City Nature Challenge going ahead

NATIONAL NEWS - The City Nature Challenge (2020 CNC), which can be described as a 'mega biodiversity blitz' has not been cancelled in light of Covid-19.

Christine Ridge-Schaufer, a local coordinator from Wessa, said the international organisers have decided that the CNC will go ahead and participants are advised to adhere to the general Covid-19 hygienic recommendations.

In Southern Africa, apart from the Garden Route District municipal area, Gaborone, Tshwane, Durban and Nelson Mandela Bay and Cape Town (last year's winner) 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 27, 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 versatile computer version.

iNaturalist training
How to use iNaturalist during the CNC will be shown during free and ongoing training taking place across the Garden Route and Klein Karoo right now. Enquire about CNC and training schedules, or make your unique needs known by contacting Ridge-Schnaufer at wessageorge@isat.co.za.

Updates are also available on the Facebook page. Bring your own phone or laptop and data, though WiFi is available. You must be signed up to iNaturalist.org and the app must be downloaded onto your phone. Your phone must be fully charged. Bring a couple of nature pics to do practise uploads.

Tips and things to remember:

1.Sign up to iNaturalist.org (via Facebook or Google or with username and password).

2.Use your smart phone or a computer to sign up. Internet and data are required for this.

3.Equipment settings: Make sure that the time, date and time zone on all equipment used (cameras, GPS, phones) are correct and in sync.

4.Go for training – there is a learning curve.

5.Then practise, practise, practise!

6.Get to know NOW already what there is in your area so that you can help with identifications during the CNC.

Champions and bioblitzes
The Garden Route City Nature Challenge 2020 is entirely volunteer driven. Become a trainer. Get people around you ready and trained up to take part.

Everyone and anyone can join the fun.

"It is easy for a person to take 25 pics every day, for four days. That is a 100 observations! If 100 people do this during the CNC it adds up to 10 000 observations. If 500 people do, then it is 50 000 observations. Last year Cape Town won with 54 000 observations. Let’s do it!" said Ridge-Schnaufer.

The international organisers from the US have circulated the following statement to local organisers of the CNC:

We know COVID-19 is affecting many of our CNC cities, some much more than others. We have chosen not to cancel the event this year, however we know the event will be impacted by this global pandemic.

Here are some of our thoughts about how to carry on with the City Nature Challenge. We defer to you, the organizers, to make decisions that are in keeping with your governments, organizations, and communities.

Research shows that being in nature is very healing, and has been proven to decrease cortisol levels, blood pressure and pulse rate, and overall increase feelings of well being.

Let's channel these positive aspects of the City Nature Challenge in this time of disease.

• Follow the guidelines/recommendations of your local governments and institutions (i.e., limit or cancel events if needed).

• Do what’s best for you and your community.

Alternatives to events:

• What can people find in their houses? In their own backyard?

• Encourage people to put up moth lights or put down cover boards at their houses to help bring nature to them!

• Promote people going outside and making observations on their own/with a small group of their family & friends, instead of joining big events.

If you’re allowed to hold CNC events:

• Keep them outside! Luckily this is what the CNC is all about, but if you were planning an indoor portion of an event, maybe forego it and keep the whole event outside.

• Limit registration.

• Practise social distancing (it's best if people stay ~2m apart).

• Don’t have shared, unwrapped food available - encourage people to bring & eat their own food.

• If possible, have places available where people can wash their hands and/or have hand sanitizer.

• Don’t pass around binoculars, phones, guidebooks, etc. - everyone should keep their gear to themselves.

• After April 28 - May 3, hold virtual ID parties!

If you have to drastically scale-back your CNC activities, we totally understand! Stay safe this year and jump in again for 2021.