So, I’ve found there are some really amazing positive impacts that can happen at a local level. Granted, these impacts may not incorporate thousands of acres or millions of people, but they make a genuine influence on local management.
I’m lucky to work in the ‘urban ecosystem’ – a mosaic of green and gray areas – and we’ve utilized iNaturalist data and engagement to preserve some really special nature parks and preserves in Dallas/Fort Worth. I give a bit of a narrative on one preserve here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/sambiology/82384-charles-f-ladd-nature-preserve-celebration
We used iNat to highlight not just the biodiversity but also the naturalist community that seeks out places like this.
I think that doing ID’s for others is massively impactful (not just for data quality). I harp a LOT on the positive feedback loop from doing ID’s – it’s crazy valuable to the naturalists/observers getting the ID’s!
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/sambiology/54784-positive-feedback-loop-of-identifications-it-s-a-big-deal
Just my two cents worth! :)