National Geographic to Feature IDNL!

National Geographic has selected the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to participate in a BioBlitz, a 24-hour inventory of species in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (IDNL). On May 15-16, 2009, teams of scientists and naturalists, along with public volunteers, will comb the park’s 15 miles of shoreline and more than 15,000 acres of sand dunes, oak savannas, wetlands, prairies, rivers, and forests to observe and record as many species as possible.

The Ogden Dunes Environmental Advisory Board encourages residents to get involved in this prestigious event, which is being held annually at a National Park until the Centennial of the National Park System in 2016. The IDNL was selected because it is the 5th most biodiverse national park in the entire nation.

Knowing how many and what kind of plants and animals live in the park is the first step toward helping both park managers and the public do a better job of protecting them.

To kick off public interest in the BioBlitz, the public is invited to the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore the Saturday, October 18 at 1:00 p.m. for a free program called “Science in the Indiana Dunes…100 Years and Growing.” The program will kick off at 1:00 p.m. with biographer Victor Cassidy highlighting the life and work of Henry Chandler Cowles.

Cowles (1869-1939) was an ecologist, botanist, teacher, and conservationist. At the end of the 19th century, he made hundreds of scientific observations of the sand dune landscapes of southern Lake Michigan. His study demonstrated that the outdoor environment is a dynamic system in which plants, soil, moisture, climate and topography interact.

Following Cassidy’s presentation, IDNL staff will explain the importance of scientific research to present day park management, and will provide more information on how to get involved in the BioBlitz. Home schoolers, educators, gardeners, hikers, children, senior citizens, birders -- anyone who appreciates having the INDL as a neighbor -- are encouraged to participate in the BioBlitz. Additional public meetings on the event will be held on January 17 and April 25, 2009.