Tide turns for conservation: India’s largest intertidal bioblitz to begin from January 26

Join the Intertidal Bioblitz to explore India's coastal biodiversity, engage in citizen science, and protect coastal habitats.

The Coastal Conservation Foundation (CCF) and the East Coast Conservation Team (ECCT) are jointly conducting the Intertidal Bioblitz, a week-long event aimed at exploring and documenting the biodiversity of India’s intertidal zones. Scheduled to take place from January 26 to February 4, this citizen science initiative will simultaneously engage participants in Mumbai, Goa, and Visakhapatnam and other coastal cities and towns to participate by signing up for the event as coordinators.

A Bioblitz is an intensive, collaborative effort to document as many species as possible within a specific area and time frame. “The Intertidal Bioblitz will focus on the dynamic and diverse intertidal ecosystems—the zones between high and low tide lines that teem with unique flora and fauna. Volunteers, scientists, educators, and nature enthusiasts will work together to collect valuable data, share knowledge, to document biodiversity of these coastal regions,” says Shaunak Modi of CCF, a Mumbai-based organisation.

The initiative is a cornerstone of citizen science, fostering community engagement and environmental stewardship. Participants gain hands-on experience in biodiversity research and conservation, becoming active contributors to scientific data collection. Data collected during the event will contribute to scientific research and inform policies for protecting coastal habitats from threats such as pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change.

Participants will utilize the iNaturalist platform, a global citizen science tool, to document observations during the Bioblitz. The platform has a sub-section called Intertidal Biodiversity of India wherein observations can be recorded. The initiative is also open for educational institutions like schools and colleges. Each participant who makes a record in the iNaturalist app which be given a digital participation certificate.

“No prior scientific experience is needed; all you need is curiosity and a willingness to explore,” says Sri Chakra Pranav of ECCT.

Interested individuals or groups can register for the Intertidal Bioblitz through the Google form provided by the two host organisations. Registration is free, and participants will receive event schedules, identification guides, online sessions on how to participate and tips for fieldwork.

Some of the event highlights include guided field explorations led by expert biologists, online workshops on species identification and data recording, interactive sessions on the importance of intertidal ecosystems.