Wildlife Hero

The Challenges

• The many organisations / projects in the environmental industry makes it difficult to manage data
• Current data collection process is hugely inefficient
• Data is not being collected in a standardised format
• Existing databases difficult to access and integrate into other applications
• Full value of Citizen Scientist data still not being realised

Basic Strategy

• A biodiversity manager appointed for each area of land
• Data collected in a uniform and consistent way
• Data aggregated for municipal, regional, national and cross border level
• Specialist data also collected for research projects
• Best results will be achieved with the collaboration of multiple organisations and enrolling Citizen Scientists
• Each collaboration partner has specific responsibility for one part of the system and duplication of effort minimised

Collaboration Partners

Joint discussions have led to a general census on strategy

• Wildlife Hero collects data with our Citizen Scientist friendly app
• Local Authorities and ADU verify data
• SANBI provide top level data  taxonomy,conservation status / protected / sensitive / invasive
• ICLEI helps expand geographically 
• GBIF are final data depository
• Peace Parks expand scope and cross borders
• WESSA Eco-Schools help LA supplement data collection

Data Storage

All sightings initially stored in the Wildlife Hero cloud. On receipt of acceptance data automatically uploaded to 

• Biodiversity Management System
• SANBI National database
• GBIF Global database
• ADU Virtual Museum + photo

Verification Process

Every sighting generates an email to the biodiversity manager with

• Common Name /Binomial
• Recorder with email link 
• Photo
• Map with physical address, co-ordinates
• Conservation Status , if Protected ,if Sensitive
• Date of Last Sighting
• Nearest previous recording in km 

Manager decides to either Accept / Reject / Lock with one click on the email. He can also Refer to a specialist of ADU for identification or ask for More info.

Alerts

• On receipt of a sighting report specialist alerts are sent to those registereing an interest
• sent via 
  • Email
  • SMS
  • Phone Push Notifications

Other Objectives

• To ensure the base application is provided free to all local residents 
• To build a large and diverse user base 
• To make all the data stored easily accessible by others
• To allow policing of the data on sensitive species
• To continually upgrade the diversity and quality of the data
• To actively engage both academic and amateur enthusiasts in the project, not only to authenticate but improve the content
• To harvest the resource that is Citizen Science

Target Impacts

• Quicker and more informed environmental decisions for Owners
• Better Researcher focus
• Increased awareness within the general public of environmental issues
• Large increase and consistency in school environmental programmes
• The spawning of rich environmental applications and eLearning / mLearning software