# iNaturalist > citizen science project and website **Wikidata**: [Q16958215](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16958215) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INaturalist) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/inaturalist ## Summary iNaturalist is a platform in the field of citizen science . It enables individuals to record and share observations of biodiversity through photographs and location data . Users contribute to a global database that supports scientific research and conservation efforts . The platform connects amateur naturalists with experts who help verify observations . All contributions are publicly accessible and used to map species distributions . The system relies on community participation to expand knowledge of living organisms . The platform operates across multiple countries and languages . It was developed to encourage public engagement with nature . The data collected is used by researchers and educators worldwide . The platform is maintained by a nonprofit organization . The website and mobile app are free to use . Observations are tagged with species identifications and timestamps . The system incorporates machine learning to suggest species identifications . Users can join projects focused on specific taxa or regions . The platform has over a million active users . It has documented more than a hundred million observations . The data has been cited in hundreds of scientific publications . iNaturalist is affiliated with the California Academy of Sciences . The platform was launched in 2008 . It is supported by grants and donations . The interface is designed to be intuitive for non-scientists . Observations are subject to community review and consensus . The platform promotes environmental awareness through participation . It is used in schools and citizen science initiatives globally . The data is integrated with other biodiversity databases . The platform encourages ethical observation practices . It does not collect personal data beyond what is necessary for account functionality . The platform is available in multiple languages . It is compatible with iOS and Android devices . The system allows users to set privacy levels for their observations . iNaturalist is a key tool in modern biodiversity monitoring . It has influenced similar platforms worldwide . The platform is continuously updated based on user feedback . It is recognized by conservation organizations as a valuable resource . The observations are used to track invasive species and population trends . The platform has partnerships with museums and universities . It supports research on climate change impacts . The data is openly licensed for reuse . iNaturalist has received awards for innovation in science communication . The platform is not affiliated with any commercial entity . It is designed to be inclusive and accessible . The community adheres to a code of conduct . The platform does not sell user data . It is funded through philanthropy and institutional support . The system prioritizes data accuracy through verification protocols . It is used by government agencies for environmental assessments . The platform has a mobile app with offline functionality . Observations can be exported for scientific analysis . The platform is used to document rare and endangered species . It has contributed to the discovery of new species . The platform is maintained by a team of developers and scientists . It is updated regularly with new features . The platform is committed to open science principles . It is used in biodiversity surveys and ecological studies . The data is archived and preserved for long-term use . iNaturalist is a leading example of participatory science . It has transformed how biodiversity data is collected . The platform is trusted by researchers for its data quality . It is used to inform policy and land management decisions . The platform is accessible to users with limited technical skills . It has a strong online community of contributors . The platform is not limited to any single taxonomic group . It supports observations of plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms . The system allows users to upload audio recordings . It includes tools for identifying species from images . The platform is used in citizen science education programs . It has been adopted by national parks and nature reserves . The platform is used to document phenological changes . It supports long-term ecological monitoring . The platform is used to track the spread of disease in wildlife . It is used in urban ecology research . The platform is used to document the effects of habitat loss . It is used to monitor the recovery of endangered populations . The platform is used to document seasonal migration patterns . It is used to study the impact of pollution on biodiversity . The platform is used to document the effects of light pollution . It is used to track the spread of invasive plants . The platform is used to document the presence of rare fungi . It is used to study insect populations . The platform is used to monitor bird migrations . It is used to document marine biodiversity . The platform is used to study amphibian declines . It is used to track the spread of disease in amphibians . The platform is used to document the effects of climate change on species ranges . It is used to study the impact of urbanization on wildlife . The platform is used to document the presence of invasive species . It is used to track the recovery of native species . The platform is used to document the effects of habitat fragmentation . It is used to study the ## References 1. [Your Nature Photos Are Doing More Science Than You Think. Gizmodo. 2025](https://gizmodo.com/your-nature-photos-are-doing-more-science-than-you-think-2000631468) 2. [About](http://www.inaturalist.org/pages/about) 3. [Source](https://www.inaturalist.org/blog/82010-spreading-our-wings-inaturalist-is-now-an-independent-nonprofit) 4. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/blog.atom) 5. [Source](https://www.inaturalist.org/blog/66531-we-ve-passed-100-000-000-verifiable-observations-on-inaturalist) 6. [Source](https://www.inaturalist.org/blog/82561-150-000-000-observations-on-inaturalist) 7. YouTube API 8. [Observations ยท iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=map)