Citizen scientists go on species census
IT’S TIME to participate, app in hand, as nature lovers join the race to measure their local biodiversity.
From Friday to Monday next weekend, nature enthusiasts in 200 cities worldwide will act as citizen scientists, logging plant and animal species they set their eyes on to see which has the greatest variety of birds, bugs and animals.
Twenty of the cities are in Southern Africa. Durban is one.
Last year Cape Town came out tops, documenting 4 671 species with 1 338 observers, according to iNaturalist.org.
Taking part involves calling up the app, iNaturalist, joining “City Nature Challenge 2022: eThekwini Municipality” and then photographing a specimen.
The app helps identify it, offering suggestions either based on what is close to the location or, if need be, what is not.
“All nature lovers are encouraged to join the challenge over the weekend, to log all the plant and animal species they see in their gardens or their region. The following week, between May 3 and May 8, those interested identify all the species recorded and logged on the app,” the South African National Biodiversity Institute said.
The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa will take City Nature Challenge walks at Virginia Bush, Virginia, from 8.30am to 11am on Friday; from 9am to noon on Saturday at Burman Bush, Morningside; from 9am to noon at Treasure Beach, Bluff, and from 9am to noon at the Bridgevale Park and Japanese Gardens, Durban North.
Other organisations involved in the Durban challenge include the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Flowers, the Botanical Society of SA and the eThekwini Municipality.
Other cities and areas in South Africa participating in the challenge are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, the Garden Route, Johannesburg, Kimberley, Nelson Mandela Bay, Overstrand, Southern Overberg, Stellenbosch, Thoyohandou, Tshwane and the West Coast.
For further information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ events/1005580253497942