If COVID-19 has highlighted anything, it is how important nature and outdoor spaces are to a personB次元官网网址檚 physical and mental wellbeing. The BC Parks Foundation is hoping outdoor enthusiasts can help them out by taking photos of plants and insects during their excursions to help learn more about the provinceB次元官网网址檚 ecosystems.
Earlier this spring, the foundation launched B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Big Nature Challenge, with the goal of collecting one million photos from all across the province.
When a person comes across a plant or insect they are unfamiliar with, they can upload the observation to iNaturalist, and a team of identifiers, along with iNaturalistB次元官网网址檚 artificial intelligence technology, will help determine the species.
To join the , all participants have to do is take photos of plants, animals, fungi, insects, tracks, animal feces, or other species and signs of wildlife, and upload those images to , or , either through a smart phone app or desktop platform.
Andrew Day, the foundationB次元官网网址檚 chief executive officer, said B.C. has one of the planetB次元官网网址檚 largest systems of parks and protected areas, along with a greater diversity of life than anywhere else in Canada.
B次元官网网址淏ritish Columbians have the chance to do something really ground-breaking,B次元官网网址� said Day. B次元官网网址淪omething that could lead the world in showing the power of people acting separately, and together.B次元官网网址�
In the current social media-era, many nature and outdoor enthusiasts already take photos when they are out exploring, so uploading is an easy extra step, said Day.
Emma Griggs, program manager for the B.C. parks foundation, told Black Press Media that with the help of explorers, the organization has identified 1,200 threatened or endangered species on iNaturalist within the last year.
Almost 600,000 observations have been collected in less than six months. The group has reached a total of 952,373 observations as of Sept. 30 B次元官网网址� highlighting the importance of citizen science.
One spot that stands out to Griggs led researchers to identifying the rare grapple-tail dragonfly.
B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 seen for 40 years until a group of researchers were out this summer and saw 16 of them,B次元官网网址� said Griggs. She said that there are many stories similar to this one, identifying species they didnB次元官网网址檛 think would be in that specific area anymore.
The organization originally thought the goal of one million photos was a longshot. However, British Columbians came through as usual, said Griggs.
B次元官网网址淯ltimately, the dream would be for us to go to the UN Congress of Biodiversity,B次元官网网址� said Griggs. B次元官网网址淲e want to present the campaign and the results as a sign of leadership and motivation for other provinces, states or countries.B次元官网网址�
Next year, the foundation wants to keep the campaign going and hopefully double the amount of photos, aiming for two million.
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