Media Release

For Immediate Release

May 9, 2008

Saint Mary’s to lead BioBlitz of Long Lake Provincial Park

More than 70 scientists from Saint Mary’s and other universities throughout Atlantic Canada will converge on Long Lake Provincial Park June 6 and 7 to conduct the first annual BioBlitz in Nova Scotia.

A BioBlitz is a biological survey to identify as many groups of organisms as possible in a designated area in 24 hours. Similar events are held throughout the world in wilderness areas, but this will be the first BioBlitz in Nova Scotia.

Starting at 3 p.m. on Friday, June 6, 11 teams of scientists will identify as many species as possible in five different habitats in the park. Throughout the night, the teams will bring their discoveries to a base camp at Exhibition Park to be identified and catalogued. The goal of the BioBlitz is to gauge the biodiversity in the park.

On Saturday, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., the scientific base camp at Exhibition Park opens to the public to let people see the teams of taxonomists at work and learn more about the plants, animals and fungi collected and photographed by the scientists.

There will be short presentations, displays, hands-on activities, a Wilderbeats performance and opportunities to meet the taxonomists throughout the day. Admission is free.

The BioBlitz will be led by Saint Mary's University in partnership with the Ecology Action Centre, the Discovery Centre, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, the Museum of Natural History and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources.

Please contact Suzanne Boudreau at (902)420-5559 or Suzanne.Boudreau@smu.ca or go to www.smu.ca/BioBlitz for more information.

Long Lake Provincial Park is bordered by the Old Sambro Road, Northwest Arm Drive and the Prospect Road. The park was established in 1980 when the 2,095 hectare (5,177 acre) former Halifax Watershed lands were acquired by the Province. It was subsequently designated under the Provincial Parks Act in 1984.

According to the Department of Natural Resources’ website, Long Lake Provincial Park is significant because of its three high quality fresh water lakes, its relatively natural state, and its proximity to a large urban population. Despite its relatively small size, the park is one of a number provincial parks in Nova Scotia established for the protection of natural areas and representative natural landscapes.

The site also notes that while protection of the park’s inherent natural and cultural values is of paramount importance, this area of forest, lake and stream also offers a range of complimentary outdoor recreation activities including swimming, canoeing, fishing, hiking, as well as outdoor education and nature appreciation.

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For more information:

Blake Patterson
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: blake.patterson@smu.ca
www.smu.ca