GCTDF 2026 themed "Technology in Service of Nature: Protecting Wildlife, Supporting People, Restoring Ecosystems"  is a landmark gathering that brings together rangers, community leaders, technologists, researchers, policymakers, and youth from across Africa and the world. The event offers a unique opportunity to explore how drones, satellite sensors, GIS, and data-driven tools can be harnessed to safeguard biodiversity, restore ecosystems, and enhance community resilience. 

As a key partner, MEP will also support the forum's centrepiece initiative: the inaugural Youth Conservation Tech Award 2026. This non-cash recognition program is designed to elevate young individuals (aged 25 and under on 1 March 2026) who are applying technology in practical, field-based conservation work.
 

The award focuses on operational, real-world solutions, such as drone monitoring, sensor networks, or data platforms that demonstrate clear conservation impact, ethical tech application, and leadership. Winners will be selected through a transparent, multi-stakeholder judging process and will be honored during a high-visibility plenary session at GCTDF 2026. 

Awardees will receive a formal certificate of recognition, supported participation in the 5-day forum, aand inclusion in official communications providing significant visibility and professional validation. By highlighting credible, youth-led innovation, the award aims to inspire peer learning and strengthen career pathways in conservation technology. Nominations are now open and submissions are encouraged from across Africa and comparable conservation regions. 

MEP works across the Greater Mara Ecosystem to protect elephants, promote coexistence, and conserve critical habitats. Technology plays an increasingly central role in this work, particularly through the operational use of drones for monitoring wildlife, and rapid response human-elephant conflict mitigation, alongside a strong investment in training and capacity building.
 

As part of its contribution to GCTDF 2026, the Mara Elephant Project will share its experience in:

?        Training and upskilling rangers in drone operations, aerial monitoring, and data-informed conservation decision-making.

?        Supporting knowledge exchange programmes that extend drone and conservation technology skills to partner organisations across the African continent.

?        Exploring the integration of emerging technologies to improve monitoring, land-use analysis, and ecosystem understanding.

?        Demonstrating the value of empowering women and youth in conservation, by increasing access to technical skills, leadership opportunities, and meaningful participation in technology-led conservation efforts.

Participation in GCTDF 2026 reflects the Mara Elephant Project's commitment to ethical, field-tested, and community-centred conservation technology, and sharing lessons learned with peers working across diverse landscapes and challenges.
 

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.
 

Emerging technologies drive innovation and are most effective when grounded in field experience and accessible to the people who are shaping the future of conservation in Africa".

For more details on GCTDF 2026 — including the agenda, conference tracks, and participation opportunities — visit www.gctdf.org.
 

About MEP

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

The organisation focuses on four interconnected goals: protecting elephant populations, safeguarding habitats, promoting human–elephant coexistence, and maintaining landscape connectivity.

MEP is unique in combining a field-focused operational approach with data-driven research and strategic partnerships, bridging traditional wildlife protection methods with modern technological innovation. Since 2017, the organisation has pioneered the use of drones for elephant monitoring and human-wildlife conflict mitigation, it operates 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 organisations across Africa.
 

More recently, MEP has been exploring strategic partnerships to advance the use of drones in conservation, developing tools that enhance wildlife monitoring, ecosystem mapping, and data-driven conservation decision-making. 

By combining frontline action, scientific research, and technological innovation, MEP demonstrates how effective conservation can protect wildlife while supporting people and landscapes across one of Africa's most iconic ecosystems.

About GCTDF 2026

The Global Conservation Tech & Drone Forum (2-6th March 2026) is a non-profit, Africa-anchored event bringing together conservationists, technologists, data scientists, community leaders, policymakers, and youth.The 2026 edition — held in Nairobi and Konza Technopolis — will feature expo booths, poster sessions, workshops, live drone and sensor demonstrations, and forums on inclusive conservation innovation, biodiversity protection, ecosystem resilience, and community benefit. All sessions, data outputs, and project results will be openly shared to ensure global accessibility and impact.