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Tamworth plans iNaturalist workshop and Bio‑Blitz; resident raises geo‑tracking concern
Summary
The commission promoted an iNaturalist workshop May 22 and a June 28 Bio‑Blitz to update the town's natural resources inventory, while a resident cautioned that geo‑tracking rare species on the platform could risk poaching on private land.
Barb Bloomberg announced an iNaturalist workshop at Cook Memorial Library on May 22 from 1 to 3 p.m., co-sponsored by the Cook Memorial Library and promoted by the Conservation Commission and Tara at Green Mountain. The commission also noted a June 28 Bio‑Blitz planned as a field workshop that would use the app to collect natural-resource data to inform an updated natural resources inventory (NRI).
Commissioner Joan (identified in the minutes by first name only) raised a concern that geo‑tracking rare species via iNaturalist could expose the locations of sensitive species on private land and increase the risk of poaching. The commission discussed balancing public-data collection for the NRI (the current NRI dates to the 1980 master plan) against protections for sensitive sites and private‑landowner privacy.
The minutes record interest in using iNaturalist data while taking steps to mitigate risks to vulnerable species and landowners.
