City Nature Challenge tallies over 1.69 Million Wildlife Observations

Species observed include a recently discovered orchid species in Bolivia and the endangered Przewalski’s Horse in Ukraine. 

Los Angeles, CA (May 9, 2022) –The City Nature Challenge (CNC) results are in! More than 67,000 people across six continents documented more than 1.69 million wildlife observations for the 7th annual community science initiative. From sightings of a recently discovered orchid species in Bolivia, to new cities taking part including Jeju Island in South Korea and the Hague in the Netherlands, to more than 7,000 observations being made in the Ukraine, the observations gathered help scientists create a valuable snapshot in time of urban biodiversity.

The global event called on current and aspiring community scientists, nature and science fans, and people of all ages and backgrounds to observe and submit pictures of wild plants, animals, and fungi from April 29 to May 2. Participants submitted pictures of wild plants and animals using the free mobile app, iNaturalist. The competition underscores the power of community science to track real-time changes in our planet’s biodiversity.

After co-founding and organizing the first-ever City Nature Challenge in 2016 as a competition between the Los Angeles and San Francisco metro areas, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) and the California Academy of Sciences expanded the initiative to 445 cities across 47 countries. This year’s 1.69 million observations, included sightings of more than 2,244 rare, endangered, or threatened species. The Challenge engaged more than 67,000 observers—the most ever—who recorded more than 50,100 species worldwide.

“I am once again amazed by how many people from all over the world have taken part in the City Nature Challenge,” said Lila Higgins, NHM’s Senior Manager of Community Science, and cofounder of the Challenge. “More people than ever participated, with over 67,000 people coming together to find, document, and identify nature in urban places.”

“Los Angeles and nature aren’t two things that people typically think of together,” says Sam Tayag, NHM’s Community Science Program Coordinator. “Thanks to the partnership of nonprofit organizations and government offices throughout L.A., Angelenos were able to put our incredible local biodiversity on the City Nature Challenge world map again! It’s always awe-inspiring to see our community and individual relationships with nature reflected in the L.A. County iNaturalist project.”

Local support for the City Nature Challenge is generously provided by Boeing and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.