The Canopy Project Kawartha Lakes is issuing a call for local residents to join them as citizen scientists.
The volunteer-led community group, whose goal is to protect and enhance the urban canopy in settlement areas of Kawartha Lakes, is launching a community project on Earth Day to develop a digital map of significant trees.
The group is holding a launch event from 3 to 4 p.m. on Friday (April 22) at the Fleming College Arboretum on the Frost Campus in Lindsay.
Volunteer citizen scientists will learn how to judge whether a tree is noteworthy or significant based on its size, age, species, or historical connection. They will also learn how to add a tree and its location to an online app that also records the species and other identifiers.
“This is an easy way for people with a passion for the environment to help us identify and preserve our noteworthy or significant trees while participating in a global initiative,” says Ruth Cameron, a volunteer with Canopy Project Kawartha Lakes, in a media release.
“All it takes is a smartphone and the iNaturalist app — you share your photo observations with your fellow naturalists and the community does the rest.”
To RSVP or learn more about citizen science, email Ruth Cameron at SigTreesCKL@gmail.com.
This story has been updated to correct the email address.
