Take up the challenge

The City Nature Challenge (2020 CNC) is approaching fast - a mega biodiversity blitz.

In Southern Africa, apart from the Garden District Municipal area, Gaborone, Tshwane, Durban and Nelson Mandela Bay and last year’s winner Cape Town are taking part. Plus over 250 cities world wide.

The quest is to see how many observations of nature can be made over the four days in April, from Friday 24 to Monday the 27 April, by how many people, resulting in how many species.

The vehicle for City Nature Challenge in South Africa is iNaturalist.org. There is a handy, free smart phone app and the powerful and the versatile computer version.

iNaturalist Training
Free and ongoing training is taking place across the Garden Route & Klein Karoo right now.

Enquire about CNC and training schedules, or make your unique needs known: contact Christine (wessageorge@isat.co.za). There are also updates on the facebook page.

In Mossel Bay there are informal training sessions during Mondays in March upstairs at The Merchant coffee shop off Bland Street.

Contact Sandra Falanga (sandra.falanga@gmail.com) to find out more and RSVP to her by the latest, the Sunday evening before. Bring you own phone or laptop and data, though WiFi is available.

You must be signed up to iNaturalist.org and the app downloaded on to your phone. You must have fully charged phones. Bring a couple of nature pics to do practice uploads.

Tips and things to remember:

Sign up to iNaturalist.org (via facebook or Google or with username and password).
Use your smart phone or a computer to sign up. Internet and data is required for this.
Equipment settings: Make sure the time, date and time zone on all equipment used (cameras, GPS, phones) are correct and in sync.
Go for training – there is a learning curve.
Then practise, practise, practice.
Get to know NOW already what there is in your area. Then you can help with identifications during the CNC. Time is given until 3 May for CNC uploads and identifications to iNaturalist. For CNC the plants and wild creatures in gardens, parks and captivity will count too.

Great Brak River Conservancy, the Mossel Bay Municipality, Keep Fin Alive, Go Dive Mossel Bay, Santos Haven and Gouritsmond are on board.

In Mossel Bay there are informal training sessions during Mondays in March upstairs at The Merchant coffee shop off Bland Street.