The use of apps for collecting natural history data has greatly expanded in recent years with two platforms, iNaturalist and eBird, becoming widely accepted and utilized by conservation agencies and organizations across the country and globe, including the Texas Master Naturalist Program and its sponsors, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. This linked Guidance Document below is a resource of best practices to aid Texas Master Naturalist chapters (TMNs) in developing a consistent application of volunteer service reporting for these platforms and those activities related to them. Also included below is a Quick Guide for best practices and criteria for volunteer service hours.
The following guidelines will be implemented as official policy starting November 2nd 2020. Additionally, will remain as policy as written through December 31 2024, with the document rolling into the Guiding Documents Review Cycle in 2024.
