Scientists, families, students, and other community members will be invited to participate in BioBlitz 2020, two events to identify and record as many species as possible on St. Croix. SEA held our first BioBlitz at Southgate Coastal Reserve in 2010. In 2020, we will again survey Southgate, as well as a location in Frederiksted, to compare data from the past decade and from east to west. This will help us better understand St. Croix's biodiversity and how to support our unique flora and fauna.
St. Croix's flora and fauna face threats such as habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution and climate change. Protected areas like the Southgate Coastal Reserve provide some protection from these threats, but it is important to periodically assess the success, and also the needs for management of biodiversity. At the same time, successful conservation requires participation of all the community, not just the experts.
The Bioblitz will bring together community members and experts to collect a large amount of data in a short time, helping local scientists and biologists better understand the landscape and what is needed to preserve it. A BioBlitz also gives our community an opportunity to connect with the biodiversity of St. Croix and learn about conservation from experts. And sometimes we discover rare species, like in 2010 when birders spotted a great black-backed gull for the first time at Southgate.
SEA will use the information gathered to build upon conservation programs at Southgate. Data collected about plants, animals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and marine life help us be more intentional about our efforts to enhance habitats and protect wildlife. We will also learn more about how our conservation efforts over the last ten years have affected the biodiversity of Southgate and where we need to focus future actions.
