International Day of Biological Diversity
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the incredible number of plants and animals around us.
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Do you know your wild neighbours? Robert Bateman, Parks Canada, and our partners invite you to get to know the amazing plants and animals right in your own backyard. Join us for the 3rd annual Get to Know BioBlitz, a unique celebration of art and biodiversity held at national parks, national historic sites, urban green spaces, and even school yards, from coast to coast. The fun starts on International Day of Biodiversity (May 22), and events will run until Parks Day (July 16).Interested in hosting a BioBlitz? We'd love to hear from you, BioBlitz events are relatively easy to organize and always a lot of fun! Email us here: jnowell@gettoknow.ca.
A BioBlitz is a short (usually one-day), intense team effort to discover as many different life forms as possible in one location. This often involves researchers and the general public working together to identify as many species as possible in a 24 hour period. The Get to Know BioBlitz puts a fun new spin on this concept, by offering short, youth-focused events that are all about connecting with nature through cool art activities developed in consultation with iconic artist and naturalist Robert Bateman. ▼
The first Get to Know BioBlitz launched in May 2010, in partnership with Parks Canada, at 22 sites across Canada and one in California. In 2012, we are planning an even bigger BioBlitz—bringing events right into school yards and urban parks in your neighborhood.
Youth of all ages are invited to join biologists, park interpreters and naturalists as they learn the names of plants and animals around them and take part in the unique activities organized at each BioBlitz location. Depending on where they live, youth might get a chance to try their hand at species identification, photography, wildlife sketching, writing about nature, or the discovery of the natural history of their area. No two BioBlitzes will be the same, as each one will be a reflection of the local environment.
For parks, nature areas, schools and community groups interested in hosting a Get to Know BioBlitz, we have several leader resources available on this website. Please contact us to learn more about hosting an event, share ideas, get additional guidance, and to have your event listed on our website.
"On July 4, 1998 we attended the most memorable BBQ and bonfire of my life. It was not far from Thoreau's Walden Pond and a wonderful group of naturalists presented their discoveries of the day. They had been counting or estimating numbers of the different species within a 10 mile radius of Walden... How wonderful, I thought, to get to know our wild neighbours and compare trends from year to year. What if every community did this to celebrate biological diversity? That raised consciousness could change the world."