To Obscure an observation, make it Private or leave your observation Public so all the location details can be viewed.

iNaturalist allows a user to select 1 of 3 options to display the level of information and accuracy available to others as to the location of an observation.

Public
This setting allows a user to accurately show where the observation was taken. You can put the pin exactly on a tree and someone could use the coordinates to find the precise spot. Everyone can see the true coordinates.
Example: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/37272937

Obscured
This setting allows a user to hide the accuracy of an observation. Some things we just know must not be shown to the public.
A user will see a random point within a 0.2 by 0.2-degree area that contains the true coordinates. This area works out to about a 22 by 22-kilometre area at the equator.
The randomized public coordinates appear within the rectangle as a circular marker without a stem. True coordinates are only visible to you, trusted users, and trusted project curators.

Just a note about projects. If the location is obscured and you add it to a traditional project the coordinates may be displayed to the curators of the project. So, check your options when you join the project. This only applies to Traditional projects. Not Collection or Umbrella projects.
Example: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/15488531

Private
This setting allows a user to block any indication as to where the observation was taken.
A user will not even see a map to indicate if it was taken on planet Earth or Mars.
Example: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/43105311

So, what to use and when?

Under general observations, you would likely use the Public option. This would allow any other user to re-visit the site to verify the observation or for researchers studying distribution.

Rare or endangered species are automatically obscured by the system, so there is no need for you to select them. Go and check any Rhino observation and you will see that it is not accurate. You could still select the obscured option to doubly make sure it is hidden.
However, not all our sensitive or Red Data plant species are automatically obscured. There are organisms sought after for some reason (traditional use, horticulture, to trade in, just to be collected, because they are pretty or accessible). Bulbs and many succulents fall into this category. Remoteness vs access makes a difference, though collectors climb scary mountains to collect interesting insects - they sell and trade with these. If you aim to protect something because of these reasons, then do feel free to obscure it.
Why, well the system still needs to be updated and not everything is listed to be automatically obscured.

Private. By selecting Private, the photo will be shown, but the map page, location description and dates will be hidden. No collection project will accept it as it does not know where in the world the observation was taken. If you are participating in a challenge or BioBlitz do not use this option.

If you have taken an observation at your house, and do not want everyone to know exactly where you stay. Instead of pinning your house, select your street, or suburb. Or a nearby road intersection. Then set the accuracy to display a circle that includes your home. Now you are saying it is in that area, but somewhere in the circle.
This will help prevent a grass patch from being displayed at sea.

Users need to make informed decisions based on their preferences and the nature of their observations. For further guidance, users can refer to the iNaturalist help page under Observations, point 8. Remember, while suggestions can be provided, the final decision rests with the user. https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/help#quality

Posted on March 13, 2024 06:44 PM by shauns