I’ve been exploring an idea for a while now and would love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or any similar projects you might know of!
The core concept is to establish a charity that provides employment opportunities in very low-income regions with under-researched ecology. These jobs would involve surveying and documenting local species for iNaturalist and other biodiversity research initiatives.
Here’s the vision:
Improving biodiversity data: By focusing on regions where ecological data is sparse, this project could vastly improve global understanding of local species and ecosystems. Many of these regions are high in potential for undiscovered species and also extremely threatened by climate change and land clearing.
Creating meaningful work: Participants would be trained to survey for raw iNaturalist observations, which can taught relatively quickly and would be compensated with above-average living wages.
Supporting communities: This provides not only a source of income but also opportunities to engage with conservation efforts, preserve traditional knowledge and ecosystems, and raise awareness about their natural environment.
“Yale map of projected undiscovered species” Moura, M. R., & Jetz, W. (2021). Shortfalls and opportunities in terrestrial vertebrate species discovery. Nature Ecology & Evolution. doi:10.1038/s41559-021-01411-5
This idea could be tested through small-scale, trial projects. For instance, I’m well-connected with a community in Sumba, Indonesia. With relatively modest donations from iNaturalist users and other ecology fans in developed countries, it would be easy to raise a few hundred dollars to pay someone to conduct surveys one day a week for a year. The impact would be significant: we’d get improved biodiversity data for a largely unresearched and heavily threatened area with high biodiversity and undiscovered species; while also providing stable income and training for individuals in the community.
To give you some context:
I have studied international development and have a lot of intercultural experience staying with communities in developing countries. I’ve also done a lot of community organising work.
I also have a lot of free time to dedicate to bringing this project to life.
Does this sound like a project worth pursuing? I’d love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, or any insights on similar initiatives. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
Sounds like an interesting and worthy idea. I think this sort of connection and a long-term commitment would be essential, so as to avoid the risk of creating expectations that can’t be maintained. Continuous mentoring and training would also be important, and ideally direct connections with taxonomists or ecologists (ideally including and prioritising in-country scientists) so that new species, for example, could be collected and described. Photos only go so far.
Or, another idea, we donate directly to iNaturalist so they can continue promoting the use of their platform within these countries and continue growing the iNaturalist Network, in which each country is helmed by local leaders who have familiarity with existing projects, governmental entities, and educational and other institutions that may benefit from the data and thus incorporate the use of the platform.
This is not to say there is no need. However:
There is no guarantee of the first and the logistical hurdles of the second would be astounding. In this country, for example: an individual needs an RFC number from the SAT (and if a non-profit needs to be an AC with a registered accountant) before even beginning to hire anyone, and employee needs to provide their CURP, their RFC, their INE, etc. Aguinaldos have to be considered. (It is that time of year so have them on the brain.)
It is far better to work within existing local frameworks. The iNaturalist Network allows for this.
I like the idea of empowering and resourcing under resourced communities. AND I’m thinking the challenge would be infrastructure, specifically access to devices and internet. And whenever you make observing transactional and commodified, you run the risk of encouraging unethical observing practices.
Thanks I’ll read into the iNaturalist Network in detail. However, my concern is that in countries where people have little spare time and resources expecting volunteers to do a significant amount of quality surveying seems unlikely. There also seems to be huge gaps in the iNaturalist Network currently (all of Africa and South-East Asia).
You say there’s no guarantee of improved biodiversity data, what do you mean by this?
It is best not to make sweeping statements about all peoples within these areas, what time or resources or interests they may have or not. And please be aware that a lot of quality work already occurs in many of these places; it is just not at the same rate as the US.
I leave development of the iNaturalist Network to iNaturalist, but I can tell you that it is growing and it is worth exploring the individual organizations within the countries themselves. You note that you have a lot of free time; perhaps you could begin by finding one and volunteering to work alongside, remotely if needed.
I did not say this. What I said was in response to this:
I said:
Because there is no guarantee of undiscovered species.
(you will see the map, carefully excludes, South Africa