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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City Nature Challenge 2025:
Saskatoon Takes on the Global Biodiversity Stage
Saskatoon, SK – Get ready to explore the rich natural heritage of Saskatoon and join us in the City Nature Challenge 2025 (CNC YXE 2025)! From April 25 – April 28, 2025, we invite residents to take part in this exciting international competition, where cities around the world race to document their biodiversity through the power of citizen science.
Unleashing the Power of Citizen Science
The City Nature Challenge empowers everyone—from casual nature enthusiasts to seasoned naturalists—to contribute valuable observations of Saskatoon's wildlife. Whether you’re taking a walk through your neighborhood, enjoying a day at the park, or simply exploring your own backyard, we encourage you to photograph plants, animals, insects, fungi, and other forms of life using the iNaturalist app. These observations help map the biodiversity of our city, contributing to a global effort to better understand and protect our environment.
The City Nature Challenge Phases

• April 25 – April 28, 2025: Observation & Data Collection Phase
  Head outdoors and capture the incredible wildlife in your neighborhood. Record your findings using iNaturalist or a local platform to help catalog species across the city.
• April 29 – May 4, 2025: Identification Phase
  After documenting, help identify the species that others have observed, contributing to the global database of biodiversity.
• Results Announcement: Monday, May 5, 2025
  Find out which cities recorded the most observations, discovered the highest diversity, and engaged the largest number of participants.

The Heartbeat of Saskatoon's Biodiversity
Saskatoon’s entry in the City Nature Challenge 2025 is organized by the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas and supported by local environmental groups, including the Saskatoon Nature Society. With an exciting array of events and activities planned, we hope to inspire participants to explore, connect, and protect Saskatoon’s natural beauty.
What Can You Discover?
From the buzzing of bees to the flutter of butterflies, wildlife is waiting to be found all around you. Record your observations of any wild plant, animal, insect, or fungi, and even signs of life like tracks, feathers, scat, or nests. The iNaturalist app makes it easy to document and share your discoveries while providing AI-powered suggestions to help identify species.
Saskatoon’s Call to Action
Whether you’re a nature enthusiast or just beginning to explore the outdoors, City Nature Challenge 2025 is for everyone. As Jerin, a 16-year-old Saskatoon high school student, puts it, "I’d love to contribute any photos I take on my walks and bike rides around the city!" Jerin’s enthusiasm highlights the power of individuals to collectively make a huge difference in documenting our city's wildlife.
Engage with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
This challenge is a fun and impactful way to contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land and Goal 14: Life Under Water by documenting species, identifying those at risk, and helping scientists track global biodiversity trends.
Join Us in the Nature Revolution
To make the most of your experience, check out the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas YouTube channel for tutorials on how to get started with iNaturalist, and how to participate in the identification phase of the challenge.
Get Involved Today! 
Saskatoon is ready to showcase its incredible biodiversity. Take part in the City Nature Challenge 2025 to help us make our mark on the global stage. Stay tuned for updates and event details as the challenge dates approach. Together, we can highlight Saskatoon as a leader in biodiversity conservation.
For more information, please contact:  Julia AdamsonChair, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas  friendsafforestation@gmail.com
For detailed guidelines, event information, and updates, visit the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas website and the iNaturalist platform.
Support & Collaborate.   The City Nature Challenge 2025 is brought to you by Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, a local environmental charity. We appreciate the support of community organizations like the Saskatoon Nature Society, and we welcome further collaboration. If you're interested in supporting the event or contributing in any way, please contact us. Donations are gratefully accepted via PayPal, Canada Helps, and more.
Let's make a difference, one observation at a time!
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