S3|EP23– How Bioacoustics is Powering Biodiversity Monitoring & Forest Restoration| Dr. Vijay Ramesh | Project Dhvani

In this fascinating episode of the Think Wildlife Podcast, we dive into the groundbreaking work of Project Dhvani, a pioneering conservation initiative using bioacoustics to revolutionize how we understand and manage biodiversity in India’s tropical landscapes. Host Anish sits down with Dr. Vijay Ramesh, co-founder of Project Dhvani, to discuss how animal vocalization and animal sounds captured through passive remote sensing can reveal vital insights into the state of ecosystems, land-use changes, and the success of forest restoration projects.

Project Dhvani began as a research collaboration between Dr. Ramesh, Dr. Pooja Choksi, and Dr. Sarika Kanwikar during their PhD studies at Columbia University. Their shared mission? Remote sensing technology, particularly passive acoustic monitoring, must be used to track biodiversity and conservation patterns across human-dominated and natural landscapes. Today, their work has grown into a multi-regional network, spanning Central India and the Tropical Western Ghats, two critical biodiversity hotspots.

Why Sound Matters in Conservation Tech

Bioacoustics, the science of using sound to monitor and interpret ecological activity, has become a cornerstone of modern conservation technology. From birds and insects to amphibians and mammals, many animals communicate through vocalizations that provide clues about their presence, abundance, and behavior. By deploying audio recorders in various habitats—restored forests, degraded lands, and agricultural plots—Project Dhvani is building a rich archive of animal vocalizations that help scientists analyze ecosystem processes in unprecedented ways.

This episode explores how bioacoustic monitoring not only reveals species diversity but also helps evaluate the effectiveness of reforestation and ecological balance strategies. For example, Dr. Ramesh and his team have discovered significantly higher bird diversity in restored areas compared to degraded or unrestored ones—a hopeful signal that habitat loss can be reversed through thoughtful ecosystem management.

From AI to Acoustic Networks: The Next Generation of Conservation Technology

Dr. Ramesh highlights how advances in remote sensing and AI-powered acoustic analysis are transforming the field. Platforms like Merlin and BirdNET, developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, are now enabling researchers and the general public alike to identify bird species by simply recording ambient sounds on their smartphones. This democratization of bioacoustic tools has major implications for sustainable land management and public engagement in conservation.

Moreover, Project Dhvani isn’t just about research—it’s also about building a broader network of professionals committed to biodiversity conservation in India. The initiative is laying the groundwork for a national forum that brings together academics, civil society, and policymakers to scale up the use of conservation tech across India’s varied ecosystems.

Acoustic Insights into Land-Use Change and Tropical Ecology

One of the most compelling aspects of this conversation is the application of bioacoustics to study land-use change in tropical regions. By comparing soundscapes in organic and traditionally managed coffee farms, Project Dhvani is uncovering how different agricultural practices impact biodiversity management. These insights can inform more environmentally friendly farming techniques that align economic livelihoods with ecological health.

India's vast and diverse