Rhett Butler

More than 100,000 Australian citizen scientists are contributing crucial biodiversity data about species at risk, helping improve conservation efforts in ways that can enhance IUCN Red List decisions.

This commentary by Robert Nasi, Chief Operating Officer of CIFOR-ICRAF and a leading forest ecologist, and Aida Greenbury, a sustainability expert

Australia’s vibrant biodiversity is hanging by a thread, but citizen scientists have stepped up with passion and purpose. More than 100,000 volunteers are mapping species and gathering essential data, playing a pivotal role in conservation—including data that might help improve the IUCN Red List of species at risk. Now, a new study in Conservation Biology calls for clearer direction to supercharge their efforts. The guidelines, the authors say, will help volunteers provide rigorous data to IUCN, which can inform decisions on the extinction risks faced by species and establish conservation priorities. Citizen science data collected today is the largest source of open-source biodiversity data in Australia, state wildlife ecologists Rachael Gallagher and Erin Rogers, who led the research. “The real challenge isn’t gathering the data—it’s how we use it to inform extinction risk assessments,” said Gallagher, an expert in species conservation at Western Sydney University in New South Wales. “Citizen science has the potential to dramatically improve our understanding of biodiversity, but we need to ensure the data aligns with the specific requirements of IUCN extinction risk criteria.” Citizen scientists photographing insects at a UV light and moth sheet in Kalbarri National Park, Western Australia. Photo credit: Thomas Mesaglio Two standout projects featured in the research—Fungimap and FrogID—showcase how citizen scientists are already contributing valuable data. For example, Fungimap encourages people to document and map fungi through the iNaturalist platform. These records have directly influenced threat assessments for at least 13 species across Australia. Scott Loarie, co-director of iNaturalist and…This article was originally published on Mongabay

Antarctic krill trap vast amounts of carbon from the atmosphere in the ocean floor through their sinking fecal pellets, a new study reports.

A “once-in-a-century” flood washed through much of the eastern and southeastern United States in spring 2019 as the Mississippi River overflowed for 145 days straight, breaking the river’s 1927 record for its longest flood. But in 50 years’ time, this disaster might not be nearly as rare. According to a new analysis of the impacts […]

Trees have more complex life histories than previously thought, which scientists must consider to forecast greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and plan conservation efforts.

Cristina Mittermeier, a pioneer in conservation photography, blends art and advocacy to inspire action and amplify often-overlooked voices, particularly Indigenous communities and unsung conservation heroes.

The year 2024 saw significant developments in tropical rainforest conservation, deforestation, and degradation.

The world lost many conservationists, Indigenous leaders, and environmentalists in 2024.

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