UTRCA launches new Community Science projects (UTRCA weekly, May 13, 2021)
On May 11, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) launched two new community science projects aimed at involving local residents in collecting useful environmental information about the watershed.
The new Community Nature Project (see video) encourages people to make observations about the animals and plants they see in the watershed and log them using the iNaturalist Canada platform. iNaturalist is an on-line platform where participants can record and share biodiversity information, learn more about their local environment, and connect with other naturalists.
Linda Smith and her family have been using iNaturalist on their outings. “Our family has really enjoyed making iNaturalist observations, especially during the pandemic. It has provided us with a fun activity to do outdoors and the kids like learning about the different types of birds we are spotting during our hikes.”
The Community Nature Project encourages people to explore the outdoors, which is particularly beneficial during the pandemic, while also collecting useful information for UTRCA. For example, iNaturalist provides the UTRCA with valuable data on local biodiversity, including the ranges of native species and presence of non-native species, which can help shape our future Community Education programming.
Julie Read, UTRCA Community Education Supervisor, said that “iNaturalist is an excellent tool for promoting student engagement and we have incorporated using the platform into our environmental education programs, such as field trips. iNaturalist offers exciting opportunities for community members to connect directly with the nature around them and helps them hone their skills of nature observation and identification while they also make valuable contributions to Community Science.”
The UTRCA is also working with watershed property owners to pilot a new Community Precipitation Monitoring Project (see video). Participants will measure and record daily precipitation using the online Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) platform. CoCoRaHS is a community based network of volunteers across North America who measure and map daily precipitation. The UTRCA plans to expand the project based on the first pilot year.
Funding for these community science projects was provided by Royal Bank of Canada’s (RBC) Tech for Nature Grant. The RBC Tech for Nature grant is a multi-year commitment by the RBC Foundation to foster new ideas, technologies and partnerships focused on protecting our shared future.
For more information, visit the Community Science Projects website.
Contact: Erin Dolmage, Community Education Technician
