Overview

Public involvement in monitoring our region's ecosystems is essential, and APNEP seeks to facilitate and promote regional community science opportunities both as educational tools and to assist with our wider monitoring efforts.

APNEP Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) actions addressed:

  • D1.1: Communicate the importance of stewardship and offer opportunities for volunteerism to further APNEP's mission
  • D2.1: Provide and promote opportunities for outdoor experiences that connect individuals with the Albemarle-Pamlico ecosystem
  • E1.3: Facilitate the expansion of volunteer monitoring into a core element of the integrated monitoring network

Community Science Opportunities in the Region

Program Organization Website
(NC specific) NC Wetlands Participatory Program Opportunities Webpage NC Dept. of Environmental Quality Link
(NC specific) Stream Watch NC Dept. of Environmental Quality Link
(NC specific) Aquatic Data Hub New River Conservancy Link
Bumble Bee Watch Xerces Society Link
Christmas Bird Count National Audubon Society Link
(NC specific) Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (NC) CoCoRaHS Link
(VA specific) Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (VA) CoCoRaHS Link
FrogWatch USA Association of Zoos & Aquariums Link
Great Backyard Bird Count National Audubon Society Link
iNaturalist CA Academy of Sciences & NatGeo Link
(NC specific) NC King Tides Project University of North Carolina Link
Lost Ladybug Citizen Science Project Cornell University Link
Marine Debris Tracker  NOAA Marine Debris Program Link
Project BudBurst National Phenology Network Link
Project NestWatch Cornell Lab of Ornithology Link
Project FeederWatch Cornell Lab of Ornithology Link
(NC specific) Sentinels of the Sounds NC State University Link

 

iNaturalist

Part of APNEP's mission is to identify and monitor the significant resources in the Albemarle-Pamlico Region. With iNaturalist (iNat), you can become part of an integrated network that does just that! iNat is an app that allows you to record what you see in nature, meet other nature lovers, and learn more about the natural world. If enough people record their observations, the data will provide scientists and land managers with useful information for monitoring the biodiversity of a particular place over time. 

APNEP needs your help identifying species living in the Albemarle-Pamlico watershed - in your backyard, school yard, favorite vacation spot, and more. Make an iNat account today and get your species "life list" started! 

How to get involved:

  1. Create an iNaturalist account at iNaturalist.org.
  2. To make an observation using a mobile device, download the iNaturalist app (available for Android and iPhone/iPad).
  3. Open the app and enter your login information.
  4. Take a photo of a plant or animal species using either the iNaturalist app or a camera. 
  5. Upload your observation to website. Using a smarphone/tablet, sync your observations to the website. If using a camera, upload photos directly to the iNaturalist site or to your Flickr account which can be linked to iNaturalist.
  6. Log on to iNaturalist on your computer to edit the recently added observations (add species ID, descriptions, etc.).

How to Use the iNaturalist Application