CNDDB News Blog

Photo credit: California Academy of Sciences

It is now easier than ever for the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) to incorporate your iNaturalist records for sensitive plant and wildlife taxa, thanks to the California Biodiversity Data Exchange (CalBioDEx, for short). This is a first-of-its-kind partnership between the CDFW, the California Academy of Sciences, and iNaturalist in order to facilitate data sharing of iNaturalist records for sensitive species with CDFW for species conservation and management decisions.

The CNDDB has long maintained an iNaturalist project to reach out to individuals about their sensitive species observations, which currently has 150,000+ observations of over 2,400 sensitive species. Observations that you opt to share with CDFW through the CNDDB project will continue to be a valuable resource, especially when users fill out the suggested observation fields (number observed, reproductive evidence, etc.).

A more streamlined data flow between iNaturalist and CDFW will make it easier for CNDDB staff to process that data into Element Occurrences (EOs), which are broadly used for environmental review and conservation purposes, as well as to inform state and global conservation status ranks. We expect it will take several years for iNaturalist observation data to be fully integrated into the CNDDB system. Submitting data to iNaturalist will not satisfy project or permit requirements to submit data to CNDDB; direct submissions to CNDDB will continue to be important.

 As part of the data exchange, we are also working with our partners at the Academy and iNaturalist to identify data gaps for sensitive species and leverage targeted citizen science campaigns to fill in those gaps. As part of this collaboration, CalBioDEx has developed an outreach campaign focusing on increasing the number of high-quality iNaturalist observations of clovers (Trifolium spp.) and milkvetches (Astragalus spp.). You can start Counting Clover and Mapping Milkvetch (PDF) right now by joining the project and keeping an eye out for these often-overlooked plants. The event runs from March through August, and we’ll be highlighting some of the neat CNDDB-tracked clovers and milkvetches you may encounter in future updates!

The following CNDDB documents have been updated:

• Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List (PDF)
• Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Plants List (PDF)
• Changes to the CNDDB Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List (PDF)
• Special Animals List (PDF)
• Endangered and Threatened Animals List (PDF)

Links to the T&E and Special Plants/Animals lists can be found on the CNDDB Plants and Animals web page. More information about state listing can be found on the California Fish and Game Commission CESA web page and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife CESA web page. If you have any questions about these lists, please email us at CNDDB@wildlife.ca.gov.

Barred Owl Observations by PLSS Section [ds2873] is available to view and to download in the BIOS Viewer. This layer summarizes the information contained in the Barred Owl Observations Database and allows users to see PLSS sections containing barred owl detections as well as the first and last years that owls were reported in those sections.

Barred Owl Observations [ds8] is available in the BIOS Viewer for CNDDB subscribers. The barred owl database includes barred owl (Strix varia), Strix hybrid, and unknown Strix detections. This dataset is only available to view and download by CNDDB subscribers because it contains references to sensitive spotted owl locations. To download the dataset, navigate to the CNDDB Data Updates page and click on Subscriber Downloads. For site-specific inquiries, email at owlobs@wildlife.ca.gov

Due to the varied nature of barred owl surveys, detections, and reporting in the state, these datasets may not fully represent the historical and current distribution of barred owls in California.

For more information on barred owls in California, check out CDFW’s Barred Owl Threat web page.

The following CNDDB documents have been updated:

• Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List (PDF)
• Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Plants List (PDF)
• Changes to the CNDDB Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List (PDF)
• Special Animals List (PDF)
• Endangered and Threatened Animals List (PDF)

Links to the T&E and Special Plants/Animals lists can be found on the CNDDB Plants and Animals web page. More information about state listing can be found on the California Fish and Game Commission CESA web page and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife CESA web page. If you have any questions about these lists, please email us at CNDDB@wildlife.ca.gov.

Photo: Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella (Monardella sinuata subsp. gerryi). Photo by Mark Elvin.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will be conducting a status review for Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella (Monardella sinuata subsp. gerryi) to inform the California Fish and Game Commission's decision on whether to list the species as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). As part of this process, CDFW is soliciting information regarding the species’ ecology, genetics, life history, distribution, abundance, habitat, the degree and immediacy of threats to its reproduction or survival, the adequacy of existing management and recommendations for management of the species. The CNDDB would like to encourage anyone who has observed Gerry's curly-leaved monardella to submit their findings to us. People who have questions or comments about the review process should email our Native Plant Program. The deadline for both data submission and comments is February 2, 2026 to allow us sufficient time for evaluation.

Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella is an annual herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae) that occurs in the Camarillo and Las Posas hills in Ventura County. Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella is restricted to soil derived from Las Posas sand. The species has been documented from just three occurrences with fewer than 500 individuals in total. Threats to Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella include agricultural conversion, development, land clearing and grading, maintenance and construction of roads or trails, nonnative plants, vegetation succession, and erosion.

On February 19, 2025, the California Native Plant Society submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission to list Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella as an endangered species under CESA. The Commission published findings of its decision to make the species a candidate for listing as an endangered species on October 24, 2025, and as such, Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella now receives the same legal protection afforded to an endangered or threatened species (Fish and Game Code sections 2074.2 and 2085). Take of this species is prohibited without an appropriate permit for scientific, educational or management purposes. For more information on permitting, visit our CESA permits page.

We need your help in better understanding the status of Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella. If you have ever found this species in the wild, submit your findings to us through our Online Field Survey Form. Together, we can help the Fish and Game Commission make an informed decision on the listing proposal for the Gerry’s curly-leaved monardella.