Imagine a web platform where any person, scientist or citizen interested in biological diversity can interact and share photos and data of plants and animals, a social network for nature lovers!… Such a magnificent platform is called Naturalist and was developed by the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) in collaboration with iNaturalist.

This website, which contributes to the knowledge of nature in a playful way, has had a high impact in Mexico reaching more than 50 thousand users who share, through their accounts, their observations with other naturalists. The best thing is that it can be used not only in Mexico but anywhere in the world. To promote it, on October 2nd and 3rd, the Naturalist workshop: Bases for citizen science, was held in Chetumal, Quintana Roo. It was given by CONABIO, in collaboration with El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR) and Support for the monitoring of biodiversity and climate change in the Selva Maya Project of the German Cooperation for Sustainable Development (GIZ).

This training of trainers (ToT) was attended by members of the Belize Audubon Society, Chaa creek and Ya’axché Conservation Trust from Belize; of the Center for Conservation Studies (CECON) of the San Carlos University (USAC) from Guatemala, of the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) from Guatemala; and of ECOSUR from Mexico. Their mission will be to replicate the training in their countries, strengthening national inventories through citizen participation.

Contact: claudia.nares@giz.de