Mapping Urban Biodiversity Hotspots Using Remote Sensing and Citizen Science for Effective Conservation Planning

Biodiversity (BD) information underpins conservation studies and guides conservation choices in tackling BD loss. Such information often needs analysis and compilation before use, which surpasses the time constraints of expert scientists. Scientists enlist, educate, and assist a network of Citizen Science (CS) to collect this data via internet platforms. This text outlines three CS initiatives funded by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission to transcribe and georeference historical herbarium samples and document contemporary BD via iNaturalist (i-N) in two ecologically rich and rapidly growing counties. Data obtained via CS will be included in a County Natural Heritage Inventory (CNHI) report, with a detailed list of species associated with voucher samples and documentation of uncommon populations of plants. Since the inception of the CNHI initiative, CS has written down 9000 and georeferenced 2500 sample data. i-N investigations have reported 130 uncommon plant communities across 40 taxa. This CNHI indicate will identify the most vital taxa, ecosystems, and places for preservation efforts in the region and will provide guidance to conservation participants at regional, state, and federal scales as they undertake land acquisition, restoration of ecology, handling of natural resources, expansion and growth organizing, and the environment reviews.