Honorary Chair Sir Edmund Hillary 1919-2008	President Daniel A. Bennett	Honorary President Don Walsh, Ph.D.

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BIOBLITZ Central Park BioBlitz 2006 Goals and Methods Goals of the BioBlitz To add to species lists for as many taxonomic groups as possible To increase public awareness about biodiversity in an urban environment To create a computer-generated map of the park that will highlight species abundance and location, as well as the presence of invasive non-native species. Enjoy the slideshow of field photos below. Slideshow may take a moment to begin. Methods The BioBlitz was conducted by coordinating the volunteer efforts of scientists and naturalists with other interested volunteers. Groups of experts observed and recorded as many species as possible in the two-day time period. Teams focused their efforts on the Harlem Meer area and the Ramble, which have the highest levels of biodiversity in the park. Many teams involved students from New York City public schools as well as local Boy Scouts. Each team carried a handheld CyberTracker device to record species type and location. In all, over 200 volunteers, naturalists, and scientists combed the park, identifying species and collecting limited samples. About Central Park On July 21, 1853, New York City's Common Council enacted legislation that designated the lands that were to become Central Park. The park covers 843 acres and has a perimeter of 6 miles. Within this total area are 150 acres of water bodies, 250 acres of lawns, and 136 acres of woodlands. Central Park is such a part of the Manhattan environment that many people may not realize that it is entirely man-made! When the building of the park was completed in 1878, more than 4 million trees, shrubs, and plants representing over 1,400 species were planted to create the foundation for what is today's Central Park. BioBlitz 2006 photographs courtesy of Jason Cernansky, Julian Epps, Dan Gardoqui, Ron Gill, Harriet Snyder, Cal Vornberger. Photos for slideshow above, courtesy of Rod Mickens. BACK TO BIOBLITZ 2006 MAIN PAGE

PROJECTS Conservation BioBlitz Oral History Reach the World

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