Community-generated biodiversity data, via platforms like eBird and iNaturalist, are becoming more and more important in informing ecological restoration and species conservation efforts in Delaware and across the region. Anyone can now play a vital role in conservation by uploading photos and observations to these and other platforms through the simple click of a smart phone. This helps scientists track species distributions, monitor population trends, and detect environmental changes in real time.

Our speaker, Matt Sarver, will talk about how important it is to document biological diversity and inform conservation at the local scale. At a time when government-led conservation is in crisis, community science data about biodiversity is more important than ever to ensure the conservation of our wildlife and habitats. The newly launched Delaware Biodiversity Project will engage community members across Delaware in collaborative conservation of our precious natural resources. Come learn how you can be a part of documenting biological diversity to inform conservation at the local scale.

Matt Sarver is the Owner/Principal of Sarver Ecological and an Ecological Society of America (ESA) Certified Senior Ecologist. A recognized leader in the Mid-Atlantic conservation community, Matt’s recent work has focused on the role of botanical gardens as critical places for biodiversity conservation. In 2018, he conducted a landmark native bee survey at Mt. Cuba; in 2020, he led biodiversity assessments at Chanticleer, A Pleasure Garden. With over 20 years of field experience in ecology wildlife biology, botany, entomology, herpetology, and land management, he has collaborated with state agencies and conservation nonprofits on key environmental issues. Matt founded a new non-profit, the Atlantic Biodiversity Institute, through which he is launching the Delaware Biodiversity Project, an effort to catalog the species diversity of the state of Delaware

The Scholars Gild, a part of the Arden Club, meets on the third Tuesday of the month, September through June. We usually use a hybrid Live-Zoom model. There are sometimes technical glitches so your patience is appreciated.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89018127886?pwd=dIPlIZUmh3FYZ9dsUaNDq5mjxiDQRm.1
Meeting ID: 890 1812 7886 Passcode: 504221

There is no fee to attend Scholars Gild discussions.  We would like to encourage all to make a donation live or at http://ardenclub.org/donate/.  Your support helps keep the virtual and in-person lights on at the Club and makes possible dynamic programming like concerts, theater, dance, and of course, our Scholars Gild evenings. 

If you would like to receive email notifications about this or future Scholars Gild events, contact the Scholars Gild via ScholarsGild@gmail.com.  Plus, follow the “Arden Scholars’ Gild” on Facebook to get all the updates.