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Installation

This guide covers how to install Species Explorer in QGIS.

Requirements

  • QGIS 3.0 or later
  • Internet connection (for fetching data from GBIF)

Installation Methods

  1. Open QGIS
  2. Go to Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins
  3. Search for "Species Explorer"
  4. Click Install Plugin

Plugin Manager

Method 2: Install from ZIP

  1. Download the latest release from GitHub Releases
  2. Open QGIS
  3. Go to Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins
  4. Click Install from ZIP
  5. Select the downloaded ZIP file
  6. Click Install Plugin

Method 3: Manual Installation

  1. Download or clone the repository: 

    git clone https://github.com/kartoza/SpeciesExplorer.git

  2. Copy the species_explorer folder to your QGIS plugins directory:

    cp -r species_explorer ~/.local/share/QGIS/QGIS3/profiles/default/python/plugins/

    Copy-Item -Recurse species_explorer "$env:APPDATA\QGIS\QGIS3\profiles\default\python\plugins\"

    cp -r species_explorer ~/Library/Application\ Support/QGIS/QGIS3/profiles/default/python/plugins/

  3. Restart QGIS

  4. Enable the plugin in Plugins → Manage and Install Plugins

Verify Installation

After installation:

  1. Check that Species Explorer appears in the Plugins menu
  2. Look for the Species Explorer icon in the toolbar
  3. Click the icon to open the plugin dialog

Troubleshooting

Plugin Not Showing

  • Make sure the plugin is enabled in Plugin Manager
  • Try restarting QGIS
  • Check the QGIS log for errors (View → Log Messages)

Network Issues

  • Ensure you have an active internet connection
  • Check if GBIF (gbif.org) is accessible
  • Corporate firewalls may block the connection

Python Errors

  • Ensure your QGIS installation has the required Python packages
  • Check the Python console for detailed error messages

Next Steps

Once installed, proceed to the Quick Start guide to begin using Species Explorer.

Made with 💗 by Kartoza | Donate | GitHub