Citizen scientists and youth participants observe insects during the 2025 joint survey. [National Institute of Biological Resources]
Citizen scientists and youth participants observe insects during the 2025 joint survey. [National Institute of Biological Resources]

The National Institute of Biological Resources, under the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy, announced Thursday it will hold a joint biodiversity survey to strengthen citizen scientists' observation and recording skills at Sobaeksan National Park from Friday to Saturday.

The event is part of the institute's citizen scientist biodiversity monitoring project, which it has run since 2011 to train citizen scientists and raise public awareness of climate change.

The participatory program invites local residents to observe and document wildlife in their communities, with the data used for ecological research and biodiversity conservation. About 100 citizen scientists take part each year.

At this year's event, teams of experts, citizen scientists and university students will observe 10 taxonomic groups — including plants, birds and insects — sharing knowledge on species ecology, survey methods for each species and how to log observation data.

Among the participants, 31 university students will receive dedicated guidance from taxonomic specialists to sharpen their observation and recording skills.

Through the project, the institute has accumulated more than 400,000 biological records to date, used for research predicting how wildlife will change under climate change and to support local governments in controlling invasive species.

This year in particular, 187 citizen scientist observation records helped monitor the lovebug — a fly that appeared in large numbers across the Greater Seoul area and caused widespread public inconvenience.

"We will continue to systematically collect biological data gathered by citizen scientists in the field and actively apply it to research and policy addressing ecosystem changes, including climate change and the influx of non-native species, while steadily expanding the foundation for public participation in citizen science," said Yoo Ho, director of the National Institute of Biological Resources.


thlee@heraldcorp.com