surrey-bc_biodiversity's Journal

Project ID: https://inaturalist.ca/projects/key-biodiversity-areas-of-canada

KBAs are a global system replacing the past IBAs (Important Bird Areas) to recognize areas that are exceptionally important for wildlife and biodiversity. Any site within terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems can be KBAs if they meet the standardized criteria thresholds for a KBA designation. The criteria used to identify KBAs include:

• Threatened biodiversity
• Geographically restricted biodiversity
• Aggregations of species
• High ecological integrity
• High irreplaceability for multiple biodiversity values

Surrey is part of the established Fraser Estuary KBA and new KBAs are being nominated for other parts of BC. This Umbrella Project summarizes observations from all Canadian KBAs. KBAs will be added to this project as they are accepted. Help add to the growing list of plants and wildlife observed at these sites by visiting a KBA near you!

For more information on KBAs, visit the KBA Canada website at www.KBAcanada.org

NTD is celebrated every September on the Wednesday of National Forest Week.

Celebrating NTD on iNaturalist:
Document Trees: Continue to document and share your tree observations on iNaturalist. Every observation, whether it's a towering oak or a delicate sapling, adds to our understanding of tree species and their distribution.

Tree Health: Keep an eye out for signs of tree diseases or stress. Your observations can help researchers and conservationists identify and respond to threats to our forests. A project that the City of Surrey participates in is the transboundary Western Redcedar Dieback Map https://inaturalist.ca/projects/western-redcedar-dieback-map

Educate and Advocate: Share your passion for trees with your friends and family. Raise awareness about the importance of trees and the need for their protection. Check how the City of Surrey is managing its urban forest at https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/trees-yard-garden/protecting-surreys-urban-forest

To mark this National Tree Day, the Canadian Wildlife Federation is challenging all contributors to their Observation Nation project https://inaturalist.ca/projects/observation-nation-bioobservateurs to spend some time outdoors on September 20th and try to spot as many different tree species as you can. By document them on iNaturalist you will be entered to win a CWF backpack. One winner will be chosen via random draw from everyone who submitted a tree observation.

"Trees are the silent giants that shape our environment, provide us with oxygen, and serve as vital habitats for countless species. On this special day, let's reflect on the importance of trees and our role in preserving them."
Further information: https://treecanada.ca/national-tree-day/

Great article from the Nature Conservancy on this dilemma.

"Sharing cool wildlife sightings has become an important component of citizen science efforts. We post wildlife photos on iNaturalist, we participate in backyard bird counts, you report unusual sightings to wildlife agencies. These activities can play important roles in conservation, enabling researchers to track larger trends."

"But there are times when sharing your sightings could put wildlife at risk. Instead of aiding conservation, you could be leading poachers to endangered species. When should you share and when do you stay quiet?"

https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/wildlife-sightings-share-or-stay-quiet/45430