IBISCA is an international research programme which aims at studying the spatial (horizontal, vertical, altitudinal) and temporal distribution of the organisms which constitute a major part of forest biodiversity: arthropods. Interactions with plants and selected other organisms are also studied.

In 2007, GCP was pleased to support the IBISCA Queensland project, a major international survey of the animal, plant and fungal diversity from canopy soil in Lamington National Park, Australia. The purpose of this study is to assess and predict the impact of climate change on biodiversity by using insects as indicators of climate change impacts on forests.

The project has completed several major biodiversity field surveys, convened two scientific workshops, hosted an end-user forum and supported public seminar series. They have conducted 26 different projects involving 48 scientific participants and 71 volunteers. In addition, there has been student participation in each of the major surveys and the education programme has been developed. The last major field survey for the IBISCA Queensland project was completed in January 2008. Prior to the canopy survey, we provideed a training course on tree climbing to full Basic Canopy Access Proficiency certification standard. The course was conducted by instructors from Canopy Access Ltd and supported by the GCP. The final survey focussed on sampling the canopy and was acheived using the team of 4 professional and 6 newly-trained tree climbers.

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