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Citizen Science
INPN Species, discover the fauna and flora around you
Insects, butterflies, crustaceans, wild flowers, etc.: the INPN Species mobile application allows you to discover the species that inhabit your environment, but also to contribute to their inventory count. The result of this citizen science system will be improving scientific knowledge of French biodiversity, which can then be used to inform conservation programs and public policies.
In France, only half of the known species are listed in the National Inventory of Natural Heritage (INPN), the resource that allows us to map out their distribution in France and overseas. Why? Scientists can’t be everywhere at once. However, in order to be able to monitor the state of biodiversity and give informed advice to communities, public authorities and private companies, they need the most exhaustive data possible. That's where you come in.
More knowledge
With the INPN Species application, the Museum, supported by the French Biodiversity Office and the CNRS , invites you to share your observations of French flora and fauna. Flowering plants, mosses, trees, mushrooms, reptiles, insects, mammals, crustaceans or fish: any wild species living near your home deserves to be listed. This will enable researchers to better document the ecology and biology of the various populations: life cycle, geographical distribution, movements, appearance or depletion, etc.
Challenges to take up
"Quests" are launched regularly to answer specific scientific questions. In the summer, these include the search for two species of butterflies in order to better understand their distribution: the Woodland brown with dark spots surrounded by yellow circles, and the Purple Emperor with blue-violet hues. The adder, which is becoming rarer in France, is also under scrutiny. As a result of the challenges you take up, you can earn points and become one of the leading French biodiversity watchers among more than 8,200 participants!
Phones at the ready!
Contributing to this citizen science project couldn't be simpler: just download the INPN Species mobile application onto a mobile or tablet, and set off to explore your environment. Take photographs of the specimens you encounter and post a clear picture of each one, with some details: date and place of observation, classification (mammal, bird, plant, name of the species), useful comments. The Museum's experts will then confirm – or correct – the identification you have made. At the same time, the application allows you to learn more about biodiversity: enter a geographical position and find all the species present in that area.
In 2021, a quarter of the observations submitted by participants in the program were new data. As you can see, you’ll be making a contribution to science.
To participate
The INPN Espèces App is available on the AppStore and on Google Play.