14 April 2022: To celebrate Citizen Science Month this April, Parks Victoria is encouraging people to help protect our state’s special places by joining the new Data Discovery Program in their local parks.

The new program, hosted on the iNaturalist app, aims to collect valuable data on biodiversity at over 30 parks and reserves across the state.

Everyone can help by visiting one of the selected parks, capturing images of plant and animal species on their smartphone, and uploading them to iNaturalist.

Parks Victoria will use observations reviewed by iNaturalist to provide quality research data to our Conservation and Science staff who are working to protect nature. 

Citizen science like this can even make significant breakthroughs by finding species in places they may not have been seen before.

Citizen science helps builds new relationships between people, science, and nature. It can also help with evidence-based decision-making and gives volunteers the opportunity to support native plants and animals across the Parks Victoria estate.

The full list of parks is attached below.

For more information visit: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/get-into-nature/conservation-and-science/science-and-research/become-a-citizen-scientist

Quotes, attributed to Leesa Riley, Statewide Volunteering Manager, Parks Victoria

“Citizen Science is a fantastic way to explore nature and help scientists record data on biodiversity observations at the same time.”

“Parks Victoria’s Data Discovery Program provides anyone with a smartphone the opportunity to contribute to our work protecting nature and caring for country across the state.”

Selected locations for Park Victoria’s Data Discovery Program include:

Bunurong Marine National Park

Carboor Upper Education Area

Charlton East Bushland Reserve

Churchill Island Marine National Park

Conglomerate Gully Flora Reserve

Coradjil Bushland Reserve

Discovery Bay Marine National Park

Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary

Fumina South Education Area

Gellibrand Bushland Reserve

Glenmaggie Nature Conservation Reserve

Hat Hill Flora and Fauna Reserve

Inglewood Bushland Reserve

Kadnook Bushland Reserve

Marengo Reefs Marine Sanctuary

Merri Marine Sanctuary

Molesworth Bushland Reserve

Mount Porepunkah Scenic Reserve

Mount Stewart Nature Conservation Reserve

Mountain Creek Education Area

Mudgeegonga Bush Reserve

Mushroom Reef Sanctuary

Ninety Mile Beach Marine National Park

Point Addis Marine National Park

Point Danger Marine Sanctuary

Seaton Education Area

St. Arnaud Regional Park

Stokes River Natural Features Reserve

Stokes River Streamside Reserve

Towma Flora and Fauna Reserve

Woorragee North Bush Reserve

Yambuk Flora and Fauna Reserve