Thank you!

Dear 30x30 Challenge Participants and California Biodiversity Enthusiasts,

Thank you all so much for participating in the California Biodiversity Week Challenge to Find 30 Species for CA 30x30! Utilizing community science and the collective observations of plants and animals is an excellent opportunity to expand our understanding of biodiversity in California and best identify important places to conserve. Public participation in the 30x30 initiative has been and will continue to be critical in helping the state identify local and regional conservation priorities.

Scroll to the bottom of this post to see an infographic highlighting fun and interesting finds from around the state from participants in the 30x30 Challenge!

We appreciate everyone’s participation, but I would like to provide a special shoutout to those iNaturalist users that successfully completed the challenge:

@grnleaf @chilipossum @merav @klyle161 @chloe_and_trevor @chyroptera @donnadugan @biohexx1 @naturesarchive @mshiker @lszterrill @jacobstarrr @madfox @scubabruin @ki6h @meadowbeth @adirado @g_heaton @jdtsf72 @dlbowls @biodiversitydays @bonnienickel @nancyasquith @kestrel @sbstrongbeach @efrenibarreta @charlescrussell @alisong26 @annesr @swbirder @rebeccafay @tjhastings @dr_marc @freeasabird289 @canisdyrus @jhaworth @rljcal @ejthenatural @vsmith20 @eagle_eyes_evan @surspsara @darfio @pdecino

Continued collaboration and learning will be key for successfully implementing our Pathways to 30x30 strategy. I look forward to making progress on utilizing community science and community-collected data to inform conservation for 30x30, and I hope you all will continue to be a part of our collective success!

All my best,
Madeline Drake
Assistant Secretary, Biodiversity and Habitat
California Natural Resources Agency
californianature.ca.gov