Australian Guide to Running a BioBlitz z it l B o i B d n a l t e W s d n la k a O e th t a y e rv u s o t ff o rs ze lit oB Bi ALL OF US WHO HAVE RUN A BIOBLITZ AGREE THEY ARE JUST THE BEST WAY TO HAVE FUN, I n v e r te b EXPLORE AND LEARN ra te su rv ey TOGETHER IN SPECIAL a t W o rl d Pa PLACES AND THEY ARE rks Co ng res s Bi DEFINITELY WORTH oBlit z, Su zanne THE HARD WORK OF Dunford ORGANISING THEM. Cover image Night time possum hunting at Woomargama BioBlitz, copyright Esther Beaton Wild Pictures R e p t ile su rv ey at AC Foreword T C n e r nten pbu ary BioBlitz, Libby He Australia’s terrestrial and marine ecosystems are celebrated “hot spots” for biodiversity, with a large proportion of our animal and plant species unique to our continent and waters. Yet much of this distinct flora and fauna remains unknown. Scientists estimate that as many as three in four species remain undiscovered or undescribed. With Australia’s biodiversity at risk from many pressures – such as habitat destruction, overexploitation, climate change, and introduced species – we are challenged to learn more about our ecosystems so we can better protect and manage them. We need scientists from many disciplines, but it can’t just be scientists alone. We need the help of the entire community to rise to the magnitude of the task. Citizen science programs like BioBlitzes are vital connecting links. These initiatives increase public interest and involvement in science on a national scale. They provide opportunities for families to engage in science in ways that nurture children’s interest, and allow everyone to experience and enjoy science as it is practised. They encourage science engagement and literacy through practical learning alongside experts. They help produce valuable and much-needed biodiversity data more widely and thoroughly than scientists could manage alone. Science isn’t just something scientists do. It is something in which every single one of us has a stake. Through a BioBlitz we can all have In v e a role - working, enjoying our world, and learning about its natural r te b ra wonders together. I welcome this BioBlitz guide and encourage te su rv everyone to get involved in science. You might even discover a ey a t W o new species. rl d nell Pa an rks s M C os on R gre z, ss lit BioB B litz, S io uza B nne Dunford la o o b n a P t a PROFESSOR IAN CHUBB AC k n i k s Chief Scientist for Australia , y e v r u s e l i t p e R Arsipoda beetle on a rush, Norm Clarke Acknowledgements When putting this Guide together, we were fortunate and very grateful for the UK BioBlitz leaders’ permission to utilise their excellent resource. Thanks to Jack Sewell, Marine Biological Association, John Tweddle and Lucy Robinson, Natural History Museum, Matt Postles, Bristol Natural History Consortium and Sarah West Stockholm Environment Institute York and the OPAL team. Contributors to the Guide have all run or been involved in BioBlitzes using this model all across Australia. These are: Libby Hepburn (leader of the Australian Bioblitz Guidelines working group), Patrick Tegart, Stephanie von Gavel, Philip Roetman, Sam Niedra, Erin Roger, Suzanne Miller, Theresa Fyffe, Peter Brenton, Christine Lambkin. Proofreading - Angelika Erpic, and Graphic Design - Holly Webber. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE GUIDE. 4 AUSTRALIAN GUIDE TO RUNNING A BIOBLITZ GOOD SCIENCE IS DONE BY BEING CURIOUS IN GENERAL, BY ASKING QUESTIONS ALL AROUND, BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE LIKELIHOOD OF BEING WRONG AND TAKING THIS IN GOOD HUMOR, BY HAVING A DEEP FONDNESS FOR NATURE, AND BY BEING MADE JUMPY AND NERVOUS BY IGNORANCE. LEWIS THOMAS AUSTRALIAN GUIDE TO RUNNING A BIOBLITZ 5 About this Guide This first Australian Guide BioBlitzes are fun, engaging and deliver meaningful outcomes to individuals and organisations but they to Running a BioBlitz (the are also complex and multifaceted events. To be Guide) has been designed effective, the event’s processes and management need to be considered and planned before to encourage and support undertaking your own first BioBlitz. those who wish to run This Guide is designed for Australia and is based on the experiences of BioBlitz organisers in BioBlitzes in Australia. Australia and overseas. It is based on the UK model developed as part of the Open Air Laboratories (OPAL www.opalexplorenature.org) program which was updated in the latest “Guide to Running a BioBlitz 2.0”. The Guide will help you plan and manage successful BioBlitz events from 100 to 1000 participants. Use and adapt aspects of the Guide relevant to your circumstances. This Guide looks at a BioBlitz from two organising perspectives: • the science – ensuring good science happens to capture a valuable snapshot of the biodiversity at your location - see the BioBlitz Science section • the event - ensuring success of the event through good planning and management – see the BioBlitz Event Management section In this Guide and its appendices we offer a planning framework, useful ideas, advice, examples, 2015 checklists, resources and online links. 