York City Nature Challenge 2024 results are in!
Find out how York did in this year's City Nature Challenge.
For the first time ever, on 26 - 29 April 2024, York competed in the largest global biodiversity competition, the City Nature Challenge. Competing against 690 cities around the world and 24 cities in the UK, York achieved great success due to the efforts of so many participating organisations, groups, student volunteers, and individuals who took time out of their day to make biodiversity observations on their smartphone using the iNaturalist app.
People all over the greater York area contributed by recording observations of birds, plants, fungi, insects and more in their gardens, streets and parks. This competition was open to anyone with an interest in nature who wanted to contribute to better understanding of urban ecosystems and the species that inhabit them.
There were three metrics to judge participation in the City Nature Challenge; the number of observations, number of observers, and number of species found. Between the 24 cities competing in the UK, York’s results were as follows:
- York came a very close 2nd place for the number of observations, making a total of 12,833 biodiversity observations!
- York came in 3rd place for “number of observers with 221 people making observations.
- York received GOLD for the total number of species observed with 1487 different species, demonstrating the amazing diversity of wildlife here in York!
- Finally, York was placed 47th out of 690 cities globally, punching above its weight!
A huge well done to the organising team, and to all the groups and organisations who encouraged their communities to participate by creating special events during the 4 days, despite the wet and windy weather.
With such an amazing effort by so many people, the organisers look forward to next year’s competition. See you next year for the City Nature Challenge from 25 - 28 April 2025.
If you would like to get involved, write to the organisers via the 'contact page' of the York City Nature Challenge website, where you can learn more.