Project Description
Case Studies Environmental Review
The first Intervarsity BioBlitz, held in May 2014, saw 5 campuses competing to record the greatest number of species on campus over a twenty-four period with NUI Galway emerging as the lead team. The BioBlitz was repeated in 2015 and 2016 and is growing hugely in popularity. With training and online support from the National Biodiversity Data Centre, partners with Green-Campus on the programme, volunteers are equipped with the information necessary to carry out BioBlitz on their campus. Records are uploaded in real time, providing an exciting and engaging level of competition between campuses. Complimentary events over the twenty four hours such as bat, bird and plant walks, moth identification etc provide a further draw for volunteers to get involved. The Intervarsity BioBlitz is seen as an opportunity to initiate the biodiversity element of an environmental review and engage the campus community including specialists such as botanists and ecologists from within academic departments. It also provides practical experience for students of field based work.