6 AUSTRALIAN GUIDE TO RUNNING A BIOBLITZ Contents PAGES 26-47 BioBlitz Event Management Planning and managing your PAGES event, from the people and 08-15 resources needed, to promotion, safety and evaluation. Introduction Understanding what a BioBlitz is, what you want to achieve from a BioBlitz and an overview of planning a BioBlitz. PAGES 48-55 Resources More detailed information, case studies and resources to supplement the main aspects PAGES of this Guide. 16-25 BioBlitz Our aim is that this Guide is spread far and wide. It is freely distributed under a Creative Commons- Science Attribution licence (CC-BY). The Guide should be The science involved in a BioBlitz cited as: The Australian Guide to Running a BioBlitz from the experts, the surveys (2015): Hepburn L; Tegart P, Roetman P, von Gavel and data and the complementary S, Niedra S, Roger E, Miller S, Fyffe T, Brenton P, science activities. Lambkin C. This Guide is a living document which we expect will be developed and improved for both science and the community over time as practitioners gain experience and understanding, and share their learning. AUSTRALIAN GUIDE TO RUNNING A BIOBLITZ 7 Introduction 9 What is a BioBlitz? 10 Why run a BioBlitz? 12 Planning a BioBlitz – an overview Caterpillar and wattle at Woomargama BioBlitz, Patricia Styche 8 AUSTRALIAN GUIDE TO RUNNING A BIOBLITZ What is a BioBlitz? • A BioBlitz is a festival of science in nature • A BioBlitz is all about collaboration, which, if well organised, is fun, enjoyable organisation and a diversity of skills to and meaningful to the community, create a successful event - you need naturalists, scientists and organisations alike. organisers, event managers, volunteers, scientists and naturalists, community • A BioBlitz is an opportunity to share leaders, organisations and most of all the expertise and enthusiasm for nature. It public. encourages the development of science and nature engagement and literacy as There are a growing number of BioBlitz everyone works together. activities across Australia – some examples are highlighted throughout this document • A BioBlitz is namely a type of citizen with a list and more detailed case studies in science i.e. scientific projects where the the Resources section of the Guide. Before public actively participate with scientists you start remember the best thing you can to conduct research and record their do is - research, research, research! You will findings. Through an event such as a gain much from following references in the BioBlitz, communities can together create Guide, actively searching the internet for a significant resource of biodiversity data other BioBlitzes and speaking to people in their local area and across Australia. who have already run them. BIO = LIFE BLITZ =TO DO SOMETHING QUICKLY AND INTENSIVELY. A ‘BIOBLITZ’ IS A CONCERTED EFFORT TO DISCOVER AND RECORD AS MANY LIVING THINGS AS POSSIBLE WITHIN A SET LOCATION OVER A LIMITED TIME PERIOD (USUALLY 24 TO 36 HOURS). AUSTRALIAN GUIDE TO RUNNING A BIOBLITZ 9 Koala scat survey at Mimosa Rocks BioBlitz Sundew at Woomargama BioBlitz, Karen Retra If planned carefully, your BioBlitz will be an effective way to showcase, explore and raise awareness of the diversity of life in a particular area, launch projects Why run a or partnerships, spread your message to a wide audience, recruit new members and develop networks of shared interest. BioBlitz? BioBlitz events are also a lot of fun. At the outset, consider what outcomes you and any partner organisations are hoping Will a BioBlitz meet your goals? for and design the event accordingly, This is the first question that remembering that it is important to evaluate should be asked. From an the event to measure the extent to which your outcomes were achieved. Legacies organiser’s perspective, the should include: BioBlitz concept is very flexible and can be designed to fit Scientific & environmental specific budgets, aims and outcomes interests. • The main scientific aim of a BioBlitz is to generate or extend biodiversity data at the chosen location. BioBlitzes cannot be complete biological surveys but they do 10 AUSTRALIAN GUIDE TO RUNNING A BIOBLITZ create significant species lists and have science and conservation efforts in the facilitated the discovery of new species, local area; behavioural change as they the rediscovery of rare species and the are encouraged to participate; and even identification of species where they are improvements in wellbeing.