Northern CA PPSR Projects 1

Calflora

• Organization Name

  Calflora
• Project Website

  http://www.calflora.org/
• Organization Website

  http://www.calflora.org/
• Partners

  Multiple project partners, including BAEDN,
• Contact Name

  N / A
• Contact Email

  spprt@calflora.org
• Contact Phone

  N / A
• Other Contact Information

  N / A
• Project Purpose (taken from project materials)

  Calflora is structured as a digital library to fulfill the following objectives:

  1. to serve as a repository for information on California wild plants in electronic formats from diverse sources, including public agencies, academic institutions, private organizations, and individuals.
  2. to provide this information in readily usable, electronic formats for scientific, conservation, and educational purposes.
  3. to serve public information needs related to scientific study, land management, environmental analysis, education, and appreciation of California plant life.
  4. to coordinate and integrate efforts towards these objectives undertaken by scientists, public agencies, private organizations, and members of the public.

  Calflora offers resources for an informed, timely approach to biodiversity protection. Through Calflora, scientists, citizens, and policymakers have quick and easy access to data they need for analyzing species distributions, modeling spread of invasive species, or identifying consequences of habitat loss.  Furthermore, Calflora provides a mechanism for citizens to participate directly in building the information resources they need, and gives all users an opportunity to learn about the beauty and diversity of California plant life.

• Participant Activities

  Participants enter observations of California flora through Calflora web or mobile interface. Data for the observation includes fields for identification, location..

  Photos can be associated with the entry and there are specialized entry forms for weeds (in collaboration with the Bay Area Early Detection Network), checklist observations, negative observations, and others.

  There are many different kinds of useful observations, depending on what goals the participant or collaborating partner are trying to achieve.

  1. Documenting species not previously known from a county or area.
  2. Documenting new weeds to an area, especially invasive weeds targeted for early removal.
  3. Further documenting plants previously predicted or reported to occur in an area, but that currently lack expert documentation or specimens.
  4. Confirming the continuing presence of plants not observed in the last 25 years in a county/area.
  5. Filling in distribution 'holes' for species. For example, California poppy is presumed to grow in every county of California, however there are still several counties that have no documented or voucher based records available.
• Data Entry

  • Website
  • Cell Phone
• Other Participant Activities

  Participants can contribute to projects associated with Calflora and have access to Calflora data.

  Participants with specialized knowledge can also contribute to the annotation system that facilitates expert input and review of observations. 

• System Studied

  • Invasive Species
  • Plants
• Geographic Scope

  Statewide
• Region

  All (see 'geographic scope')
• Location

  wherever observations of California flora are made
• Location - Map

  N / A
• Time Commitment

  • Other (see Other Information below)
• Volunteer Qualifications

  Participants must create a Calflora account and must be able to reliably identify the plants they are observing. Participants must have access to a computer or mobile device to create an account and contribute observations.

• Volunteer Training

  Instruction on use of web tools is available on the website.

• Cost to Participant

  N / A
• How will the findings be used?

  Observations are converted into appropriate formats and stored in a database. Additional copies of your observation may be forwarded to appropriate individuals and agencies responsible for managing particular areas, projects, or plant groups. For example, observations of rare plants may be forwarded to the California Department of Fish and Game as well as the Rare Plant Program of the California Native Plant society.

  Data is also available through Calflora website, on maps and as downloadable data.

• Other Information

  The Calflora Database is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation

• Photo

  N / A
• last update:

  N / A