Looking for the little beast
Inventorying urban biodiversity by learning to identify plants and animals: that's the idea behind "Inventaire fac," a participatory science project open to everyone.
There's life in the city!This is the credo of the Naturalist Group of the University of Montpellier (GNUM). A teeming, omnipresent life: " Biodiversity is everywhere, even in the heart of the city, where animal and plant species abound. It's up to us to keep our eyes open! " continues Guillaume Bagnolini, one of the leaders of this student association. They invite people to actively discover this biodiversity through their "Inventaire fac" project, which was officially launched on March 2.
Scientific and recreational walks
Objective: to participate in a scientific inventory of the fauna and flora present in Montpellier. The principle is simple: every week, Jean-Baptiste Le Floc'h leads two outings during which he guides a group of volunteers, nose to the wind or close to the grass. "We collect plants, identify plants and animals, and go for walks," summarizes the trained botanist who coordinates the project.
The city and all its green spaces are prime areas for exploration: "the student campuses of Montpellier, but also the banks of the Lez, public gardens, university residences... Both scientific and fun, these walks are open to everyone: knowledgeable amateurs or beginners, but also students or university staff curious to learn about edible plants or identify a bird or insect. This is the principle of "participatory" science: allowing the general public to become fully involved in research.
Discovering and protecting the environment
The primary benefit of the exercise is that it helps raise awareness of the fragility and beauty of life. "It is primarily an educational approach. Learning about the environment makes people want to protect it. We learn scientific methods in the field, then find ourselves in a position to pass them on to others. Taking action and passing on knowledge are two effective ways of learning."
Participants in the operation are also on the front line of environmental monitoring. "We are in a position to alert public authorities and green space managers to certain emergencies. For example, the need to protect grass cover. This natural niche, which is home to a whole population of insects, is often damaged by intensive use of lawnmowers," continues Jean-Baptiste.
Online scientific inventory
Inventaire fac allows you to post your contributions online in a dedicated database. You can upload photos, observations, and identification hypotheses. Everything will be submitted to the community of contributors, then to a scientific committee.
Once validated or completed, your contributions can finally be put to good use by researchers: "studying the distribution of species, their migrations linked to global warming, or even detecting the presence of pests: there are many topics for scientific research,"concludes Guillaume Bagnolini.
- Participate: inventoryfac.com
- Contacts: assognum.free.com