About Observation.org
Together we discover more!
Observation.org is a global biodiversity platform for citizen science and monitoring, established in 2004. We operate under EU privacy laws.
Mission statement
To advance nature research and conservation efforts by collecting, enhancing and sharing biodiversity data through a community of observers and validators.
Data and community
Our primary dataset contains over 250 million observations and is expanding at a rate of 35 million observations annually, contributed by more than 450,000 users. Data quality is ensured by over 1,000 species experts working with smart technology and artificial intelligence. Through Observation.org, our users share data and connect with nature, discovering more species and increasing their knowledge and understanding of biodiversity.
Observation.org data is actively being used for tracking species distribution and climate change, early warning for invasive alien species, monitoring disease vectors, and citizen participation. It has been featured in over 2,000 scientific publications. You can find our open data on GBIF.
Technology
Observation.org has been part of the transformation from the era of websites and databases to the current world of apps, artificial intelligence, and image recognition. We have supported citizen scientists and professionals by providing access to new technology, ranging from entry-level apps to comprehensive monitoring projects for research institutes and governments. By creating a single, sustainable platform that can handle almost any biodiversity project, we have enabled organisations to adopt a long-term solution for all their projects. This approach reduces costs and enhances data integrity.
Organisation and partners
Observation.org is organised as a non-profit foundation under Dutch law, with a team of 15 employees and an unpaid board of 3 members. Observation.org works with local partners to increase adoption and localisation of the platform, and to invite local species experts to join our validation process. Partners advise the board through delegates in our Global Team.
