CWF Bioblitz

Background

Biodiversity — literally the variety of life — is an indicator that an area is ecologically stable and healthy. It is considered an environmental health index — or the canary in the coal mine, so to speak. The more species present in an environment, the higher the biodiversity of that environment and the better its health.

To help us determine the health of an ecosystem, we can use Bioblitzes. A Bioblitz is a participatory search for species within a limited area and a limited timeframe that takes a “snapshot” of as many living things as possible. People from all walks of life help out — expert and amateur naturalists, taxonomic scientists and the general public. The species records are compiled into a single data set of the biodiversity in that location at that point in time, which is then available to researchers, scientists and policy-makers to help them make informed decisions about wildlife management.

Here’s the key part: you can be directly involved in determining the health of an area by participating in — or hosting — a Bioblitz!

How? Keep reading…

Goal of the Program

Bioblitzes have long been used as a tool to catalogue species within a particular area. Canada needs this comprehensive understanding of what species we have and where they live. With the help of Canadians like you, we hope to catalogue as much of Canada as possible so that we can make informed decisions about our land use, environmental policies and wildlife. Together, we can learn about and connect with nature, whether it lives in your backyard or in one of the most important ecological sites in Canada.

Planning to host a Bioblitz event?

Fill in your event information to have it listed in the Bioblitz calendar.

Learn More

Need Help?

Checkout this Bioblitz-in-a-Box to help you with all of the logistics in planning and executing a bioblitz.

Bioblitz-in-a-Box

Program Lead

James Pagé

Working with the folks at iNaturalst.org, I've been the lead at the Canadian Wildlife Federation in the creation of iNaturalist.ca, along with our partners at the Royal Ontario Museum, Parks Canada and NatureServe Canada. I work on various species at risk and biodiversity projects at CWF, including turtle recovery work, rare (mostly plant) species surveys, citizen science and years ago got my feet wet (literally and figuratively) with vegetation surveys in eastern Ontario. I know a little about a little when compared to the vast number of species we have in this country! But I love getting out to explore and expand my knowledge as often as I can.

“I’m so inspired by the number of Canadians exploring our vast country to build an ever-growing account of life in Canada. From beginners to experts, young and old, together we’re able to accomplish something scientists could never have done on their own.”