Potential of social network and internet media for biodiversity mapping and conservation

Internet and digital technology has revolutionized the rate and efficiency with which data and knowledge are transmitted and shared among people. In particular, the social media such as Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Flickr, e-mail discussion groups, etc. super(1), has shrunk the communication space like never before and has turned out to be powerful agents for obtaining rapid news updates. Their relatively easy access through computers, mobile phones and a host of other gadgets have made these very user friendly so much so they are probably the most frequently used technologies today. No wonder then an army of social networking sites are set afoot that transmit and share information on almost infinite number of issues ranging from archaeology to zoology or from sighting traffic offenders to stars in the night sky. Here, I discuss a specific case of how social network and Internet media can effectively be used in biodiversity mapping and conservation.