real-time insights. Our systems bring together data from sources including satellites, drones, camera traps, acoustic monitors, soil and water sensors, and connected sensor networks, then translate it into actionable decision-ready outputs through uKweli.
Natural State Index
To objectively define restoration success across ecosystems, NATURAL STATE is working with Oxford University to develop the Natural State Index, which quantitatively defines ecosystem intactness based on energy flow, community structure, and community function. The variables measured will be consistent across biomes while incorporating biome-specific thresholds, enabling projects to understand where they are starting and when they have reached a functionally intact state. This provides a robust foundation for nature-related financial mechanisms.
NATURAL STATE Carbon and Biodiversity Innovation Laboratory
NATURAL STATE has one of the most advanced carbon and biodiversity labs in East Africa. Our Carbon and Biodiversity Innovation Lab is pioneering novel, cost-effective, and scientifically robust approaches towards measuring the success and impact of natural restoration projects on sequestering carbon and increasing biodiversity at scale. In collaboration with the World Agroforestry Center (CIFOR-ICRAF), we are using the latest sample scanning technology, coupled with remote sensing satellite and drone data to develop highly accurate and near-real time estimates of carbon stocks, both above and below-ground, and understand how carbon flows through different systems.
With the rapid growth of Machine Learning capabilities, NATURAL STATE is building automated classifiers to identify and estimate the abundance of wildlife species from camera trap images and acoustic recordings captured by our deployed field sensors and harnessing the power of AI to explore trends using unsupervised clustering and soundscape analyses. NATURAL STATE is also using eDNA technology to rapidly inventory microbial and invertebrate communities and monitor how these change throughout the life of restoration projects. Our field botanist is building a physical and digital herbarium in collaboration with local experts and the National Museums of Kenya.
Through our diverse collaborations, the NATURAL STATE Carbon and Biodiversity Lab serves as a research hub, allowing our field researchers, partners, and local stakeholders to trial new technologies, align methodologies, exchange knowledge, and create strong links between field and remotely sourced data, enabling for large-scale and accurate monitoring of carbon and biodiversity.
