Peru launches citizen science bioblitz events to document river biodiversity

A national citizen science initiative in Peru is organizing bioblitz events to document biodiversity across various river systems. Participants use the iNaturalist application to photograph flora and fauna, contributing data that is used by researchers for studies in ecology, biogeography, and conservation.

In the Ucayali River region, an event is scheduled for September 18–20, 2026. Residents in areas such as Pucallpa, Atalaya, and Sepahua are encouraged to document species including plants, birds, fish, and mammals. Photos uploaded to iNaturalist can also be shared with Wikimedia Commons to support open educational projects.

In Ayacucho, the association Fauna Silvestre is promoting a field excursion to the Huatatas River. Participants will gather at the Huamanga municipal nursery to begin the recording process. This activity is part of a broader national effort to build biodiversity databases, following a report from the PERU Biodiversidad project that recorded over 795,000 observations in June 2025.