Proposals for running a special Island BioBlitz in 2016 have been announced by the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
The National Biodiversity Data Centre is proposing to run an exciting ‘Island BioBlitz’ event in June 2016. BioBliltz is a race against time where different areas compete against each other to see which can record the most species of wildlife over a 24-hour period. The proposed event would pit different off-shore islands against each other to see which island can record the greatest number of wildlife species over a 24-hour period.
This builds on the Ireland’s BioBlitz event which has become the largest participatory wildlife event in Ireland, since its inception in 2010.
Island Biodiversity is a participatory event where everyone can join in to learn about the natural heritage of the islands, help survey for species, and engage in a programme of events to celebrate this special feature of our off-shore islands. Island BioBlitz is conceived as a wonderful showcase of all that is special about island wildlife, and serve as a platform around which a larger celebration of the natural heritage of island communities can be built.
It is proposed to hold this special Island BioBlitz on 11 to 12th June, 2016, as a celebration of island natural heritage. The event would be managed nationally by the National Biodiversity Data Centre, but the Data Centre is seeking partners from some of Ireland’s inhabited islands to help run this event.
The Data Centre will take responsibility for the national coordination and promotion of Island BioBlitz and for organising the surveying, collating the results and for live streaming of the event on its website. The local community will assist the management of this process by providing local support, including a venue for BioBlitz HQ, and development of a programme of events around BioBlitz to encourage more visitors to the islands, themed around the rich heritage of the islands.
Should you be interested in joining forces with the National Biodiversity Data Centre to explore hosting of an Island BioBlitz, please contact Dr. Liam Lysaght, Centre Director at 051 306240 or llysaght@biodiversityireland.ie
Proposed responsibilities of the National Biodiversity Data Centre:
- Provide national co-ordination between all participating islands so that the event is presented as a national event,
- Coordinate the team of experts at each participating island to ensure the necessary breadth of expertise to record the greatest diversity of species,
- Seek funding to cover costs associated with assembling teams of experts to survey on each participating site,
- Have responsibility and manage the data collation tasks at each site for the event,
- Provide dedicated Island BioBlitz 2016 website to promote the event and to serve as a dedicated web-presence for the day,
- Provide a dynamic on-line record management system for real-time viewing of progress with species tallies across all sites,
- Provide all the necessary hard copy forms, posters and checklists to manage the Island BioBlitz 2016 survey and recording,
- Produce promotional digital fliers to assist promotion of the event,
- Digital artwork will be provided to each participating site to assist development of tailored local publicity material.
- Help in the development of the visitor programme on the day, working with the local organising committee.
Proposed responsibilities of participating island:
- Establish a group to oversee local organisation and promotion of the event on the participating island.
- Identify a person who would have responsibility to liaise directly with staff of the National Biodiversity Data Centre and to facilitate the survey, data collection and data management for the Island BioBlitz 2016 event
- Provide an indoor facility to serve as BioBlitz ‘HQ or Base Camp’ – this will the base for co-ordination and management of surveyors, and where the survey results are coordinated, check, logged and tallied. Reliable internet connection is essential as progress with recording will be streamed live though a digital application developed by the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
- The indoor facility should be sufficiently large to cater for a number of tables, chairs, display boards and circulation area; this area would need to be at least 50 m2.
- Develop and promote a programme of public events themed around the Island’s Natural Heritage, to build on the opportunity presented by Island BioBlitz 2016.
- Provide lunch, sandwiches and refreshments for participants throughout the day at BioBlitz HQ for participating recorders.