Citizen scientists, nature enthusiasts and biologists alike are gearing up for the fourth instalment of the Great Southern Bioblitz (#GSB23), set to take place from 24 to 27 November. This worldwide citizen-science event spans the Southern Hemisphere, with participants from 157 local areas across 12 countries on three continents. Building on the success of previous years the upcoming event promises to be even more expansive, now including the Mascarene islands and Madagascar.
The Great Southern Bioblitz, facilitated through the iNaturalist app and website, encourages individuals to contribute to the documentation of the Earth’s rich biodiversity. This innovative online platform creates a global community of naturalists, citizen scientists and biologists who collaborate to map and share observations of flora and fauna.
South Africa, a leading participant, boasts six cities – Overstrand, Cape Town, Garden Route, Overberg, eThekwini, and Tshwane – ranking in the top 10 globally for the number of observations submitted in 2022. This year South Africa aims to defend its impressive track record.
During a Bioblitz scientists and the community join forces to survey and record as many species as possible within a specific location and a limited time frame. The Great Southern Bioblitz will span an exhilarating 96 hours, offering a snapshot of the incredible biodiversity in participating regions.
The invaluable data collected during this event serves a multitude of purposes. It aids local environmental groups, government departments, students and organisations in various ways. This includes raising awareness of biodiversity, safeguarding habitats, determining species distribution, enhancing scientific literacy, contributing to climate-change research, and informing policy decisions.
Michelle Neil, one of the founders of the Great Southern Bioblitz, encourages everyone to take part: “Download the free iNaturalist app and take a walk. Take photos of wild creatures, fungi, and plants and upload them using the app. It’s easy to be a citizen scientist and document species in your local area during the Great Southern Bioblitz’s 96-hour window from 24 to 27 November – so get out there, have fun and help us keep count of our biodiversity!”
To get involved, simply download the iNaturalist app and start exploring your local natural surroundings. Share your observations and become a vital contributor to this global effort in biodiversity documentation.
For further enquiries on the Great Southern Bioblitz (#GSB23) please contact African coordinators Suvarna Parbhoo Mohan and Tony Rebelo at crew@sanbi.org.za.
