MORE THAN 200 Irish scientists and a host of volunteers take to the wild next weekend to identify and record as many different biodiversity species as they can over 24 hours to highlight the rich natural resources of Ireland.
BioBlitz 2011, organised by the National Biodiversity Data Centre, will start at 5pm tomorrow and end at 5pm on Saturday, to mark International Biodiversity Day on Sunday.
The scientists and volunteers will search five State-owned sites recording whatever species they find, from eagles to the smallest bugs in the undergrowth.
The sites this year are Ballycroy National Park, Co Mayo; Dromore Woods, Co Clare; Killarney National Park, Co Kerry; Liffey Valley Park, Waterstown, Dublin 20; and Raven Wood nature reserve, Co Wexford.
Liam Lysaght, director of the data centre, said Ireland’s biodiversity was the foundation upon which the agriculture, forestry, fisheries and tourism sectors depended and was vital for sustaining the societal services often taken for granted, such as clean water, productive soil and clean air.
“These goods and services are worth at least € 2.6 billion to the Irish economy each year,” said Mr Lysaght.