To mark Canada’s 150th Anniversary, BioBlitz Canada 150 will bring together the Canadian public with scientists to explore the richness of Canada’s biodiversity and to engage our passion to know, celebrate and conserve our natural heritage.
The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF), with BioBlitz Canada and other partners in conservation, will carry out a series of public bioblitzes across the nation.
Across Canada, 35 bioblitzes will include five flagship events in urban areas including Vancouver and Toronto, 20 community-scale events and 10 science-intense blitzes. We will document the species discovered from sea to sea to sea to create Canada’s nature selfie.
Through this project new scientific data will be generated and new species will be documented which will help to inform choices on such issues such as climate change and loss of biodiversity. These discoveries will be showcased to the Canadian public, wildlife managers, conservation organizations, educational institutions and government agencies to shape conservation decisions and ensure these wild species and spaces remain for generations to come.
Canada 150
The Government of Canada’s vision for the 150th anniversary of Confederation has as its main themes: diversity and inclusion, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, the environment, and young people.
Thanks to the Canada 150 Fund, 38 pan-Canadian Signature projects will involve Canadians across the country to participate in local, regional and national celebrations and activities.
These will help strengthen Canadians’ sense of pride and belonging to their country. There will be activities for everyone in 2017, whether as part of pan-Canadian Signature projects or local community projects.
Learn more about Canada 150
Learn more about Canada 150 signature projects
OUR VISION
The Bioblitz Canada partners aim to help Canadians learn about and connect with nature, be it in one’s own backyard or the most important ecological sites in Canada.
BIOBLITZ CANADA 150
BioBlitz Canada is a national partnership of leading conservation, education and research organizations with the goal to:
Document Canada’s biodiversity by connecting the public with nature in a scientist-led participatory survey of life from sea to sea to sea, and
Make sure this important information can be useful to current and future science, with open-source access to all.
“As with the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, this fascinating project by the Canadian Wildlife Federation will engage, inspire and strengthen the environmental consciousness of Canadians all across the country. Let’s take the opportunity being offered to us to become the guardians of our Canadian wildlife, an invaluable source of wealth.”
The Hon. Mélanie Joly
Minister of Canadian Heritage.
CWF host
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is coordinating the Bioblitz Canada 150 project on behalf of its fellow members of Bioblitz Canada and other partner organizations, with funding from the Government of Canada as one of 38 Canada 150 Signature Projects.
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is dedicated to fostering awareness and appreciation of our natural world. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on the environment, sponsoring research, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, recommending legislative changes and co-operating with like-minded partners, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature. Visit CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca for more information.
BIOBLITZ CANADA 150 PARTNERS
BioBlitz Canada Steering Committee Members:
Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada, Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, Birds Studies Canada, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Nature Canada, NatureServe Canada, New Brunswick Museum, Parks Canada, RARE Charitable Research Reserve, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto Zoo, Vancouver Aquarium
BioBlitz Canada Partners:
Biological Survey of Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service (Environment and Climate Change Canada), iNaturalist Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Stanley Park Ecology Society
Bioblitz Canada Supporters:
Canadian Botanical Association, Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, Canadian Parks Council, Every Living Thing, iNaturalist.org, Living City Foundation and Toronto and Region Conservation, Ontario Nature, Ontario Science Centre, Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, Nature Saskatchewan, Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science (McGill University), Royal Botanical Gardens, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and The Living City Foundation, Université de Montréal, Yukon Conservation Data Centre