# Seek MN Naturalist/biologist collaborators for conservancy **URL:** \ **Category:** Nature Talk\ **Tags:** projects\ **Created:** [September 10, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/seek-mn-naturalist-biologist-collaborators-for-conservancy/85195 "2026-09-10T14:27:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![memengwaakwe](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/memengwaakwe/32/76817_2.png) [@memengwaakwe](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/memengwaakwe)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/seek-mn-naturalist-biologist-collaborators-for-conservancy/85195/1 "2026-09-10T14:27:14Z")
I’m new and wondering if there’s an appropriate way to go about finding collaborator naturalists for surveying flora and fauna on an ancient, sacred ecosystem and bird sanctuary that I just purchased to protect in MN? I am a physician-scientist and Ojibwe citizen living in CA. Apologies if I’m in the wrong place…appreciate any guidance! 🦋 ---
**Author:** ![roadside\_rambler](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/roadside_rambler/32/60180_2.png) [@roadside\_rambler](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/roadside_rambler)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/seek-mn-naturalist-biologist-collaborators-for-conservancy/85195/2 "2026-09-10T16:17:33Z")
Congratulations! And thank you for protecting the land and bird habitat. Some more information about the land and what you’re trying to do might be helpful. Are you making the area open to the general public? If so, an iNat project for observations made there might be a good start. Or are you looking to allow only a few selected people on the property? Then it might be difficult to find them when you don’t live there, but perhaps reaching out to reputable organizations in the area would help. ---
**Author:** ![tiwane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tiwane/32/54612_2.png) [@tiwane](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tiwane)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/seek-mn-naturalist-biologist-collaborators-for-conservancy/85195/3 "2026-09-10T17:57:39Z")
#Forum Feedback is for discussion [specifically about the forum itself](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/about-the-forum-feedback-category/3), not iNaturalist or other concerns. I’ve moved this to #Nature Talk. ---
**Author:** ![mikeschinlaub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ec9cab/32.png) [@mikeschinlaub](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/mikeschinlaub)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/seek-mn-naturalist-biologist-collaborators-for-conservancy/85195/4 "2026-09-10T19:16:18Z")
I’m just going to look up options that I think fit your goal and post some links here. I think the best bet would be to turn the land over to a more local conservation group. [https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/gifts/land.html](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/gifts/land.html) [https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lands\_minerals/conservation-easements.html](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lands_minerals/conservation-easements.html) [https://www.nature.org/en-us/membership-and-giving/donate-to-our-mission/gift-and-estate-planning/](https://www.nature.org/en-us/membership-and-giving/donate-to-our-mission/gift-and-estate-planning/) ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 7:57pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/seek-mn-naturalist-biologist-collaborators-for-conservancy/85195/5 "2026-09-10T19:57:11Z")
> [@memengwaakwe](#): > > wondering if there’s an appropriate way to go about finding collaborator naturalists for surveying flora and fauna If your question is about within iNaturalist, you could look at who has recently made observations nearby and reach out to them via direct message. ---
**Author:** ![AdamWargon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/adamwargon/32/44649_2.png) [@AdamWargon](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/AdamWargon)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 8:01pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/seek-mn-naturalist-biologist-collaborators-for-conservancy/85195/6 "2026-09-10T20:01:35Z")
Welcome to the forum! > [@memengwaakwe](#): > > Apologies if I’m in the wrong place…appreciate any guidance! > [@roadside\_rambler](#): > > Some more information about . . . what you’re trying to do might be helpful. > [@memengwaakwe](#): > > I am . . . living in CA. What is CA? California? Because I am in Canada, which borders Minnesota, and which we also call CA. > [@memengwaakwe](#): > > I’m new and wondering if there’s an appropriate way to go about finding collaborator naturalists for surveying flora and fauna Getting involved with iNaturalist, by making some observations on your land, identifying for others, etc., is a great way to collaborate with other naturalists, and we can share a lot of tips for how to do that, but more information about your goals would be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![wildwestnature](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/wildwestnature/32/20310_2.png) [@wildwestnature](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/wildwestnature)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2026, 12:26pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/seek-mn-naturalist-biologist-collaborators-for-conservancy/85195/7 "2026-09-11T12:26:21Z")
> [@memengwaakwe](#): > > finding collaborator naturalists for surveying flora and fauna on an ancient, sacred ecosystem and bird sanctuary that I just purchased to protect in MN Hi, we are located in Minnesota & are acquainted with some highly accomplished & knowledgeable naturalists that have a record of site surveys and inat usage. One of them frequently contracts with the MN department of natural resources to survey plants & insects all over Minnesota, while all have expertise that extends beyond Minnesota. If you’re interested in discussing, please send a private message by clicking our username & selecting “message.” ---
**Author:** ![tony](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tony/32/4978_2.png) [@tony](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tony)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/seek-mn-naturalist-biologist-collaborators-for-conservancy/85195/8 "2026-09-12T13:10:51Z")
From looking at your iNaturalist observations, it looks like your land is on the east side of Leach Lake. There aren’t a lot of people in that area, but there’s some really interesting habitat there. I have two suggestions. 1. Contact the Minnesota Master Naturalist program at U of M extension. [https://www.minnesotamasternaturalist.org/contact/](https://www.minnesotamasternaturalist.org/contact/) 2. Contact the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Much of that area is within their Reservation boundary. Good luck!