Syracuse Students Conducted Biodiversity BioBlitz
Le Moyne College students identified 115 species at Homer Wheaton Park to support local city reforestation efforts.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Botany
Live Poll
Do you support local government efforts to increase tree canopy coverage in your area?
Le Moyne College students and local officials recently hosted a BioBlitz at Homer Wheaton Park to catalog local flora, fauna, and fungi. Using digital identification tools, the group documented 115 unique species in a single day.
Why it matters
The survey provides essential data for the city to effectively implement its reforestation master plan. Syracuse aims to expand its municipal tree canopy to 34% by 2040 to improve environmental health.
Students utilized the iNaturalist app to scan flora and fauna, which relies on a machine-learning algorithm verified by experts. This contributes to a platform that now has over 530,000 global contributors.
The players
Le Moyne College
This private Jesuit college in Syracuse provided the students who led the biodiversity inventory at the park.
Department of Environmental Conservation
This state agency awarded a $2,080,083 grant to Syracuse to support local reforestation initiatives.
The details
Participants photographed and logged various species to establish a baseline before the city begins large-scale planting and excavation. This effort aligns with the $2,080,083 grant provided by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
Timeline
The city forestry department released its reforestation master plan in 2020.
City lawmakers adopted the formal reforestation plan in April 2022.
Students began visiting the park to conduct preliminary surveys in early summer 2026.
The official BioBlitz occurred at Homer Wheaton Park on September 19, 2026.
Syracuse has set 2040 as the target date for reaching 34% tree canopy coverage.
Deeper Dive
The biodiversity survey follows the framework of the Syracuse reforestation master plan, which dictates the city's expansion of its canopy. This project updates figures previously established by the city’s 2020 environmental assessment.
Residents can expect to see an increase in local tree planting as the city utilizes survey findings to reach its 2040 canopy goal. This reforestation initiative is expected to improve local air quality and urban cooling as the canopy expands from its current levels.
The takeaway
Citizen science initiatives like the BioBlitz help local governments make informed decisions when managing urban ecosystems. Residents interested in conservation can participate in similar efforts by using platforms like iNaturalist to catalog local nature.
Further reading
Learn more about local vegetation research in the Botany section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NewsChannel 9.
Live Poll
Do you support local government efforts to increase tree canopy coverage in your area?
