Hawke’s Bay joins biodiversity challenge for second year

Hawke’s Bay is one of seven regions in New Zealand to participate in this year’s global City Nature Challenge (CNC).

The aim of the friendly four-day bioblitz style competition is to record as many species as possible using the free mobile app iNaturalist.

Denise Fastier, Department of Conservation Senior Ranger (Biodiversity), strongly encourages everyone to get out and have a go. “Maybe you could have a family competition? Let’s give the rest of the country a run for their money. You can even start in your own backyard! And it is not restricted to native species,” says Ms Fastier.

iNaturalist is a worldwide community science platform that allows you to connect with nature while assisting scientists with conservation, research, and monitoring.

Taking part is easy:

1. Find wildlife - It can be any plant, animal, or any other evidence of life found where you live or visit
2. Take a photo using the iNaturalist app or your camera
3. Share your photos

From Friday, 29 April to Monday, 2 May, participants can upload their photos / observations to the app, with identifications happening from Tuesday, 3 May to Sunday, 8 May. Results will be announced on Monday, May 9.

Ms Fastier notes that you don’t even need to know what you are photographing – there are scientists and specialists all over NZ keyed in to check on their area of interest who will help with that (which is where the education comes in). The key is to take the best photos you can which will enable them to do that. There is a guide for how to take a good (identifiable) photo on the i-naturalist website  https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/2465

Biodiversity Hawke’s Bay general manager Debbie Monahan is pleased to announce that we have been able to include the whole of the Hawke’s Bay region in this year’s challenge, so we look forward to seeing photos / observations from across the rohe, from Wairoa district down to Central Hawke’s Bay.

“The Challenge is held over a weekend, giving families and children a great reason to get outside, connect with nature, and learn about the environment in which we live.”

“We made over four hundred observations last year, so let’s see if we can improve on that and challenge some of the other cities competing in New Zealand,” says Ms Monahan.

For more information visit https://citynaturechallenge.org/

See below for useful relevant links:

iNaturalist Te Matau a Maui – Hawke’s Bay project: City Nature Challenge 2022: Te Matau-a-Māui - Hawke's Bay · iNaturalist NZ
iNaturalist Aotearoa/New Zealand umbrella project: https://inaturalist.nz/.../city-nature-challenge-2022...
iNaturalist World umbrella project: https://www.inaturalist.org/.../city-nature-challenge-2022

22 April 2022

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