Biodiversity in Urban Gardens Initiative
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Make a difference through community science
Native plants are the foundation of life—not just in their natural habitats but in the places where we live, work, and play. Now, you can help us better understand the relationship between native plants and biodiversity in your own community.
Join community scientists across California in a new Biodiversity in Urban Gardens (BUG) statewide study of native plants and the wildlife they support. Your observations of native bees, birds, butterflies, and other wildlife interacting with native plants will provide much-needed on-the-ground data about the relationship between native plants and wildlife and help all of us better advocate for biodiversity in urban areas.
This study is part of the BUG Initiative, which links community science, public policy, research, and civic action to foster biodiversity in urban landscapes.
How to get involved:
1. Find California native plants.
Find native plants growing around your home or neighborhood or use this map to find a native plant garden close to you.
2. Look for native insects, birds, lizards, and mammals
or other animals you see with California native plants. We want to see any native wildlife you see with California native plants.
- Common non-native animals to avoid adding to this project: European Honeybee, Eastern Fox Squirrel, Brown Garden Snail, Seven Spotted Ladybug, House Sparrow. Check this list on iNaturalist for the most common introduced species to avoid.
3. Take photos of the native animals you see on, in, under, or around native plants, and upload them to the iNaturalist app.
- Download the free iNaturalist app in the Apple or Google store and create your account at iNaturalist.org.
- Join the two BUG projects on iNaturalist:
- Observations made in California public gardens that are already part of the BUG project will automatically get uploaded to the Biodiversity in Urban Gardens: California Public Gardens · iNaturalist project. See the list of participating public gardens.
- For observations you make at home, in neighborhoods, or anywhere else in urban habitats, you will need to join the Biodiversity in Urban Gardens: California Home & Neighborhood Gardens · iNaturalist project and then manually add your observations.
- Do you think a public garden near you should be included? Here are the instructions for adding a new native plant garden to the Biodiversity in Urban Gardens: California Public Gardens · iNaturalist project. All you need to do is answer the questions on this form to submit a new garden (see requirements in the form).
4. Follow the project
to see what we’re finding. Learn how your data is helping us better understand California biodiversity and how you can get more involved with advocacy.
Watch the introductory BUG webinar to learn more about joining the statewide study and using iNaturalist.
The Santa Clara Valley Research Project
CNPS and partners in the Santa Clara Valley are also launching a second Community Science Study, BUG paired Garden Study.
This two-year pilot aims to collect biodiversity data in native and non-native gardens at five paired locations across Santa Clara County. The data will help determine how native plant gardens support life differently than non-native plant gardens.
Community scientists with at least 100 observations on iNaturalist and knowledge of native plants and wildlife are eligible to join our Research Partner cohort. If you would like to learn more, sign up to get project updates.
THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS!
This initiative is funded in part by the Gordon
and Betty Moore Foundation.
Additional Support
The BUG Initiative was also made possible through support from the Mary A. Crocker Trust and the CNPS Santa Clara Valley Chapter, whose partnership helped launch and shape work in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.
CNPS is collaborating with partners across California for both the statewide and Santa Clara Valley BUG community science projects.
Statewide and Santa Clara Valley project partners
Statewide project partners
Thank you to our Science Advisory Committee
Thank you to the members of our Science Advisory Committee for sharing their expertise and providing valuable guidance for the BUG community science projects.
Heidi Ballard, PhD; Founder and Faculty Director of the Center for Community and Citizen Science at UC Davis
Ricardo Kriebel, PhD; Assistant Curator and McAllister Chair of Botany at the California Academy of Sciences
Isaac Lichter Marck, PhD; Assistant Curator of Botany and Lindsay Chair at the California Academy of Sciences
Kristen Nelson, MS; Rare Plant Program Manager at the California Native Plant Society
Greg Pauly, PhD; Curator of Herpetology and Co-director of the Urban Nature Research Center at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Merav VonShak, PhD; Citizen Science Organizer at the Bioblitz Club
Neal Williams, PhD; Professor of Entomology at UC Davis