In today's world, the health of the environment and conservation of nature are significant matters of concern for citizens around the world. Faced with rapid changes in our ecosystems due to the expansion of human civilization and the resulting change in climate, there's an urgent need for data on the state of ecosystems.
As a result of this need, citizen science initiatives have emerged to fill the gap. Concerned citizens can now provide data that contributes significantly to efforts to monitor and protect nature. Many organizations and institutions have found participatory science an effective way to learn more about our environment and produce data for scientific studies. As a result, a variety of new applications have been developed that allow citizens to take part in protecting their environment, all while helping to feed scientific databases.
In Nosara, we have the privilege of enjoying some of the most remarkable biodiversity and landscapes in the world, which thousands of tourists come every year to observe. Local biodiversity is intricately linked to the local community's social and economic well-being, making the protection of nature all the more important.
Join us on iNaturalist!
By using the citizen science application iNaturalist, you can contribute to conservation while learning even more about the natural beauty in Nosara. All observations made within the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding 5 km area are automatically added to the Nosara Biodiversity Project, which is how the WCA collects data on the distribution of local flora and fauna species.
With iNaturalist, you can share photos of wildlife and get help in identifying the species you've observed. On our project page, you can also see which species have been observed recently and compete with community members for a spot on the "top observers" list!
In addition to becoming your own nature guide, the app allows you to take time to observe and learn more about the biodiversity of the area, while improving your well-being and the quality of your walks! The app can be used anywhere, whether in your garden or out on the trail. Observations can also be saved for upload later, if you don't have an internet connection. If you prefer not to use the app, you can even upload observations and navigate iNaturalist from a desktop.
Joining iNaturalist is as easy as 1..2...3!
Additional resources
Looking for a spot to observe wildlife? Visit the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge (Guiones, Pelada, Nosara, and Ostional Beach) and check out the Nosara Civic Association trails to walk through the area on paths surrounded by nature.
Need help identifying what you find? Check out the Seek app and Wildlife of Nosara ID Guide for help identifying new species. We also highly recommend the Merlin Bird ID app for help identifying local birds and their sounds.
The preservation of our beautiful, healthy and ecologically diverse environment concerns us all! Whether you live in Costa Rica or abroad, citizen science empowers you to contribute to real-world conservation.
References
Bryson, J.M., Quick, K.S., Slotterback, C.S. and Crosby, B.C. (2013), “Designing public participation processes”, Public Administration Review, Vol. 73 No. 1, pp. 23-34. - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2012.02678.x
Schaffer, V. and Tham, A. (2020), "Engaging tourists as citizen scientists in marine tourism", Tourism Review, Vol. 75 No. 2, pp. 333-346 - https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-10-2018-0151
Schuttler, S. G., Sorensen, A. E., Jordan, R. C., Cooper, C., & Shwartz, A. (2018). Bridging the nature gap: can citizen science reverse the extinction of experience? Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 16(7), 405–411. - https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.1826
Xavier Amelot, Laurent Couderchet et Matthieu Noucher (2017), « Données institutionnelles et données contributives sur la biodiversité, quelle légitimité ? », Mappemonde - https://doi.org/10.4000/mappemonde.2861
Kimura AH, Kinchy A. (2016) Citizen science: probing the virtues and contexts of participatory research. Engag. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2:31 - https://doi.org/10.17351/ests2016.99
Hinson, T. (2013, 13 décembre), 11 endroits à visiter en 2014. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/best-destinations-2014/index.html
Marcel Evans (2014), CNN and National Geographic Mention Nosara as Top Tourism Destination
https://news.co.cr/cnn-and-natio