Nature and technology don’t usually hold hands. Picture it: you’re enjoying your Sunday afternoon walk in the countryside. Birds are chirping, shadows are chasing little furry things in the undergrowth and you’re on your way to breaking the record for the longest lasting smile. The last thing you want is to hear your mobile ring or to find someone loudly taking photos and shouting at the birds to stand still.
And yet, nature and technology can share a picnic. Just imagine: you’re walking along and you spot a plant that you’ve never seen before. You want to know its name and whether it has any medicinal properties.
You might also be wondering what species of butterfly you keep seeing in your garden. Or you’re doing your annual African safari and want to find a trail that doesn’t bring you within eye-staring contest with a hungry lion.
This is where technology comes in. If you’re spending your day surrounded by nature, apps can be your perfect companion. There are apps that help you find nature, navigate through it and learn more about it.
Majjistral Park
Developed by a team of young students following a call for proposals by the MITA Innovation Hub, the Majjistral Park mobile app is a sleek tool that helps make your visit to the park a more immersive and fun experience. The app can help you identify flora and fauna species at the park and provides educational information. You can also report any illegal activities at the park through the app.
Project Noah
What’s the first thing you do when you come across a flower or animal that you like? Well, you take out your phone and snap a photo. Easy. That’s exactly how the Project Noah app works. Take a photo, tag it and upload it on the Noah website. Sightings are categorised and geotagged so that you can see what wildlife can be found in your immediate vicinity.
WWF Together
If you want just one app that tells you all you want to know about wildlife, then the WWF Together app is your tool of choice. This award-winning app gives you precious information about endangered animals such as whales, rhinos, elephants, giant pandas, tigers and other species. Moreover, learn about what the WWF is doing to protect these beautiful animals and help them survive and thrive.
WildObs Observer
Learn more about the species that you have just spotted just by searching through the huge database that the WildObs Observer packs. You can also record your sightings and encounters in the app’s database for other users to enjoy.
iBird
This is one of the best bird identification apps that you can download. Its usability is somewhat restricted since it only focuses on species of birds that can be seen in North America. If you lived in North America, you could search the birds commonly found in your area. However, even if the US isn’t your home, you can still use iBird to search through the bird database and use the iBird Journal to record your bird sightings.
National Geographic World Atlas
A world atlas can hold so much magic: all those maps that tell of distant lands, savage waters, and different cultures. The National Geographic World Atlas app delivers high-resolution seamless maps in stunning detail and accuracy. Every country comes with its own infographics, including socio-economic data, weather and currency conversion rates. Moreover, you can plan your next trip using pins and coordinates.
iTrack Wildlife
The iTrack Wildlife app helps you recognise animals through the tracks they leave behind. The app has a powerful search facility with hundreds of track photographs and drawings to help you identify tracks. The app then gives you information about the animal that you’re following, or that’s following you.
Kingdom of Plants
There are plenty of apps that enhance your flora knowledge. However, the advantage that this interactive app has is that it comes with David Attenborough’s voice. The naturalist’s husky voice is unmistakable as he explains the diversity of plant and insect life. Simply a joy to listen to.