InaturalistReviews of inaturalist.org

The criticism and ban are completely unscientific. It is also accompanied by an insult. ‘That’s the only way anyone will get it.’ The Board of Trustees has never even heard of invasive plants. Renaming the species would involve too much work. Nor is there a clear definition of how large or small an area should be when encountering a species. With 66,000 observations and 1,800 species, you’re talking to a different audience. The Board acts in a high-handed and very self-serving manner. They exploit people worldwide to do the work for their own careers and publications. You also receive no response or feedback on where and how the data is used. The lack of an imprint or information on who is behind this non-profit organisation does not exactly lend the association credibility.

I intended to register, but I’m not comfortable agreeing to a clause that permits a specific country—regardless of which one—to access all my personal data. For that reason, I prefer not to share my professional information publicly.

I've been using iNaturalist for a year now, and it has become an essential part of my travels. As someone with a background in biology, I find immense joy in not just identifying species but knowing that my observations contribute to real scientific data. During my numerous travels, the app has proven to be incredibly accurate in pinpointing locations and identifying species. Once you upload an observation, it enters a global database where other experts and enthusiasts can verify it. It’s a wonderful ecosystem for anyone who loves to observe and study the natural world.