iNaturalist

iNaturalist is a nonprofit organization and online platform dedicated to recording, sharing, and identifying observations of plants, animals, and other living organisms. Founded in 2008 at the University of California, Berkeley, it has evolved into a global social network that supports biodiversity science and conservation. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in the USA, iNaturalist connects millions of scientists, naturalists, and citizen scientists who contribute valuable observations, often with photographs and location data.

The platform features a crowdsourced species identification system, allowing users to upload their observations and receive assistance from the community and automated tools. It also offers mobile applications for iOS and Android, making it easy for users to record and share their findings from anywhere. iNaturalist supports international portals and multiple languages, contributing to global conservation efforts and providing research-quality data for scientists, conservationists, and educators. With over 181 million observations recorded as of October 2023, iNaturalist fosters a collaborative community that enhances our understanding of biodiversity.