iNaturalist and bush regeneration

Petra Holland tells us about iNaturalist and its value for bush regenerators and how Hornsby Council use it.

iNaturalist background

inaturalist logoiNaturalist is one of the world’s most popular biodiversity observation platforms. It is an online, biodiversity-focused, citizen science platform and app. Its main goal is to create a nature-based social network where like-minded users can share photos of interesting organisms they’ve observed. iNaturalist has evolved over time to become a valuable biodiversity database tool and is used by more than 3.7 million people globally, including amateur naturalists, museum curators, and world experts in their field.

Every observation you upload becomes a valuable data point representing an encounter with a species at a point in space and time. Anyone, anywhere in the world, with a smartphone can download the app and start posting images and descriptions of their observations. Machine learning narrows down the ID first, and you can share your findings with others to verify it. A large community of identifiers helps to confirm the species observed, after which it becomes labelled as “research grade.” Research grade observations are then piped into databases like the Atlas of Living Australia and the Global Biodiversity Facility where they can be used by scientists, conservationists, schools and more for research.

Benefits of iNaturalist for bush regenerators

  • Connect with local naturalists and experts.
  • Learn about the life that is around you and expand your knowledge of local flora and fauna.
  • Each of your observations goes into the Atlas of Living Australia and helps increase our understanding of the natural world.
  • Build your own species lists which are easily filtered and searchable.
  • Keep a species list for your bush regen site as with this Umbrella Project for all Hornsby Shire Council’s Bushcare groups. (link: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/hornsby-bushcare-umbrella-project)
  • Species data is kept in a public online place that everyone has access to. Often species lists are lost on paper, or when people move on data isn’t handed over properly.
  • Species wrongly identified can easily be checked and corrected.
  • Species lists are automatically updated with name changes and newly described species.
  • Easily monitor biodiversity by regularly checking new observations. Find out what new weeds or interesting species are being observed in your area, such as this undescribed beetle at Byles Creek Bushland (link: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183936756 ) found by bush regenerator Sonya Herasemiuk.
  • Tracking the spread and locations of weeds such as alligator weed philoxeroides (link: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?project_id=wisemans-ferry-recreation-reserve&subview=map&taxon_id=75386&verifiable=any ) after the Hawkesbury River floods at Wisemans Ferry.
  • Help identify observations on iNaturalist – it keeps your identification skills up and you help others with your local knowledge.
  • iNaturalist underpins the saying: “You conserve what you love, and you love what you understand.”

Horsby Bushcare inaturalist data

If you would like to find out more about iNaturalist:

Using iNaturalist

Join in The Great Southern Bioblitz: 24-27 October 2025

The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) is an exciting international initiative that embarks on an intensive biological survey during the vibrant spring season of the southern hemisphere. The GSB was established in 2020 during the global pandemic by a group of bioblitz enthusiasts in Australia. The goal of the GSB is to document the flora, fauna, fish and fungi of the southern hemisphere while providing a platform for groups, associations, local government and individuals to encourage engagement in citizen science. This collaborative effort is facilitated through the online platform iNaturalist.

Join in the biggest biodiversity survey in the southern hemisphere:

quote about inaturalist