‘Citizen scientists’ track climate change in Sydney’s Botanic Garden

"ClimateWatch empowers every Australian to become a citizen scientist by collecting and recording information about the natural world around them that will help shape the country’s scientific response to climate change," said the Director of Science and Public Programs for the Gardens Dr Brett Summerell.

The ClimateWatch Trail in the Royal Botanic Garden based on “indicator species” − plants and animals with life stages likely to be noticeably affected by changes in climate − was created by the Volunteer Guides in collaboration with Earthwatch Australia.

It is the first ClimateWatch Trail on the East Coast and can be downloaded from the national website managed by Earthwatch Australia. The Volunteer Guides are also offering free ClimateWatch training walks in the Garden.

Dr Summerell who is a member of the National ClimateWatch Science Advisory Panel said that Australia has no national system for collecting and recording biological responses to climate change.

“ClimateWatch enlists the community to gather the vast amounts of data about flowering times, breeding cycles, migrations and distributions of the flora and fauna that scientists need to assess and address the impacts of climate change,” he said.

Head Volunteer Guide Jim Nicol said, "The Volunteer Guides will start leading free ClimateWatch walks from Wednesday 23rd November. We will show visitors how to record the activity of plant and animal species that they see and then upload the data onto the ClimateWatch website.”

Mr Nicol said the ClimateWatch Trail was a natural extension of the Volunteer Guides’ role observing, documenting and sharing the life of the Garden.

“We are thrilled at this opportunity to engage our Garden visitors in the close observations that we find so fulfilling. Once you are seeking out specific climate indicator species such as the Firewheel Tree, Gymea Lily or the Harlequin Bug to see what they are up to, you really enter into the life of the place,” he said.

Mr Nicol said that visitors will be able to apply the training to monitor species in their own backyard, local park or bushland and record information on-line with ClimateWatch.

Earthwatch Science Director Andy Donnelly said, “We're looking for those subtle shifts in the timing of natural cycles across the country. There are lots of things that bushwalkers and birdwatchers notice in nature that never get recorded, so we are encouraging everyone to take part."

Dr Summerell paid tribute to the work of one of the founding Volunteer Guides Dorothy Holland, now 90, who meticulously recorded the flowering times of 6000 species of plants in the Gardens during the1980s.

“Dorothy’s work was climate watch before ClimateWatch. It has given us important comparative data from twenty-five years ago. It is a terrific contribution to the national monitoring of our climate and a reminder that anyone can contribute to science if they are willing to rigorously observe and record,” Dr Summerell said.

ClimateWatch Guided Walks 2011

When: 10 am, Wed 23 and Fri 25 November and Sat 10 December 2011

Where: Start from the Information Booth outside the Garden Shop (Palm Grove Centre), the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney.

For further information: 9231 8304

Free!

To download the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and other ClimateWatch Trails

and upload data: Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney | ClimateWatch