Canada’s BioBlitz sees fewer submissions amid BC wildfires

Nature Conservancy of Canada’s free, nation‑wide Big Backyard BioBlitz runs until Aug 3, inviting Canadians to photograph and upload observations of plants, birds, insects and other wildlife through the iNaturalist app. Over six years the program has amassed more than 250,000 observations covering nearly 10,000 species, providing scientists with data on biodiversity, invasive species and environmental change.

In the province of British Columbia, project manager Adrian Leslie reports that the current year’s submissions from Nelson are down because wildfires and poor air quality are discouraging outdoor activity. Leslie urges participants to seek shaded or coastal spots and continue using the app, noting that the data remains valuable for research and that the event can serve as a gateway to citizen‑science engagement.