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Do you have neighbors with wings, antennas, or little hats... and maybe you don't even know them!
What creatures live near your building? What birds sing to you in the park in the morning? What mushrooms appear after the rain in the forest at the edge of the city? Join the City Nature Challenge Bucharest and you will get to know them by name.
Between April 24 and 27 → grab your phone and become an explorer of the wild nature in the city! A simple photo can contribute to important scientific discoveries. Every observation counts and brings an active dose of hope for the future of biodiversity.
City Nature Challenge is a movement where people around the world discover and document nature in their own city. This year is the first year that the Bucharest-Ilfov Region participates in this global citizen science initiative. Participation is easy. You can join on your own, with family, or in an organized group.
What we do and when:
March 27 - April 23, 2026:
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Download the free iNaturalist app and create your naturalist profile: https://www.inaturalist.org/
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Join the community of observers on the official event page: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2026-bucure-ti
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Participate in preparation events for documenting urban nature. The event calendar for Bucharest–Ilfov and registration methods are available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/accepta-provocarea-city-nature-challenge-bucuresti-4828969 (note: the calendar will be constantly updated throughout the entire period. Observations can also be made on your own during the period of April 24-27)
April 24 - 27, 2026: Take a walk and carefully observe the plants, animals, or wild mushrooms around you. You can photograph or record sounds from nature, right where you live. Share your observations through iNaturalist.
Look for wild species (“wild” means they were not planted or cared for by humans). Pay close attention to the plants – do you see any insects or spiders on them? How many types of birds can you identify in the nearby park? Discover the city with new eyes and experience urban nature in a completely new way.
April 28 - May 10, 2026:
Upload your observations to iNaturalist (if you haven't already) and help identify the species observed by you and others. Participate in events for identifying and validating the observations uploaded to the platform.
Together we cultivate wonder, nourish curiosity, and act for nature in the city.
Photo credit: @ioanamita30, @vadim_chiriac, @anotheroutsider, @alxmbz (from inaturalist.org)
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The City Nature Challenge is organized globally by the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and hosted by iNaturalist. The Bucharest 2026 Edition I is organized locally through the project ROOTS – Urban Gardens, funded by Environmental Platform for Bucharest, a program initiated by Bucharest Community Foundation and ING Romania.