The Second Forum of Naturalist Women of Mexico and Latin America aims to highlight the role of women in biodiversity conservation and to encourage their active participation in environmental protection. This virtual event, which will take place from February 10 to 15, seeks to showcase the work of Naturalist Women in Mexico and other Latin American countries, inspiring girls and women to engage with the knowledge and conservation of nature.
The iNaturalist platform will be essential in the discussions of the forum, as it has revolutionized "citizen science" by enabling the documentation of more than half a million species worldwide. With over 8 million users and 224 million observations globally, iNaturalist has facilitated access to information about biodiversity. In Mexico, 168 thousand participants have recorded more than 53 thousand species through 7.9 million observations.
More than 30 women from 15 Mexican states and eight Latin American countries will participate in the event, which will include presentations on various projects by naturalist women, the participation of girls and women in science, naturalist families, as well as a discussion moderated by Fanny Miranda, a renowned environmental journalist.
Since 2018, the Mexican node of iNaturalist has promoted citizen science in the region through workshops and forums that foster Latin American collaboration, solidifying in 2023 with the first edition of the Forum of Naturalist Women. This initiative has positioned itself as a key platform to highlight the female role in biodiversity conservation and aims to inspire girls and women to actively engage in environmental protection.
The Forum of Naturalist Women is framed within the International Day of Girls and Women in Science, celebrated annually on February 11. The Mexican node of iNaturalist is a platform that allows the registration and sharing of nature observations, facilitating connections with biodiversity and strengthening the community committed to protecting the planet. Contributions through this tool not only enrich scientific knowledge but also support the monitoring of the state of nature in Mexico and worldwide.
