Three Nigerian teenagers — Lesley John Jumbo, Bright Sunday and Blessed Pepple — are using artificial intelligence to fight illegal logging through Reforest AI, a solar-powered forest monitoring system.
The technology uses sensors and AI to identify the sounds of chainsaws and axes, distinguishing them from birds, rain and other natural sounds. When logging activity is detected, the system can activate lights and audio warnings to deter intruders, while cameras alert rangers. Its mesh-network technology allows it to operate without internet connectivity, making it suitable for remote forests.
The teenagers taught themselves coding and hardware development and initially explored putting sensors on individual trees before recognising that approach would not scale. They subsequently developed a network of intelligent monitoring devices.
Their innovation earned top honours and a US$10,000 grant in the 2025 Slingshot Challenge, an international competition that attracted more than 2,700 entries from 96 countries.
The founders also paused their formal education to pursue the project and work on behalf of their communities.
Reforest AI is a striking example of young Nigerian innovators applying locally developed technology to an urgent environmental problem — and of the quiet audacity of three teenagers determined to make a difference.