On the 20th of September, 10 Clutha and Dunedin Enviroschools had the opportunity to increase biodiversity awareness through ‘Citizen Science’ by participating in the Great Southern BioBlitz.
A BioBlitz is a tatauranga/ survey to identify and kaute/ count the different momo/ plants and animals that live within a certain area with kaipūtaiao/ scientists working together with volunteers to get a snapshot of biodiversity. The internationally recognised Great Southern BioBlitz involves a period of intense biological surveying during Spring in an attempt to record all the living species in the Southern Hemisphere at that time.
At the Enviroschools event, ākonga helped to highlight the biodiversity of the Southern Hemisphere by looking closely at all that is living in the rock pools, sand dunes, fresh water and on the land at Tomahawk Beach and Lagoon.
“I work outside with the children, and it has made me think about planting we could do to increase the insects using our vegetable garden.” – participating kaiako
Instructions given about observing with respect and recording with care.
Ōtepoti Enviroschools facilitators, Jennie and Tess, talked about the importance of biodiversity – how every living thing plays a part on this interconnected Earth – and schools thought about how they could encourage biodiversity in their schools. What they observed during the BioBlitz was uploaded to the citizen science platform, iNaturalist, where members of the public and scientists were able to review and validate their findings.
As well as learning about biodiversity through observation and the iNaturalist app, ākonga were encouraged to write about their experiences during the event. These will eventually be turned into a published book thanks to Dunedin City Libraries and the team at City of Literature Dunedin. Other ākonga were encouraged to draw their findings in colourful artwork and others helped design a fabric mural portraying all the plants and wildlife they had seen in Tomahawk Lagoon.
“I will start to look into how we can make it easy for lizards to live in Wakari.” – Ākonga comment
Ākonga celebrate a great day of learning and participating.
A massive day like this Enviroschools hui is often supported by a number of enthusiastic experts and for the Bioblitz these included the NZ Marine Studies Centre, Orokonui Ecosanctuary, the University of Otago Zoology Department, Botanical Society of Dunedin, Otago Regional Council and City of Literature Dunedin.
The support that Enviroschools’ action receives from our environmental education community here in Ōtepoti helps create a more sustainable, supportive practice across the city. It enriches our schools’ sustainability journeys and strengthens our voice as advocates for the living world.