Sept. 7 is California Biodiversity Day, an annual event marking the anniversary of the launch of the California Biodiversity Initiative in 2018. California is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world and is one of 36 global biodiversity hotspots — areas containing exceptional concentrations of plant and animal species found nowhere else on the planet.
Throughout the week of Sept. 7-15, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), California State Parks and partner organizations throughout California will be hosting more than 200 activities statewide to celebrate the state’s exceptional biodiversity while also encouraging actions to conserve and protect it.
Individuals and organizations across California will host both virtual and in-person events, including guided nature walks, art and family-friendly games, cultural demonstrations, restoration efforts, bioblitzes and more. Some events include:
- Biodiversity Bash at the Back Bay Science Center, Sept. 7, noon to 4 p.m., 600 Shellmaker Road, Newport Beach (92660). Join Back Bay Science Center for California Biodiversity Day with games and activities. There will be a live art workshop with Wildlife Jewels, fishing on the docks for children ages 8-15 with California Surf Anglers and a CDFW K-9 demonstration. There will also be educational booths hosted by Newport Bay Conservancy and other surprise guests with a scavenger hunt. The event is free and public parking is available.
- Nature Tour and Bioblitz at Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sept. 7, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael (95608). Discover nature along the American River and contribute to a community biodiversity-blitz! Tours will be led through the nature center, observing and identifying plants and animals and documenting them on iNaturalist. Kids are welcome to join and can participate in a scavenger hunt. Please bring water, snacks, sunscreen, a hat and walking shoes. There is a $7 parking fee — make sure to pay at the entrance kiosk or at the nature center's main office (cash only at the office). Space is limited. To register, visit the Effie Yeaw Biodiversity Day Bioblitz 2024 Eventbrite page.
- CDFW Conservation Lecture Series, Sept. 11, 10:30 a.m. to noon, via Zoom. Join the September installment of this monthly webinar series to learn about “California Biodiversity Day 2024: Accessing California’s urban biodiversity and green spaces.” This lecture is focused on ways people are working together to understand, safeguard and create equitable opportunities to access and enjoy California’s urban biodiversity and green spaces. Featured guest speakers are Jade Nguyen, Nature for All, Los Angeles; Cesar Estien, Second Nature Ecology + Design and UC Berkely PhD student and Corky Quirk, Yolo Basin Foundation, Sacramento. To register, visit the Zoom registration page. Contact Whitney Albright at Whitney.Albright@wildlife.ca.gov with any questions.
For a full list of events, visit the California Biodiversity Day website. One easy way to get involved is to join the 2024 California Biodiversity Week Challenge on iNaturalist. Find and document 30 wild species in California and submit photos and observations on the platform anytime Sept. 7-15. Tag your adventures and follow along on social media at #CABiodiversityDay. You can also check out the bioblitz tracker that shows all the communities participating in nature discovery challenges and the species they observe throughout the week.
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