Event Type
Landcare Region
BCT Region
Join Dr Michael Mulvaney to take a deep dive into the citizen science application NatureMapr. Michael has been involved with NatureMapr since its inception 13 years ago, when his curiosity about native plants and the environment led him to start recording species that were new to him.
Have you ever wondered what that plant is in your grassland? Had difficulty distinguishing a ‘weed’ from a native plant? Are you bewildered by technology and the myriad of “apps” available?
At this webinar we focus on one application to get you started on your citizen science journey. Develop confidence and knowledge to use NatureMapr to report species information that can contribute to real on ground outcomes.
Michael will offer his expertise on what to record, when and how often. He will talk about his experience using NatureMapr for threatened species monitoring and discuss guidelines on how to collect high quality data as a citizen scientist.
About our speaker
Michael Mulvaney has spent 40 years as a Landcarer on Red Hill Nature reserve, which is the wooded ridge you see framing Parliament House on the nightly news, and Michael considers as being the center of the universe. He completed a PhD on why certain garden plants become weeds and others don’t and was part of the group that developed the Australian Weed Risk Assessment System. He spent 35 years working for the Commonwealth, NSW and ACT governments providing advice on development and planning proposal that may impact wildlife.
To get a better context for the advice he was providing, he co-founded NatureMapr, a Citizen Science web site that coordinates local collection of wildlife information and helps direct local on-ground management. He has supervised citizen science projects that used both NatureMapr and iNaturalist and produced papers on Gang-gang Cockatoo diet and Gang-gang nesting ecology. He has studied the distribution of rare Small Ant-blue Butterfly breeding sites, orchid presence and diversity in relation to prescribed burning and Canberra’s insect pollinators and how to encourage them in restoration/regeneration projects.
The audience will be able to ask questions via the chat function on Zoom and the presentation will be recorded.
You will be sent a Zoom link the day before the event via email.
Event Topics
Event Outcomes
Growth in learning measure (Scale 1 - 100)
https://southeastlandcare.asn.au/archive/private-land-conservation-matters-project/
View the recording
This is an edited webinar recording from the 2nd September 2024 with Dr Michael Mulvaney from NatureMapr.
Michael has been involved with NatureMapr since its inception 13 years ago, when his curiosity about native plants and the environment led him to start recording species that were new to him. Have you ever wondered what that plant is in your grassland? Had difficulty distinguishing a ‘weed’ from a native plant? Are you bewildered by technology and the myriad of “apps” available?
In this webinar recording Michael offers his expertise on how to use NatureMapr for threatened species monitoring and discuss guidelines on how to collect high quality data as a citizen scientist.
1. What Attendees Liked About the Event
a. Presenter Quality and Content Delivery
- Presenter was highly knowledgeable, engaging, and motivating
- Real-life examples helped bring the topic to life
- Clear, concise, and passionate explanation of NatureMapr and citizen science
- Excellent moderation and facilitation
b. Value of Citizen Science & NatureMapr
- Provided valuable insight into a platform unfamiliar to some attendees
- Highlighted the importance of citizen contributions to biodiversity records
- Clarified differences between citizen science apps
- Offered a researcher’s perspective on the value of public engagement
c. Format and Structure
- Generally useful content, particularly for those new to the platform
- Suggestions around timing (some felt an evening session may be more suitable)
2. What Attendees Want to Learn Next
a. Platform Use & Application
- How to best use NatureMapr and what types of observations to upload
- Desire to “put it into action” after gaining basic understanding
- Interest in practical, hands-on guidance using the app
b. Broader Environmental Learning
- Using wildlife cameras effectively
- Identifying local endangered or vital species
- More on native vegetation regeneration and programs available
- Integrating biodiversity with agricultural practices
3. Suggestions for Improvement
a. Practical Demonstrations & Landholder Voices
- More hands-on training: how to use the NatureMapr app effectively
- Involve 1–2 landholders to share project implementation details (e.g. species selection, time commitment, biodiversity agreements)
b. Event Logistics and Options
- Offer survey responses for those who don't need more information
- Explore financial implications and grant opportunities linked to biodiversity restoration
- Consider adjusting event time to better suit audience preferences