City Nature Challenge

The City Nature Challenge (CNC) is an annual event where Coquitlam competes with communities around the world to gather the most observations about nature, find the most species and engage the most people using iNaturalist, a project of National Geographic and the California Academy of Sciences.

CNC will return April 28 – May 1, 2023.

2022 Tri-City Nature Challenge Highlights

In 2022, Coquitlam collaborated with the City of Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, local stewardship groups, institutions and Metro Vancouver Parks to host free events and activities as part of the CNC. Below are some of the highlights:

  • Total observations: 2790 (1519 Coquitlam, 325 PoCo, 945 PoMo)
  • Total species observed: 628
  • Tri-Cities placed 9th for total observations out 41 participating cities in Canada. 
  • Most observed species: Salmonberry, 71 observations
  • Interesting finds in Coquitlam: Rufous Hummingbird (near threatened), American Bittern (vulnerable)
  • Interesting finds in Port Coquitlam: Oregon Forestsnail (endangered), Barn Swallow (vulnerable)
  • Interesting finds in Port Moody: Roell’s Bortherella Moss (endangered), Northwestern Salamander eggs

Click here to view the official CNC results infographic.

Using the iNaturalist App

iNaturalist is an initiative of National Geographic and the California Academy of Sciences, iNaturalist is a network of citizens, naturalists and biologists who map and share observations about biodiversity around the globe. 

The app is free and open to everyone. Members can browse nearby posts, upload their own images and audio recordings, and receive feedback and information from the iNaturalist community. 

To have your observations counted for the Tri-Cities in this year’s City Nature Challenge:

  • Go to iNaturalist or download the free iNaturalist app from the App Store or Google Play and create an account.
  • Under Projects, search for and join “City Nature Challenge 2022: Tri-Cities, British Columbia”.
  • From Apr. 29 to May 2, click Observe on the app or Add Observations on the website to add observations of any wild living or dead organism you see in the Tri-Cities – including plants, animal, birds, fungi, etc. – or evidence of them, such as shells, feathers or scat. 
  • Observations may include descriptions, uploaded photos, or photo or audio recordings through the app. Photos should be clear and full-frame.

Visit the CNC FAQ page for detailed instructions and tips for making eligible observations.

iNaturalist is a third-party app, and the City of Coquitlam makes no claims about the security or privacy of its use. View the iNaturalist Privacy Policy here.