Adventure Scientists Leverages Citizen Science to Save Imperiled Tree Species

By Alison Ormsby, forest specialist, Adventure Scientists

Community-based citizen science, often called “participatory science”, is a powerful tool to collect data for species conservation and other scientific endeavors while empowering local communities. Citizen science involves the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists. For arboretum staff and volunteers, participation in citizen or community science projects offers a meaningful way to support conservation efforts, extending the impact of your expertise into ecosystems that are increasingly threatened by disease, pests, and climate stress. Your tree knowledge and participation can provide large-scale impact to save tree species facing disease threats.

Adventure Scientists is a non-profit citizen science organization that partners with researchers and land managers to solve urgent, large-scale conservation challenges by mobilizing and training local volunteers to collect high quality field data. Recent projects have focused on topics of tree health and genetics of Eastern hemlock and whitebark pine. After completing online training, Adventure Scientists volunteers document the location and health of imperiled trees using a customized phone app. This unique approach fills a critical gap in conservation science, especially for trees and forests that span thousands of miles. 

Over many years, Adventure Scientists has focused on several tree species facing increasing pressure from poaching, disease, pests, and environmental change. This summer, volunteers across the eastern United States will help researchers track butternut and beech trees, both of which are experiencing population declines from disease threats. Together, we can ensure that tree species are not only admired, but actively protected through citizen science and community action. 

Learn more and get the latest updates by signing up for the Adventure Scientists newsletter. There will be a project webinar in early May. Once the projects launch, interested volunteers can sign up for each project on the Adventure Scientists website, and take the online project training. If you have an idea for a future project in collaboration with Adventure Scientists, you can learn how to partner on their website.