Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 13 November 2020
Tasmania’s wild takayna/Tarkine BioBlitz 2020 begins
Bob Brown Foundation’s annual BioBlitz starts today in Tasmania’s takayna/Tarkine. More than 100 people will participate in the festival of science and count species over the next three days. Citizens will be based in five base camps around the Tarkine including in rainforests threatened by logging, the wild coastline and the river Pieman. This year BioBlitz has changed to due to COVID19, however, we will have 135 participants across five different camps including 30 scientists, 17 staff and volunteers, 83 participants.
“This years reimagined BioBlitz presents an amazing opportunity for us to take supporters and scientists into some of the remotest parts of the Tarkine for a unique weekend of surveys and science. This morning we have had volunteers, scientists and nature lovers waking up in the north, east, west and southern corners of the Tarkine, ready for a day of surveying. Already this morning we’ve had Tasmanian devil surveys, dawn bird surveys and insect surveys,” said Molly Coburn Bob Brown Foundation Campaigns Organiser.
“Now in its sixth year BioBlitz is a remarkable mobilisation of the general public to get out into takayna/Tarkine and document its incredible natural and cultural values. The Bob Brown Foundation has taken over 500 scientists, volunteers and supporters into the Tarkine region to explore, observe and record the species of flora, fauna and fungi that live there. During our BioBlitzes, we have made more than 3200 observations, recorded over 1800 species, and have enjoyed countless hours of the beautiful and pristine Tarkine landscape,” said Jenny Weber Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager.
“During these six years, we have observed giant freshwater crayfish over 5kg in size living in the clear waterways of the Tarkine; spotted healthy adult male Tasmanian devils living in the plains and forests; spotlighted masked owls as they hunt through coupes earmarked for logging; as well as wondered at the beauty of tiny slime-moulds, endangered tree orchids, giant ancient trees and everything in between.
BioBlitz is part of building a national and international campaign to bring forward the day when takayna/Tarkine gets the respect, status and protection it warrants as a prime part of Australia’s, and the world’s, surviving cultural, natural and national heritage,” said Ms Weber.
