From Observation to Action
Once iNaturalist has been populated with some images, take time to reflect on the themes that emerge and consider possible actions. This could be in an informal lunchtime meeting with contributors, or via an online platform for gathering feedback. The below questions could act as a guide for the feedback:
- What’s emerging? What species are common, missing, threatened, or thriving?
- Are there parts of your workplace that could be made more wildlife-friendly?
- Could different sites compare their observations and share learning?
- What feelings did employees experience when doing this?
Reflecting together on iNaturalist contributions can highlight not only what species are present but also what the activity means for employees and the organisation. The impacts can be seen at different levels, from individual learning and wellbeing to collective culture and strategic decision-making.
Individual impacts
- Reflection on what species are present and how people feel about them
- Greater attentiveness to everyday nature, including often overlooked plants, fungi, insects, or birds
- Learning to identify species and noticing seasonal change or migration patterns
- Building personal confidence in observing and contributing to biodiversity knowledge
- Strengthening wellbeing through time outdoors and mindful engagement with the environment
- Creating personal motivation to adopt small everyday actions, such as planting pollinator-friendly flowers or reducing waste
Interpersonal impacts
- Shared experiences that encourage team building and conversation across departments
- Opportunities for cross-team collaboration through challenges or shared observation boards
- Collective awareness of biodiversity in and around the workplace
- Integration into staff wellbeing programmes through joint activities outdoors
- Encouragement of creativity, storytelling, and curiosity about local ecosystems
Strategic impacts
- iNaturalist data to support organisational environmental goals and track progress
- Feeding into Environmental, Social, and Governance reporting across both social and environmental dimensions
- Informing site-level procurement, landscaping, or maintenance decisions with ecological evidence
- Incorporating biodiversity into net zero strategies and climate action plans
- Providing an organisational listening tool by grounding sustainability commitments in employee experience and observation
In this video Lindy Binder explores some of the positive impacts of engaging with iNaturalist:
Make it Visible and Ongoing
After employees have gathered and shared their iNaturalist observations, the next step is to turn this knowledge into visible outcomes and shared commitments. Creating opportunities for reflection and action helps to embed biodiversity awareness within the workplace culture. Simple activities, displays, and conversations can make the data more meaningful, encourage collaboration across departments, and inspire small but tangible changes that contribute to larger organisational goals.
- Create a digital or physical display, maps, quotes, and photos
- Host a short seminar or lunch session on 'where the data goes' (including examples like underpasses for wildlife or conservation mapping)
- Invite departments or teams to take on pledges: 'we will leave this patch unmown'; 'we will add bird boxes'; 'we will review outdoor lighting' etc.
- Consider seasonal repeat events, using staff feedback to shape future rounds
