BC's Big Nature Challenge

Every observation counts

LOOK CAREFULLY AND SEE WHAT YOU DISCOVER

The BC Parks Foundation is asking British Columbians to FIND IT, RECORD IT, and SHARE IT, as part of our drive to reach 25 million observations of nature by 2025. You can make an important contribution to biodiversity data collection in BC and help protect our incredible wild places, by simply sharing your nature observations on community science platforms such as iNaturalist and eBird.

Nature observations from community scientists such as yourselves are helping researchers and conservation managers survey remote areas, spot new or rare species, and track changes in species distribution and phenology, especially in response to climate change impacts.

Visit our 25x25 site to learn more about our audacious goals for 2025. You are inspiring other places in the world, and there are more peaks to climb.

New to nature reporting? Join the challenge today!
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What will you find in B.C.’s backyard?

Join B.C.'s Nature Challenge with the BC Parks Foundation

Simply find wildlife (or signs of wildlife)
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It can be any plant, animal, fungus, or evidence of life.

Take a photo using a phone or digital camera

Snap a pic of what you find! Be sure to determine your location if your phone or camera is not GPS-enabled.

Share your photo on iNaturalist or other nature-reporting apps
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Upload your photo(s) and observation details through any of our partner platforms.

On August 22-23, join us for the Discover Parks Bioblitz!

Join our Discover Park Ambassadors for the Discover Parks Bioblitz, a family-friendly activity for your day in the park!

Using the iNaturalist app, give back to your parks by helping us learn more about the incredible diversity of creatures that live in them.

For a list of participating parks, please visit the iNaturalist project.

Bring your phone or a camera, take photos of as many species as you can, and upload to the iNaturalist project– it’s that easy!

The Bioblitz will take place on August 22nd and 23rd at participating parks. Find your local Discover Parks Ambassador for more information, or go to Join the Challenge for step-by-step instructions on how to use iNaturalist and eBird.

How many observations can you collect in one weekend?

BC's Big Nature Challenge makes the news

November 3, 2020

Rare species of dragonfly spotted for the first time in 40 years in B.C.

Vancouver is Awesome

October 15, 2020

The BC Nature Challenge - empowering park users to become citizen scientists

The Local

October 5, 2020

The BC Parks Foundation's "Big Nature Challenge" passes 1 million observations mark

On the Coast with Gloria Macarenko

October 4, 2020

Photo challenge nears goal of 1 million entries for B.C. Parks Foundation database

CBC British Columbia

October 1, 2020

Get out into nature for the BC Parks Foundation

Mornings with Simi

September 30, 2020

BC Parks Foundation has collected 950,000 wildlife pics, thanks to outdoor enthusiasts

Black Press Media

Vancouver is Awesome

We hit one million observations!

Mornings with Simi

Listen to our CEO, Andrew Day, and the Nature Challenge project lead, Emma Griggs, discuss the Challenge and some of the important ways citizen science can be used.