Join community scientists across California to observe native plants and wildlife.
Be Part of the BUG Statewide Community Science Study
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.
This study is part of the BUG Initiative, which links community science, public policy, research, and civic action to foster biodiversity in urban landscapes.
Look for birds, bugs, and other critters on, under, or near native plants growing in gardens.
Get out your phone and snap a few photos of what you observe. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
Upload your photos to the Biodiversity in Urban Gardens projects on iNaturalist.
Explore the Project
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 in both home/neighborhood and public gardens 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.
We currently have approximately 50+ participating gardens and are looking to grow this list with the help from community members. Want to add a public garden? Submit here.
Read the step-by-step guide for detailed instructions and tips on taking part in the project.
CNPS and partners in the Santa Clara Valley have launched a second community science 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.
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 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
