The Biosphères ObservAction Network brings together people and organizations committed to protecting the water and aquatic ecosystems of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes by participating in practical, structured environmental action or observation projects in their own regions.

The Network acts as an information hub connecting people locally, regionally, nationally and even internationally, by allowing them to share information, skills and knowledge to solve problems.

The Network has over 100 partners working in various fields related to the river and the Great Lakes. Some fields of observation form a network related specifically to the Biosphère and to other specialized networks.

The information gathered sustains the Biosphère and, in return, provides observers with some food for thought and assistance with personal research in the Networks information system.

The ObservAction Networks systemic concept has the invaluable advantage of :

• combining scientific research with everyday experience;
• developing and expanding databases on the waters of the Saint Lawrence River, the Great Lakes and their ecosystems.

Through the ObservAction network, a scientist can access the field observations of individuals and groups. The Biosphère can considerably expand the scope of a university laboratory, for example. Conversely, observers in the field can access the results of scientific research and see how their own observations can be incorporated into specific research projects. Observers thus use proven, effective methodology and become a sort of articulated arm for field research. Their contribution is all the more important given that the area to be studied, the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River, is immense.