Location: Lauderdale Hall

Date: 20 June 2021

Time: 10:00-12:30

What to bring: We may go for a short walk outside (no bushwalking), so please bring appropriate warm/wet weather gear.

Citizen Science is an established way for people from the public to collect data and assist scientific research. This free workshop will teach you the basics of citizens science, and show that everyone in Tasmania can get involved.

The workshop will cover what kind of data you can collect as a citizen scientist, how to collect it, and how to process the data so that scientists and government bodies can use it.

We will talk about:

• how to look for and identify signs of animals,
• an introduction to identifying Tasmanian plants,
• how to use remote monitoring cameras, bird and bat recorders,
• how to use iNaturalist, the Natural Values Atlas and the Atlas of Living Australia,
• and how to connect with the existing community.

No matter whether you want to find out what animals and plants live in your backyard, help protecting your local reserve that you love, or simply want to contribute to better understanding Tassie’s unique wildlife – after this workshop, you will have everything you need to know to go out in the field and be a citizen scientist!

Focus on Saltmarshes

Saltmarshes area a listed vulnerable ecological community, and there are several of them around Lauderdale, including Pitt Water-Orielton Lagoon. They are an important habitat for many species of animals and plants, and perform ecological functions of which we all benefit. Vishnu Prahalad has worked for many years with land management practitioners and NGOs to develop methods and tools for members of the public to do monitoring of saltmarshes. There is still a lack of data that is required for conservation work, and people are encouraged to help. This session will teach you how you can contribute to saltmarsh monitoring.

Dr Vishnu Prahalad is a Lecturer at Geography, Planning, & Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania. His has worked on saltmarsh ecology and management in Tasmania for over ten years, closely collaborating with a range of government and non-government agencies and local groups. His publications include ‘a field guide to the plants of Tasmanian saltmarsh wetlands’, atlases for saltmarshes for all three regions of Tasmania, the ‘saltmarsh matters’ citizen science app and several other science communication materials.

This project received grant funding from the Australian Government’s Communities Environment Program with the support from MP Julie Collins, and from the JM Roberts Charitable Trust through the Tasmanian Landcare Fund.

A COVID Risk Management Plan has been developed by Landcare Tasmania in line with the current COVID requirements. Please follow social distancing rules and stay at home if you are feeling unwell.

This event is part of our 2021 Outreach Events Program, leading up to the 2021 Tasmanian Community Landcare Conference in October.