The City Nature Challenge (CNC) is a global citizen science event where cities around the world compete to record the highest number of nature observations, identify the most species, and engage the greatest number of participants. For 2026, Kerala is participating by considering the entire state as one city, with the goal of documenting Kerala’s rich biodiversity through the iNaturalist platform. Volunteers from across the state will observe and record plants, animals, fungi, insects, birds, and other life forms, contributing to a worldwide biodiversity database.
iNaturalist is a globally recognized citizen science platform that allows users to upload photos and observations of living organisms, which are then identified by a global community of experts and enthusiasts. The data generated supports biodiversity research, conservation planning, and environmental education. The City Nature Challenge uses this platform to inspire public participation, environmental awareness, and large-scale biodiversity documentation within a short time frame.
For CNC Keralam 2026, Sneha, Assistant Professor in Forestry at Sir Syed College, Taliparamba, serves as the statewide coordinator. She leads the overall planning and coordination of the initiative, organizes nature walks, and strengthens partnerships to maximize participation and generate meaningful biodiversity data.
The program is managed collectively through a working group consisting of representatives from partnering organizations. The initiative is conducted independently using available resources, emphasizing collaboration, volunteer engagement, and collective impact in support of citizen science and conservation.
| Year | Observation Dates | Identification Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 28 – May 1, 2023 | May 2 – May 7, 2023 |
| 2024 | April 26 – April 29, 2024 | April 30 – May 5, 2024 |
| 2025 | April 25 – April 28, 2025 | April 29 – May 4, 2025 |
| 2026 | April 24 – April 27, 2026 | April 28 – May 3, 2026 |