Drones
Aerobotany
Citizen scientists discover species in the Amazon Rainforest
Citizen scientists at Rainforest Expeditions discovered eight new species in 2016 alone, contributing to advancing cutting-edge research in the Amazon rainforest
. Award-winning Peruvian ecotourism operator, Rainforest Expeditions, announced today the launch of its citizen science program Wired Amazon, a collection of field projects that allow onsite and offsite community volunteers to contribute to long-term research and conservation efforts in Tambopata National Reserve.
The first two projects to launch include:
• Aerobotany- citizen scientists have the opportunity to review aerial photos of the rainforest canopy from the comfort of their homes. The footage is captured by drones that monitor the canopy over 50 meters above the forest floor. This online project is the brainchild of Dr. Varun
Swamy, an ecologist who has been doing research in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest since 2003.
• Discover a New Species: Barcode Tambopata- guests at Refugio Amazonas Lodge help researchers with the analysis of field data and cataloging some the rarest species of insects. This project is linked to the International Barcode of Life project( BOLD), which is building a DNA barcode library, the foundation of a future
DNA-based identification system for every living organism on Earth. Scientists are discovering, on average, one new species per month.
Wired Amazon allows citizen scientists to earn travel credits by categorizing photos taken in the Amazon through the Zooniverse platform. Volunteers earn $ 1 in travel credits for each classified photo, up to $ 300 per person, which can be redeemed at Rainforest Expeditions lodges during Science Season.