Platform(s), such as mobile, website, API, other: web URLs (aka web addresses) of any pages, if relevant: - Description of need: A common type of curator flag is “Add new species X” that is missing from inat tree, iNat dogmatically still relies on 2012 COL checklist which is far different than CO…

Added my vote, I think this is long overdue. I would be even more supportive of just ending the ability of users to import taxa from external sources like this one. It was useful in the earlier days of iNaturalist when its internal taxonomy was still very incomplete. But now I think the utility has…

Just adding a backlink to a supportive post in the curator area https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/catalog-of-life-2012-importer/79345 I’m confident that having this updated would be a massive help to diverse users who continually are looking to expand and improve the taxonomy database, many of these…

I agree that updating would be best, but if that isn’t possible, it seems like just removing the CoL 2012 import might be preferable to leaving it at this point.

[image] sjl197: about whether the external name importer feature has any merit, or indeed should be deactivated. On this, I am absolutely adamant that at least for arthropods … that the automated import feature still could have great utility - IF it gets updated Maybe a happy medium would be …

I’ve made an issue to explore the feasibility of this. [image] jdmore: But now I think the utility has passed the point of diminishing returns for Curator time and effort. Are you saying it’s causing more trouble than it’s worth? Like are people adding taxa they shouldn’t?

I paused for other view - the question directed at jdmore, but now i go for reply. With the importer being so outdated then yes, users are absolutely importing taxa (combinations, misspelling etc) that they shouldn’t. That’s not a reason to delink the system entirely, it can be functional with prob…

[image] tiwane: Are you saying it’s causing more trouble than it’s worth? Essentially yes, but I do hear the feedback that the functionality is still helpful for curators in some groups, so I’d be in favor of keeping it but making it accessible only to curators. But of course, either way, we …

@tiwane @loarie Please. Do you guys want me to lay out some example of the MANY cases where the outdated name importer is continually adding needless burden to the workload of taxonomy curation mostly been done by your volunteers? You’ve both done some of the taxonomy curation, and loarie especiall…

Please see my previous post: [image] tiwane: I’ve made an issue to explore the feasibility of this. No one is against doing this, but switching over isn’t necessarily a simple thing. I’ve made an issue for our engineers to take a look at CoL’s new API and what it would take to make it work o…

Thank-you for pointer to back to your reply above, and adding more detail now. I also see you’ve been responding to taxon flags recently, so that’s great, and a helpful contribution to taxon curation efforts. I hope with that you have been gaining increased insight to the continued flood of simplis…

Switch from COL 2012 API to Checklistbank to reduce curator load for new taxa addition

Feature Requests

Topic		Replies	Views
External providers - time for an update? Curators	22	1056	December 27, 2024
Catalog of Life 2012 importer Curators	1	76	May 24, 2026
Name importer improvements - wiki Curators curation	14	1725	January 5, 2021
Curating taxonomy? Anyone there? Curators	16	1247	July 18, 2025
Limits on importing external taxa? Curators	7	769	June 12, 2023

Switch from COL 2012 API to Checklistbank to reduce curator load for new taxa addition

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