iNaturalist Extractor - Documentation

Description: Extract data from iNaturalist database based on an extent. Extract data from iNaturalist database based on an extent.
Author and contributors: Jules GRILLOT
Plugin version: 0.4.2
QGIS minimum version: 3.28
QGIS maximum version: 3.99
Source code: https://framagit.org/JulesGrillot/plugin_inaturalist_extractor/
Last documentation update: 22 April 2025

What’s the point

This tool allows you to extract specific data from iNaturalist database. The extraction is based on either an extent drawned by the user on the map canvas or a layer’s extent. The data is based on the API service published by iNaturalist please consider reading the API Recommended Practicesbefore using the plugin.

How to use it

Only 3 steps are required to use the iNaturalist Extractor:

  1. Select the extent you want to use to extract data.

  2. Select the output CRS for you exported data.

  3. Select if you want to save the result or not, and if so the output folder and output format.

User Interface

user_interface

1. Select an extent

You can either draw a rectangle on the map (default) or select a layer in your project and use it’s extent.

Choose your weapon

2 checkboxes allow you to select how you want to get the extent used for the data extraction :

  • Draw an extent to extract data : if you want to use a drawned extent. Then you have to click the Draw an extent button and create a rectangle on the map.

  • Use layer extent to extract data : if you want to use a layer’s extent. Check it and then use the combobox to select the layer you want to use.

Error messages

The selected layer or extent cover more than 10K observations, this is the maximum number of observations you can extract at a time.

too_many_obs_error

2. Select output CRS

You can select a Coordinate Reference System (default is the one from the QGIS project)

3. Select output format

Save result as temporary layer

If you don’t want to save the extracted data as layers (default) you only have to select the output crs with the combobox.

Save result as layer

If you want to save the extracted data as layers you have to :

  • select the output crs with the combobox.

  • check the Save the results : checkbox.

  • select if you want to add the exported data to the project (default) or not.

  • select the output format, GeoPackage (default), Shapefile or GeoJSon.

  • select the output folder to save the new layers inside a folder called iNaturalist_Export_yyyymmdd_HHMM.

Launch the extraction

The extraction begin when you press the OK button.

Additional tools

By clicking the iNaturalist button, you’ll be redirected to iNaturalist’s website. By clicking the Documentation button, you’ll be redirected to this page. By clicking the Metadata button, you’ll be redirected to the about page of iNaturalist. An OpenStreeMap basemap is automatically added to the project if there is no layer in it. So the user can draw a rectangle.

Usages

Contribution guide