SaltyBlitz 2026: a day of citizen science open to all

Sunday 24 May sees the return of the annual event, the Maremma Natural History Museum’s flagship citizen science initiative.

This year’s theme will be biodiversity and how it changes as the salinity of the water and soil varies: SaltyBlitz.

Among the organising bodies, alongside the museum, are the Maremma Regional Park, CREA and the three Tuscan universities.

A day open to all, during which participants will be able to work alongside researchers and experts in environmental monitoring activities, thereby making a tangible contribution to our understanding of biodiversity and the environmental parameters that influence its presence and characteristics.

The programme includes fieldwork in the Maremma Regional Park (canoe landing stage) and in an area close to the town that will shortly be included in the protected area: the stretch from the Berrettino bend to the dead river.
The day will involve water sampling for chemical and physical parameters, collecting images and identifying plants and animals, butterfly monitoring, soil analysis, checking camera traps and collecting samples for environmental DNA.

Participation is free (online registration recommended) and no specific scientific expertise is required.

9.30 am: Meet at the canoe car park in the Maremma Park
10.00 am – 1.00 pm: Field activities
Lunch break (at your leisure)
4.00 pm: Meet at the Berrettino bend
4.00 pm – 7.00 pm: Field activities

View the full programme and register here:

https://www.museonaturalemaremma.it/saltyblitz_2026/