The City Nature Challenge is an international effort for people to find and document plants and wildlife in cities around the globe.

Which city will upload the most observations of wildlife using iNaturalist Canada? Join the challenge! It’s a fun, easy, and family-friendly opportunity to get outside and connect with nature by documenting local biodiversity.

Are you up for the challenge?

From April 26 to April 29, 2024, take pictures of wild plants and animals and submit them to iNaturalist. You may also record and upload sounds, while staying on NCC official trails. It is also important that you stay at a safe and respectful distance from wildlife. All observations submitted to iNaturalist within that time frame are automatically added to the challenge.

How to participate

Step1:Download the iNaturalist app 

If you prefer to submit your observations from a computer, you can do so via the iNaturalist website.

Step2:Takepictures, record sounds and start uploading

Pro tip: If you are submitting your observations with your mobile phone, enable location permissions so your record will be automatically georeferenced.

Step 3: Share and identify observations on iNaturalist

From April 30 to May 5, you may continue to upload the photos and sounds taken from April 26 to 29. During this time, participants and scientists from all over the world will contribute by adding scientific names to the recorded observations. When several people agree, the record becomes “research grade,” which makes it relevant for research worldwide.

Guidelines

Please try to avoid posting observations of captive or cultivated organisms, especially trees and plants that are in gardens and arboretums. If you really want to include them, just be sure to tick the “captive/cultivated” box for the observation.

While participating, follow the principles of outdoor ethics: lLeave areas, objects and plants as you found them and stay on NCC official trails, at a safe and respectful distance from wildlife.

Stay connected

Use #CityNatureCanada and #CityNatureChallenge to share pictures of your outings, on social media.

Check out participating communities in real time: 

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