How Community Science Connects People, Parks, and Biodiversity

Community science empowers everyday people to engage directly in scientific discovery by observing and documenting nature in their own neighborhoods, parks, and backyards. Using tools like iNaturalist, participants can contribute valuable data on local biodiversity, helping address urgent global challenges like climate change and habitat loss. More than just data collection, community science promotes curiosity, learning, and public engagement, fostering a sense of ownership and stewardship over local natural spaces.

A leading example of this movement is the annual City Nature Challenge (CNC), a global biodiversity event co-founded by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences. From April 25 to 28, 2025, residents across Los Angeles County will join others worldwide to observe and record local wildlife. The County's Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is hosting CNC events at natural areas like Vasquez Rocks and Devil’s Punchbowl.

Community science is a natural fit for parks, offering meaningful ways to connect people to nature while enhancing education and informing land management. It also plays a vital role in expanding environmental awareness in underserved communities and cultivating a new generation of advocates. With initiatives like the CNC and the National Recreation and Park Association’s Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz, community members, park professionals, and young learners alike can contribute to a collective understanding of biodiversity—and help shape a more inclusive, resilient future.