From Curiosity to Climate Action: Building a Community BioBlitz

A BioBlitz sounds deceptively simple: bring people together, explore a place and see how many species you can find. But what happens when biodiversity discovery becomes a pathway into deeper community connection and environmental action?

In this case study and project showcase, environmental advocate and community organiser Aleisja Henry will share the story of the Surf Coast BioBlitz — a community-led citizen science project bringing together local residents, naturalists, scientists, Traditional Owners and environmental organisations to explore and document the biodiversity of the Surf Coast.

Aleisja will take us behind the scenes of building the project, from the initial idea and securing a community climate grant through to designing the event, bringing together experts and volunteers, incorporating First Nations perspectives, engaging children and beginners, and using iNaturalist to turn community observations into citizen science data.

But a BioBlitz can be about much more than counting species. We’ll explore how hands-on experiences with nature can help people move from knowing intellectually that biodiversity matters to noticing, valuing and advocating for the ecosystems and species around them. We’ll also consider how community-generated knowledge can contribute to our understanding of local environments facing increasing climate pressures.

Whether you're interested in citizen science, biodiversity, community organising or simply helping people connect more deeply with the places where they live, you'll leave with practical ideas for creating similar initiatives in your own community.

Come and discover how curiosity about the living world can become a starting point for collective climate and conservation action.

This session is part of Healthy Humane Habitats Month: Reimagining how we live, together.

Aleisja Henry is an environmental advocate, community organiser and climate engagement professional based on Victoria’s Surf Coast. Her work sits at the intersection of climate action, biodiversity conservation and community participation, with a particular focus on turning environmental concern into practical, collective action.

Aleisja is the creator and organiser of the Surf Coast BioBlitz, a community-led citizen science project that brings together local residents, naturalists, scientists, Traditional Owners and environmental organisations to explore and document the biodiversity of the Surf Coast.

With experience across community engagement, environmental campaigning and climate policy, Aleisja is passionate about making ecological knowledge more accessible and helping people develop deeper relationships with the places where they live. She is particularly interested in the role communities can play in protecting and restoring nature in a changing climate.