Learn the names of plants and animals these holidays through the iNaturalist platform
The channel operated by the Environment Ministry allows you to upload photos and even the sounds of fauna and flora and receive help from experts to identify them. This information will also serve for future research by the scientific community.
The Environment Ministry has come up with a quick solution if you are enjoying nature these holidays and come across an animal or plant species that you cannot identify. It has developed the iNaturalist platform, through which experts can identify the species simply by uploading a photo or even the sound of an animal.
iNaturalist is a collaborative project between the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. It was launched in 2008 and has since grown to comprise an active community of over a million users worldwide.
The Environment Ministry has been in charge of managing the Chilean platform since July 2020. iNaturalist hosts the uploaded data on an open-access space. This allows people to collaborate with the research and conservation of the different species observed and registered by users. The platform shares the data with scientific repositories such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF Chile).
iNaturalist Chile already has more than 11,000 users, who have reported more than 370,000 observations. The georeferenced records of photos or sounds of species form a cadastre that contributes to the conservation of the country’s biodiversity.
How to get it
One of the unique features of iNaturalist is its ability to verify identifications. This means that users can confirm or refute identifications made by other members of the community. This helps ensure that identifications are accurate and reliable.
The platform also allows users to make observations and contribute to the scientific community by collecting data. Users can create projects to track specific species or geographic areas, and scientists can use the collected data for research and studies.
iNaturalist also offers a variety of tools and features to help users improve their identification skills and learn more about biodiversity. These include tutorials, species sheets, field guides and a “frequently asked questions” function.
It is a valuable platform for people who are interested in learning more about biodiversity. It is also free of charge.
The iNaturalist or Naturalista app can be downloaded from Google Play and App Store by anyone who wants to participate in the collaborative construction of knowledge and, at the same time, learn about biodiversity. For more information and to register, go to https://iNaturalist.mma.gob.cl/.