CWF Launches Great Canadian Bioblitz to Track Biodiversity Across Canada

OTTAWA, Ont., Sept.4, 2024  – Canadians coast to coast are invited to participate in the inaugural Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) Great Canadian Bioblitz, an event designed to track and showcase biodiversity using the iNaturalist.ca platform.  

Anyone can participate in the CWF Great Canadian Bioblitz using a mobile device or camera regardless of where they are in the country. The goal is to make as many observations or sound recordings of every wild flora and fauna species as possible, and then upload them into the free iNaturalist.ca platform or the iNaturalist app.  The event offers a great opportunity for people of all ages to learn about wildlife while enjoying a fun, family-friendly nature connection. 

“The data collected during the CWF Great Canadian Bioblitz can help monitor biodiversity at a key time when late summer flowers are in bloom, species are making their way to hibernation sites or migrating to overwintering grounds,” said James Pagé, Species at Risk and Biodiversity Specialist with CWF. “This information can be invaluable to scientists and wildlife organizations. Who knows what species people might find - something endangered or invasive or a species that has moved out of its range or shifted timing to adapt to habitat loss or climate change.  Wildlife is very active at this time of year, so it presents a great opportunity to discover more about the natural world around us.”

Participation is easy. All anyone interested in participating has to do is open a free account at iNaturalist.ca and join the CWF Great Canadian Bioblitz project found on platform. The event takes place in two parts. From Sept. 13 - 16, everyone is encouraged to record their nature observations which will be automatically added if they have joined the project. From Sept. 17 -22, species experts or anyone with knowledge about individual species can help verify the observations made during the event.  

“With the loss of biological diversity emerging as a global environmental threat, everyone can be part of the solution. All observations uploaded during the CWF Great Canadian Bioblitz become part of an international database of biodiversity to be used for conservation,” Pagé said.

This is the first time CWF has launched a fall bioblitz on a national scale. To learn more and get involved, visit GreatCanadianBioblitz.org. 

  --30--

• Great Canadian Bioblitz | GreatCanadianBioblitz.org 
• CWF Great Canadian Bioblitz iNaturalist Project | https://inaturalist.ca/projects/the-cwf-great-canadian-bioblitz-le-grand-bioblitz-canadien-de-la-fcf 
• Canadian Wildlife Federation | CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca 

The Canadian Wildlife Federation is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to conserving Canada’s wildlife and habitats for the use and enjoyment of all. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on wildlife and the environment, carrying out actions to conserve and restore species and habitats, developing and delivering conservation education programs, advocating for changes to government policy and programs, and co-operating with like-minded partners, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature. For more information, visit CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca.

David DeRocco

Sr. Manager, Marketing and Events

davidd@cwf-fcf.org                                                                  

(613) 599-9594 x 279

(905) 975 4672 (cell)

media@cwf-fcf.org