Global Vegetation Project: An Interactive Online Map of Open-Access Vegetation Photos

The Global Vegetation Project (http://gveg.wyobiodiversity.org) is a new initiative to host an online database of open-access, georeferenced vegetation photos. mission the ‘to inspire and empower people all ages learn about diversity on our planet provide educators with resource for teaching ecology online’. beta release includes two R-Shiny web applications that allow users 1) submit photos plant communities through user-friendly portal 2) explore submissions made by others interactive global map. spatial coordinates each photo are used extract information location including long-term recent climate data create Walter Leith diagrams photo. User submitted can be filtered biome, temperature, precipitation, elevation will evolve match needs scientists educators. We intend enhance educational value mapping application incorporating additional search features, layers, publication curricula geared towards primary, secondary, post-secondary education. encourage community use this in their classrooms contribute grow valuable world.