Invasive species controlled through mobile game for third summer in row
Once again, you can earn pocket money by removing lupines and Himalayan balsam in Espoo. You can participate in the campaign by downloading the Crowdsorsa mobile game to your smartphone and heading out into nature
Espoo’s crowdsourced invasive species removal campaign kicks off again at the beginning of June. Invasive species are harmful plants and animals that spread from one area to another with human help – whether intentionally or accidentally – and cause serious harm to native ecosystems.
Anyone living in or visiting the area can join the effort by downloading the Crowdsorsa app to their phone. The game turns biodiversity conservation into a fun and rewarding activity.
You film and remove the plants – Crowdsorsa approves the video and pays your reward
When a player finds an area with invasive species – either one pre-marked on the map or a new one — they film the area before and after removal. Videos are uploaded to Crowdsorsa for review, and approved videos earn a reward, which can be transferred to your bank account via the app.
“In previous years, it has been great to see how people of all ages have gotten involved. You can use a scythe, garden shears or just your bare hands – the method is up to you. Some of the most active players have even bought a string trimmer and turned the game into a summer job,” says Toni Paju, CEO of Crowdsorsa.
Game continues while budget lasts
This summer, Espoo is offering a total of €12,000 in rewards for participants. Players can earn up to €20 an hour. The app automatically calculates the reward based on the species, the size of the cleared area, and the plant density within the area. The game will run as long as the reward budget lasts, and progress can be tracked in the app.
Again this summer, the target species are lupines and Himalayan balsam. The campaign starts when the plants are in bloom, making them easier to identify. The sites previously cleared of Himalayan balsam – and some lupine patches – are marked on the game map as bonus areas, offering higher rewards for removal.
“We have had positive experiences with Crowdsorsa in previous summers, which encourages us to keep going. Using different forms of volunteer work, we can inspire Espoo residents to get involved in the important work of combating invasive species. We hope Espoo residents will join this collective effort to protect biodiversity. Crowdsorsa provides a great tool for that,” says Landscape Maintenance Manager Anne Mannermaa from the City of Espoo.
Crowdsorsa in a nutshell
Crowdsorsa(external link, opens in a new window) is an internationally awarded startup based in Tampere. Its concept has been adopted in Finland, Sweden, Estonia, the UK, Canada, and the United States.
The Crowdsorsa mobile game was developed for the crowdsourced collection of data in the form of photos and videos. Participants earn rewards by playing while also helping to protect the environment.
In addition to tackling invasive species, the app has been used to rapidly map urban accessibility, the condition of streets and cycling paths, manhole covers and park benches, and even to prevent the spread of Spanish slugs.
Crowdsorsa is constantly developing new ways to make environmental protection a fun and rewarding game.
This summer, Crowdsorsa is helping to combat invasive species that threaten biodiversity in more than 60 municipalities in Finland, Sweden and Canada.
More information
Anne Mannermaa,
Landscape Maintenance Manager, City of Espoo
Tel. +358 50 5285928
anne.m.mannermaa@espoo.fi
Toni Paju
CEO, Crowdsorsa
Tel. +358 40 6610072
toni.paju@crowdsorsa.com