Coastwatch designed a snapshot survey with the first pilot run extended until Monday 25th May. We would love you to try it.
‘Explore the shore’ Coastwatch pilot biodiversity and carbon store survey
World Biodiversity Day May 22nd 2020 happens to fall on a new moon. Spring time and spring tides coming together – the ideal time to discover your shore.
COVID and Storm note: Nature may have reclaimed some bits of coast over recent weeks. So first go very alertly and do not invade bird nesting or seal resting areas. Common seals are about to pop. If you did see a premature Common seal baby separated from its mum call the seal rescue immediately Rescue hotline: 0871955393
The one page survey form you can download http://coastwatch.org/europe/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Biodiversity-Week-Survey-Questionnaire_final.pdf and print or keep on your phone includes:
- A Nature part designed to catch beauties to lift your heart in a photo – a gorgeous patch of seashore/coastal rim flowers. Also search and record select species you find like birds, lugworm squiggles on mudflats, sea anemone in a pool. It also includes select climate change indicator species to record now as baseline data before any summer heat wave.
- A Feature question is to contribute to Ireland’s first Marine Spatial Plan where local knowledge of nature and important Carbon stores like kelp beds and seagrass meadows are really valuable, along with traditional uses and archaeology.
- An open comment/ concern/problem question to register issues you encountered or proposals.
All materials are on line including COVID guidance www.coastwatch.org/europe/biodiversity-week-survey/
and an interactive http://coastwatch.org/europe/map/ to choose a 500m survey unit, so Angel Duarte Campos our GIS expert can create great visual results which are to be published June 8th World Ocean Day.
We are hoping for 100 citizen science snapshot sites of nature and features, with a chance to roll this out over the summer where science and geography students may be interested to help track climate change indicators. So those within 5km of an estuary or seashore we would love you to check out your shore around low tide and also contribute valuable citizen science.