What is citizen science:

The collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists.
You don’t need to be an expert in a subject to become a Citizen Scientist and make a meaningful contribution to scientific research in a wide variety of topics in the natural environment. The “citizen science” movement is gathering momentum, as scientists, policymakers, and the public themselves recognize that everyday people can make meaningful contributions to research.
Why become a Citizen Scientist?
Ismail Ebrahim of Custodians of Rate and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) says “Citizen science has played a significant role in collecting biodiversity data in South Africa”
And goes on to add “There are many examples of successful programmes that have generated impressive biodiversity datasets and contributed to distribution mapping, understanding population trends and conservation prioritization. Projects like the Bird Atlas, Protea Atlas, Southern African Reptiles and Amphibians (SARCA), Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) Programme, etc have demonstrated the value of citizen scientists to the conservation of our natural heritage. Advances in technology also provide new opportunities to connect and share observations and have made it possible to engage a wider community for more varied projects. These technologies and citizen science projects have engaged members of the public in innovative ways and provided many opportunities for informal education”.

How it works

01.
Record your observations

02.
Share with fellow naturalists

03.
Discuss your findings

Connect with Nature!
