AMATEUR SPECIES hunters have been called upon to help earn their local national park the crown of “BioBlitz 2011 Champion” by finding as many species as possible within their local park by 5pm today.
Five sites across Ireland are taking part in the BioBlitz event, which began yesterday.
Members of the public have been invited to simply turn up at one of the five participating sites anytime before 5pm today and help in the challenge to record more species than the other parks before the deadline.
Last year’s champion, Connemara National Park recorded an impressive 542 species in the allotted time.
The sites this year are Ballycroy National Park, Co Mayo; Dromore Woods, Co Clare; Killarney National Park, Co Kerry; Liffey Valley Park, Waterstown, Dublin 20; and Raven Wood nature reserve, Co Wexford.
At each site there will be scientists and recorders present to help the public keep track of how many species have been found.
Members of the public, aided by the scientists and some students, will search the parks recording whatever species they find, from eagles to the smallest bugs in the undergrowth. An estimated 200 scientists are due to take part, all on a purely voluntary basis.
Described as a “scientific race against time”, the event is being organised through the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
According to the centre, the event will give the public an opportunity to “learn how scientists and recorders use their skills to study the wildlife of an area.
“It will also introduce the non-specialist to the fabulous wealth of biodiversity that occurs all around us”.
The BioBlitz race marks the beginning of National Biodiversity Week in Ireland and precedes International Biodiversity Day tomorrow. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan officially started the BioBlitz 2011 yesterday at Killarney National Park, Co Kerry.
“It is great to see so many people here today interested in such an important issue as biodiversity conservation,” said Mr Deenihan at the event.
Liam Lysaght, director of the data centre, said Ireland’s biodiversity was the foundation upon which the agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism sectors depended and was vital for sustaining the societal services often taken for granted, such as clean water, productive soil and clean air. “These goods and services are worth at least € 2.6 billion to the Irish economy each year,” said Mr Lysaght.
National Biodiversity Week is organised as a week-long series of celebrations around Biodiversity Day.
As part of the celebrations, the National Parks and Wildlife Service together with environmental NGOs, local authorities and a wide range of other organisations have arranged a week-long celebration of Ireland’s biodiversity with activities aimed at all age groups.
Events include traditional craft fairs, nature walks, music and storytelling events, bat walks and public lectures.