The Realms

What is a Realm?

A Realm is a digital layer (or virtual representation) associated with a real-world location - anything from nature resorts and reserves to urban green spaces, school, backyards, anyplace at all. Each realm is a unique digital space where users can explore, document and discover the local nature and biocultural knowledge associated with it.

How do I set up my own Realm?

It's free and easy to get started. Just go here. Or contact us and we'll set it up for you.

How to raise the BioScore of a Realm?

If you've visited the location in the real world, you may have encounters with nature, or local inhabitants, that you'd like to share in the form of sightings or evidence.

Even if you have not visited the realm, you may have relevant knowledge or expertise that you can share to raise the BioScore.

- Adding Evidence

It's super simple. Evidence can be anything that contributes to biocultural knowledge - it can even be links to other sources of data, such as YouTube or TikTok videos, or podcasts, or online articles. I can be insights about the species in the realm, nature-related events, talks, artistic expression, or your personal reflections of your own encounters with nature. Anything related to the location and its biocultural state of affairs. Submit Evidence here.

- Add species observations

You can add species observations - photos or videos - through any of the supported apps - or through the Realm page itself.

I'm a Realm Administrator. What happens if I "activate" my Realm?

A few things:

1. You gain access to the Realm's BCU Treasury to support your restoration projects.

2. ⁠Your contributors can start redeeming their harvested BCUs through the GuardiansofEarth.io marketplace.

3. The Realm is added to the game Spirits of the Realms.

4. The Realm map gets "enchanted" - which means your community can decorate it.

Does a Realm need to be "activated" to be part of the twice-yearly BioQuest (April and October)?

No. All 979 realms currently visible on GuardiansofEarth.io are part of the BioQuest.

If the Realm is not "activated," can people still "enchant" the map?

Yes. Anyone can "enchant" any Realm map on GuardiansofEarth.io, which means the map can be decorated by contributors to the realm (or the enchanters themselves).