California Biodiversity Day

September 7th is the annual California Biodiversity Day, a chance to inspire discovery of the nature of California through week-long activities, while encouraging everyday actions to protect and steward it. Each year, California's unique biodiversity is celebrated and stewarded throughout the week of September 7th.

Please join in California biodiversity celebrations by hosting or attending a nature  event , participating in the  Biodiversity Challenge  from anywhere in California,  amplifying  local events, and  promoting  awareness of biodiversity and the  actions  we can all do to care for it.

Established in 2018, California Biodiversity Day is part of California's first  Biodiversity Initiative  to safeguard the state's natural heritage in response to the growing loss of biodiversity across the state. In 2020, a groundbreaking Executive Order was signed to protect 30% of California’s lands and waters by 2030, known as  California 30x30 . Together, these initiatives protect biodiversity, build resilience to climate change, and ensure equitable access to nature for all Californians. By participating in California Biodiversity Day, you can connect with the nature around you while contributing to these important conservation goals.

California Biodiversity Week completed with over 200 events hosted by organizations and individuals across California.

What biodiversity was observed? Over 4600 California species were found and mapped throughout the week!  Visit this list of California Biodiversity Week bioblitzes  and learn more about the species observed through your participation in community science!

Like birds? Check out what birds were observed using the community science platform, eBird, in this first  California Biodiversity WEEK Trip Report. 

Save the date for next year! California Biodiversity Week will take place September 6 - 14, 2025!

Continue reading to view our map of 2024 events, information about the state-wide biodiversity challenge, 2024 biodiversity goals, and everyday actions you can take to safeguard California biodiversity!

To open the map in a new window or for a better view on a mobile device,  click here .

1. Download the app on your phone and sign up for free. Start here:  inaturalist.org 
2. Visit the  iNaturalist project:  CA Biodiversity Week Challenge 2024: Find 30 Species 
3. Click “Join” to sign up!
4. Submit your nature observations between September 7th - 15th! 

New to iNaturalist?   CLICK HERE   to get started. For more information, checkout this   iNaturalist Toolkit. 

Find nature in your home, neighborhood, school, or local park! By joining this challenge, observations you make in California will be counted towards our state-wide goal of mapping at least 3030 species! Your observations are applied to understand biodiversity, track its changes over time, and direct conservation actions. These activities contribute directly to California's   30x30 initiative   to conserve 30% of California lands and coastal waters by 2030 through collaborative action. Have fun learning how to identify the biodiversity around you while helping to steward and protect California biodiversity!

2024 Results: 482 people in California contributed 21,854 observations of 3,355 species in California!  Learn what was observed and who found at least 30 species! 

Do you know your California species?!  Help verify nature observations here  after Sept 7, 2024!

Learn more:  Become an iNaturalist Identifier  and help make observations become "research grade" and accessible to science and conservation.

With your help we can increase public awareness of California biodiversity and connect people of all ages and backgrounds to the nature of California. 

In honor of the  California 30x30 initiative , our goals come in 30s:

1. 30 birding checklists in eBird and shared with “ CaliforniaBiodiversityDay ”. 
2. 130 in-person or virtual events reaching at least 3030 people.
3. 330 participants in the  Find 30 Species Challenge ! Let’s collectively identify 3030 species across California.
4. 3030 students and teachers from across California tuning into State Park’s virtual   PORTScast  .

Check out our  Public Resources Toolkit  to amplify California Biodiversity Day and raise awareness about biodiversity, conservation, and how people can get involved to protect and steward California's nature. We provide guidance for how to use social media platforms plus ideas for social media posts, email outreach, and more! Resources include:

•  Media Toolkit   and access to the California Biodiversity Day  logo and imagery , plus a  sample text  and  flier  to help you promote your event!
•  Factsheets and games! 
•  Educator's guide  to California Biodiversity Day.

Learn how to use community apps such as  iNaturalist  and  eBird , and become a community science expert. Observations from these apps are used globally to understand biodiversity and make conservation decisions to steward and protect it. By participating, you can directly contribute to California's   30x30 initiative  and other important conservation efforts. Here is how to get started:

•  iNaturalist Resources:   Learn how to use iNaturalist and set up a bioblitz; find printables and other promotional material to guide your iNaturalist activities!
•  Go Birding!  Share your eBird checklists with the eBird profile " CaliforniaBiodiversityDay " and feature your observations on the statewide  eBird Trip Report. 
•  Help your local pollinators!  Here you can find regional pollinator factsheets and guides to become pollinator experts!
•  A Community Science Guide  for California Biodiversity Day

Don't forget to tag your adventures: #CABiodiversityDay

 The Atlas of the Biodiversity of California  is an incredible resource to learn more about the biodiversity of California and why it is so unique and important. These maps show the richness (number of species) inhabiting California landscapes for plants, amphibians, birds, mammals, reptiles, and fish.

Take actions to stop the spread of invasive species.  Biodiversity decline in California is driven in large part by invasive plant and animals spread by humans. Properly clean and dry watercraft when recreating in bodies of water, and do not release pets into the wild. If you’re going camping, buy firewood at your destination to help reduce the spread of harmful insects and fungi. Biodiversity decline in California is driven in large part by invasive species and pests spread by humans. Learn more  here  and  here . Discover the native plants from your area by searching  Calscape , California's hub for California native plants and gardening. Landscape your home, school yard, or neighborhood garden with the native plants from your area and look out for an increase in bumble bees and other local pollinators! Keep feline friends indoors. This is for your  cat’s own health and safety . Outdoor cats also spread diseases and are a major threat to biodiversity, driving the disappearance of birds and small mammals everywhere they are left free to roam. Read more about what you can do to help biodiversity,  here .

• Participate in local stewardship activities aimed to restore the land and wildlife around you. 
• Learn about Indigenous stewardship practices from the  Inter-Tribal Council of California  and the  Tribal Marine Stewards Network .
• Create habitat in your yard or neighborhood for everything from healthy soil microbes to bees and butterflies to birds! How? Avoid excessive pruning and mowing in the spring, leave leaves on the ground in the fall, retain tree snags and other deadwood where safe, and garden with native plants.
• Make room for native pollinators by reducing or eliminating synthetic pesticides and planting with plants native to your area. Learn more from the  Pollinator Partnership . Turn down the lights. Bright lights attract and confuse wildlife at night. Consider the  Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting,  such as swapping outdoor bulbs for yellow/amber-toned lights or motion sensors .
• Prevent bird-window collisions. Apply small decals to large windows in your home or business to prevent birds from colliding with your windows!
• Avoid  spraying synthetic herbicides/pesticides  around your home or school. These chemicals negatively impact both people, pets and wildlife, including owls
• Continue to discover the nature around you. Sign up for iNaturalist and use it to help you ID your nature sightings every time you’re outdoors! Submit them on the platform and contribute to the global community of biodiversity champions like you!