Legacy Parks is partnering with Discover Life in America, the University of Tennessee, the City of Knoxville, and the Aslan Foundation to catalog the biodiversity in Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. On Saturday, August 22, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., the first “Bioblitz” will be held at High Ground Park, 1000 Cherokee Trail, and volunteers may help with the project.
‘Bio’ means life and ‘blitz’ means to do something quickly and intensively. A Bioblitz, is a collaborative race against the clock to discover as many species of plants and animals within a set location. Although led by professionals, volunteers are needed to help with the identification in order to cover the most ground. No experience is necessary, just some free time and an interest in learning about biodiversity. Anyone (over the age of 10) is welcome to join us, and registration is required.
As the South Knoxville area becomes more popular as a recreation destination, it is important that we understand the breadth of species and habitats in order to create a plan for preservation and restoration. The Bioblitz will be part of a full-scale ecological inventory of the Urban Wilderness that will serve as a guide in prioritizing eradication of invasive species, land management, and future acquisition of land. The final product will be a comprehensive report of ecological, geological, and historical attributes of the Urban Wilderness and may be used for educational and public research.
