The City Nature Challenge 2023

Join the City Nature Challenge and discover the wild biodiversity in your neighbourhood

The world around us is full of natural wonders! To understand and safeguard them, it is essential to identify the species present in our cities and their locations. This requires collaboration among scientists, land managers, and the community to discover and record the nature in our surroundings.

By taking part in the City Nature Challenge, you not only gain knowledge about your local environment but also contribute towards making your city a more habitable place for all living beings.

On April 29, 2023, CVA has organized volunteer events in various cities. These events are a wonderful opportunity to take a step towards nature and participate in Bioblitz activities in your local area. Join us to learn more about how you can make a difference. We look forward to having you with us in.

• Adelaide
• Brisbane
• Melbourne
• Perth
• Sydney

Don’t worry if you can’t make it to the CVA event in person, you can still participate in the 2023 City Nature Challenge with your loved ones. Join in on the fun!

How to get involved where you live

Cities participating in the 2023 City Nature Challenge are.

• Greater Adelaide
• Geelong
• Greater Melbourne
• Greater Sydney
• Brisbane (Currently Logan City Council location) Other Brisbane locations will be updated soon.

If you happen to live in (or can travel to) any of the city locations mentioned above, simply follow the instructions given below or visit the official City Nature Challenge website for further assistance.

1. Download the iNaturalist App onto your phone any time before or during the event
2. Open the iNaturalist App and go to PROJECTS
3. In PROJECTS use the search icon and type in ‘City Nature Challenge 2023 Greater Sydney’ OR ‘City Nature Challenge 2023 [any of the 6 cities listed above]’
4. Open your City Nature Challenge and tap on JOIN
5. You’re all set!
6. Anytime between the 28th of April and May the 1st, go outside, explore nature, take photos and upload your images into the iNaturalist App

Results

The event coordinators have designated a week after the survey period for the wider community to review the submitted observations. Once this review period is complete, the results of the BioBlitz will be announced. Keep an eye out for updates!

What is a BioBlitz?

We invite you to participate in the City Nature Challenge by observing and documenting various animal and plant species. This activity is called a BioBlitz and can be done in numerous locations, from your own backyard to a local park. The challenge is a global event that encourages people to explore and document wildlife in their surroundings. It’s a fun and collaborative competition between cities, motivating individuals worldwide to connect with nature.

“Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” – Mary Oliver

 

Photo by David Clode. But don’t worry, it doesn’t need to be THIS good!

How does it work?

Thanks to smartphone technology and handy apps like iNaturalist, capturing pictures and biological details of different living organisms has become a breeze. The valuable data and observations that you upload to iNaturalist can contribute to the Atlas of Living Australia. Researchers and policymakers worldwide rely on this atlas to make informed decisions concerning the preservation of our environment. So, by using iNaturalist, you are not only having fun but also contributing to the protection of nature.

What is iNaturalist?

iNaturalist is a worldwide nature observation platform that comes with an AI feature to recognize the living beings surrounding you. It connects you to a vast community of over 1.2 million professionals and nature enthusiasts who will assist you in identifying and verifying the species you have captured.

If you are unable to identify the plant or animal you have recorded, do not fret. Just ensure that you take some clear photos or sounds and utilize iNaturalist’s programmed recommendations. To make it easier for other scientists to find and identify your images, use the highest level, ‘Kingdom,’ if you are unsure.

Time spent in nature is time well-spent. Photo by Pat Whelen

“I spent the summer traveling; I got halfway across my back yard.” – Louis Agassiz.