[Sust-mar] Saint Mary's BioBlitz information session May 20

[Cathy McCarthy]

Sust-Mar subscribers:

Here is some info on BioBlitz that you might find interesting. Please 
circulate!

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What is a BioBlitz? Find out May 20 at Saint Mary's

Learn more about preserving the wilderness areas around us by attending a 
BioBlitz information session at Saint Mary's University on Wednesday May 20 
in the Scotiabank Conference Theatre in the Sobey Building. Presentations 
begin at 7 p.m.  Admission is free.

Leading up to BioBlitz 2009, which will be held in the newly protected Blue 
Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area in June, Saint Mary's University 
invites the pubic to learn how BioBlitz works, why it's important to 
preserve our wilderness areas and how to get involved.
Featured speakers include, Dr. Cathy Conrad, a geography professor at Saint 
Mary's, Dr. Andrew Hebda, a zoologist with the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural 
History and Raymond Plourde of the Ecology Action Centre.

The Saint Mary's University BioBlitz is a 24-hour taxonomy survey that will 
provide a biodiversity snapshot of the area. On June 5 and 6, more than 80 
scientists will converge on Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area 
to survey the plant and animal species of the area. The public is invited to 
take part in BioBlitz guided hikes and activities on June 6 which are 
centered at the Lebanese Cultural Centre and Maskwa Aquatic Club, located 
off Kearney Lake Road.

BioBlitz is designed to increase the communities' awareness of the 
scientific importance of biodiversity in our immediate neighbourhood and the 
valuable services that various animal and plant species provide to improve 
the quality of our lives.
For more information about the Saint Mary's University BioBlitz, please 
visit: www.smu.ca/bioblitz/


Cathy

Catherine McCarthy, BBA, MEd
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University
catherine.mccarthy at smu.ca
Phone: 902-420-5513
Fax:     902-420-5511