The Nature Realms

What is a Nature Realm?

A Nature Realm is a digital layer (or virtual representation) associated with a real-world location - anything from nature resorts and reserves to urban green spaces and school. Even your own yard. Each realm is a unique digital space where users can explore, document and discover the local nature and the stories associated with it.

How can I explore a Nature Realm?

In the physical world, you can visit any publicly accessible Nature Realm (noting some may be private). Perhaps you knew it was a Nature Realm before you visited, or perhaps you only discovered this during your visit via a QR code?

Once you onboard to the virtual experience of a Nature Realm (via a QR code in the real world, or via a link to a realm's webpage, or via the GoE 'View Public Realms' page ) you can:

• view observations from past explorers,

• discover species found in or near the realm, or even

• add your own sightings and/or stories ('Add Sightings' to the realm using the Guardians of Earth platform, or other integrated apps).

How can I add to a Nature Realm?

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

Even if you have not visited the realm, you may knowledge or expertise that you can share in the form of stories or identifications (to help validate the species of the sightings being submitted by others).

Add your stories

It's super simple. These can be anything - they can even be links to other sources of data, such as YouTube or TikTok videos, or podcasts, or Medium articles. These stories may 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 biodiversity or cultural state of affairs.

Add species observations

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

Or you can add directly through the Realm page. Click 'Plant your... > ...Sightings'.

You can add your stories via the individual realm's webpage 'Plant your... > ...Stories'.

Ready to make your own impact through a Nature Realm? Start by finding a Nature Realm to add to (view all public Realms here), or you can even create your own Nature Realm (get started for free).

How do I set up my own Nature Realm?

It's free and easy to get started. Just go here. Guardians of Earth allows users to create their own Nature Realms. Whether it's your backyard, a local park, or a nature reserve you manage, you can set up a realm and start adding observations.

Where do I go if I need support setting up or managing my Nature Realm subscription(s)?

If you need support setting up or managing your Nature Realm subscription, we're here to help! You can reach out to our dedicated support team through the following channels:

• Email: Send us an email at [email protected] with your questions or concerns. We aim to respond to all inquiries within 48 hours.

• Discord: Join our Guardians of Earth Discord server and post your question. Our community and team members are active there and can provide quick assistance.

Remember, we're here to ensure your experience with Guardians of Earth is as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need any assistance!

Can I support others' Nature Realms?

Guardians of Earth is all about community and empowering each other. If you're interested in supporting nature restoration globally, you will be able to purchase BioCultural Units (BCUs) - either generally (from all available Realms) or from an individual Realm. Your support will directly incentivise and reward the community providing high quality biodiversity monitoring and knowledge, and potentially unlock insights from monitoring tools that the community would have no access to without your support.

Importantly your purchase of BCUs will also allow you to benefit from aggregate reporting across all the realms you sponsor - so you can showcase your positive biodiversity impact to your own stakeholders. This could be a realm in a location you care about, or a realm managed by a community or nature restoration group whose work you want to support.