Capture biodiversity with nature challenge

IN the modern digital age it can be difficult to find time to take a break from the constant screening of information and participate in an activity that can reconnect you to nature. If you are seeking a change of pace and a new participative hobby, consider taking part in this year’s City Nature Challenge.

Cities and towns around the world compete to see who has the most biodiversity in the friendly and fun City Nature Challenge.

According to Glenwood resident and participant in the challenge, Crispin Hemson, participants observe and capture the biodiversity in their respective cities over two weekends in the year. “To pick up the change in season there’s a Summer and a Winter bioblitz, some things only become visible in Winter, and in Summer everything has bloomed,” he said.

Hemson is part of a group of Glenwood residents who gather for the bi-annual challenge to capture and put forth their observations on the app, representing the city of Durban.

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Another Glenwood resident, Johan Bodenstein, said the signing up process is easy. “You register on the iNaturalist app, state where you’re from and once you’re logged in you are linked to the competition. You can then go out to a nature reserve or any place where you can capture natural objects, excluding pets, animals and humans.”

The bioblitz takes place over a weekend, and Bodenstein explains: “It’s called a bioblitz because we have a short amount of time to get as much information as we can.”

According to Bodenstein, once the information is captured it is shared on the iNaturalist app and verified then identified by other users, “It is often referred to as a competition because it’s about which city can capture the most objects, but it’s more about the interactive element for most people who use the app,” he said.

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The first bioblitz took place between April 29 and May 2, and Glenwood residents participating in the challenge assembled at the serene and majestic nature reserve, Pigeon Valley, which is tucked away in the centre of Glenwood.

The observers gathered early on Saturday, April 30, and were buzzing with excitement for the task ahead. Many could easily identify unique plant species in seconds and long-time observer Crispin Hemson admitted that he has learned an array of interesting facts while participating.

The next bioblitz will be taking place in October and all nature lovers are encouraged to join.

For more information on the City Nature Challenge, Botanical Society, or the CREW programme, visit: https://botanicalsociety.org.za/crew-programme

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