City Nature Challenge
Get Involved in the 2027 City Nature Challenge
Think globally. Act locally. And do it to help Canada take on the world! That’s the mission for Canadian participants in the 2027 City Nature Challenge, a friendly international competition focused on tracking biodiversity around the world. All observations become part of an active database of biodiversity used by scientists and organizations around the world. It’s like Pokémon Go but with a real impact on science and nature!
Participation is super easy and fun using the iNaturalist app. Just follow these three simple steps to get started:
- Go to iNaturalist.ca or use the iNaturalist app to open up a free account. Once you’re registered, find the 2026 City Nature Challenge Canada project.
- Check to see if your city is registered for the 2026 City Nature Challenge Canada initiative. If so, you’re all set for when the CNC starts – you can also check out the map below the cities list to see the boundaries of where observations will count.
- If your city is not on the list, look for the City Nature Challenge Canada 2026 non-registered cities project, click through to the project page and click “Join” (in the upper right corner).
Having taken the steps above, all you have to do now is make observations of as many different wild species as you can during the event! Together, we can all contribute to Canada’s total number of observations.
Check in on how your city or your personal tally is doing by checking out the real-time results in the City Nature Challenge Canada project.
How Did Canada Do in the City Nature Challenge 2026?
The City Nature Challenge 2027 takes place over a nine-day period from April 30 to May 3, 2027. There are two parts to the program:
April 30 – May 3, 2027
Make your observations. Record and upload photos and sounds of wild plants and animals through iNaturalist.ca or the iNaturalist app. Observations made in participating cities (see list below) will automatically be added. If you’re not in a participating city, you can still make observations by joining the City Nature Challenge Canada 2026: non-registered cities project in iNaturalist. From bees, to birds, flowers to trees, and funga to mammals, every observation of a species found in Canada will add to our overall total. In 2025, Canadians registered 155,139 observations. Let’s see if we can top 200,000 in 2026!
May 4 — May 9, 2027
Upload and identify. Finish uploading photos and sound recordings that were taken during the observation period. Equally important, this is a time for anyone to help identify as many of the observations as possible. Only observations that have an identification will count towards the species total. Plus, identifications that are confirmed by two or more people become “research grade” and more trustworthy for use in conservation. Even beginners can help out by identifying simple things or high-level ID (such as “conifer”), but we also need experts to share their knowledge.
CWF Webinar: Unlocking Urban Biodiversity - A Guide to Higher Quality iNaturalist Observations
iNaturalist is one of the world’s most popular nature apps, connecting people with nature while contributing to biodiversity science. Join the Canadian Wildlife Federation for an engaging webinar on how to make the most of your time exploring urban environments by creating high-quality iNaturalist observations. Learn practical tips for documenting species effectively, improving your identification skills, and contributing observations that can support scientific and conservation efforts. Leading the session will be Nathan Earley, a PhD candidate at the University of Victoria. Through his work with the BC Biodiversity Program, Nathan uses iNaturalist data to illuminate where British Columbia’s lesser‑known and often overlooked species live across urban and natural landscapes. He will share what makes an observation scientifically valuable, common pitfalls to avoid, and how your contributions can help fill critical biodiversity knowledge gaps. Whether you’re a seasoned iNaturalist user or just getting started, this webinar will help you level up your naturalist skills and contribute meaningfully to the annual City Nature Challengeopens in a new tab and biodiversity science in Canada.
Why Participate in the City Nature Challenge?
Bragging rights, for one. We have a different climate that sets us apart from more southern areas, so CNC Canada is setting up its own Canada-wide challenge, nested within the international CNC 2026 event. Pick a friendly fight with another Canadian community; you can even put a friendly wager on the table. Any way you look at it, biodiversity wins. Knowing what species are found in each city helps conservationists study and conserve them, and the CNC is a way for scientists, land managers and the community to come together for the common good of documenting nature in the area.
Connect with nature and your community. This is a chance to explore some of the areas in your community and discover biodiversity right outside your door – from the local park to sidewalk edges and your own backyard.
Learn from experts. CNC attracts many experts in a focused attempt to identify everything found during the event. The more species that are identified, the greater the tally grows. If you find something and you don’t know what it is, chances are someone will help identify it for you.
Help Canada accept the challenge! Don’t live in a participating city? Get them involved for next year by talking with your municipality, a local organization or take it on yourself! Contact us to learn what’s involved.
How to Participate
Find Wildlife
It can be any plant, animal, or any other evidence of life found in your city.
Take a Picture Or Record a Sound
Take pictures of all the wild plants and animals you can find in your area. You can also upload sound recordings of any animals you hear. And as always, be sure to note its location..
Share
Upload your photos or sound recordings on iNaturalist.ca or the iNaturalist app. Your observations will be automatically included in the City Nature Challenge.
Create your own iNaturalist account
To participate in the CNC event, you need to open your free iNaturalist account by following the steps:
Upload Observations
Using the iNaturalist App or your account on iNaturalist.ca, start sharing your observations – all observations uploaded using the iNaturalist app or at iNatualist.ca during the CNC will be automatically added..
Join the CNC Canada Project
Join the CNC Canada project to get updates and other information.
Join >
Get Feedback
Get feedback from actual scientists, experts, and other naturalists on each observation.
