Biosecurity is critical to protect our primary industries and natural environment; you only need to look at the cost of responding to pests like PSA disease on kiwifruit, myrtle rust on our native trees, or the ongoing battle against possums. Pest weeds such as woolly nightshade, noogoora bur or freshwater plants like alligator weed can quickly take over ecosystems and prevent growth of our native species.
Regional Councils and local community groups work hard to reduce the impact of pest weeds. However, staff and volunteers cannot be present everywhere, observations can help with targeting resources and efforts. This is where citizens can become biosecurity champions and help protect of our local environment and industries.
The Find-A-Pest app is free to download on Android and Apple. The app uses iNaturalist’s powerful machine learning technology and citizen science community to help you identify what you saw.
If you see something that you think might be a pest, send in a photo and this will be sent to Find-A-Pest experts and iNaturalist NZ for further identification.
Information can be used by groups such as DOC and Regional Councils to support their pest eradication plans. Any serious new to New Zealand biosecurity threats identified by the Find-A-Pest team are forwarded to Biosecurity New Zealand.
*WIN*
Send in a screenshot of an observation you make during December and January on the Find-A-Pest app and we’ll send you a macro lens to help you take great close-up photos on your phone camera!
Email your observation, and postal address to help@findapest.nz before 31 January 2022.
