Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
12 November 2026 | 13:12 CAT
2-minute read

The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) is an annual international citizen science event where people across the Southern Hemisphere are invited to record the region’s biodiversity during spring.

The 2026 event runs from November 27 to November 30, during which people will document wild plants, animals, fungi and other living organisms.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, Suvarna Parbhoo Mohan, Citizen Science Programme Manager at the South African National Biodiversity Institute, said the event aims to map global biodiversity in a way that encourages people to enjoy their natural surroundings, observe the plants and animals in their environments and contribute to conservation.

Participants photograph plants, animals, fungi and other organisms, then upload their observations to the iNaturalist platform, where nature enthusiasts and researchers can help identify them.

Last year, almost 128 000 observations were recorded, of which South Africa contributed over 52 000 observations covering 6 000 species.

Parbhoo Mohan said the event can aid scientists and researchers to better understand and manage South Africa’s rich biodiversity

“South Africa is the third most biodiverse country in the world and there’s still so much that’s waiting to be documented and for us to know what biodiversity is in the various areas outside of the protected areas especially,” Parbhoo Mohan said.

The event enables scientists and conservationists to identify and record the geographic location of both indigenous and invasive species, thus improving conservation efforts.

Getting involved is relatively straightforward. Start by creating a free iNaturalist account through its website or app. Familiarise yourself with the platform before your trip and practise uploading a few observations.

The iNaturalist app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

Next, look for a participating regional project. In South Africa, there are projects in various regions, including Cape Town, the Lowveld, Nelson Mandela Bay and the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.

After the observation period, participants can also contribute by helping identify other people’s submissions.

Conservationists have issued reminders to participants to observe, record and document in a responsible manner without interfering with its natural behaviour or habitat.

Participants are reminded to avoid disturbing nature in any way, including turning over rocks and logs unnecessarily, disturbing nests, moving animals or picking flowers. Observers must also remember to remain on designated paths and keep a respectful distance from wildlife, particularly in protected areas.

Listen to the full interview with Suvarna Parbhoo Mohan on Sabaahul Muslim, presented by Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.