Why this target group?
Naturalists can be considered one of the first groups involved in the generation of collaborative knowledge. They are enthusiastic and passionate about nature and in many cases, have a taxonomic knowledge on par with or exceeding that of expert scientists.
Conservation and environmental groups, associations and NGOs are made up of people with a deep sense of environmental responsibility. They are great enthusiasts of nature and outdoor activities, willing to collaborate to promote the conservation and protection of nature. Many of them are aware of the importance of generating high quality scientific knowledge and the priority of adequately monitoring wildlife.
Why participate?
There is strength in numbers, and scientific knowledge requires good data for an objective understanding of nature and the status of wild species.
By collaborating in the recording of wildlife, there is an opportunity to increase one’s knowledge about nature, and become an active player in the effort to conserve our natural environment.
By becoming a citizen scientist, you can better understand how science works and help to find objective approaches to solving real-world problems.
How to participate?
The iMammalia mobile app has a very user-friendly design, allowing the recording of incidental observations of different species. You can include photographs of the species or their signs, such as footprints, droppings, and food remains, which makes record validation easier.
The MammalWeb application allows citizen scientists to easily upload all photos recorded by camera traps, while respecting the confidentiality of their precise location. Species are identified by citizens and experts, generating data of great scientific value.
The MammalWeb application also allows participation through identifying photos from your own camera traps or collaborating to identify photos from other regions or collaborators. Identifications from multiple users will be taken into account to identify each photo, so no need to worry if you get one wrong.
Those with greater expertise should look at the Researcher section of the website to assess whether the use of AGOUTI may be of interest to them.