{"id":898,"date":"2026-05-22T04:13:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T20:13:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citizenscience.asia\/naturechallenge\/?page_id=898"},"modified":"2026-05-22T04:20:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T20:20:07","slug":"home-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/citizenscience.asia\/naturechallenge\/","title":{"rendered":"Home 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Asia’s biggest bioblitz is back!<\/h1><\/header>\n\n\n\n

The Asia Nature Challenge was created to help make Asia\u2019s incredible biodiversity more visible, while encouraging people to reconnect with the nature around them. In 2025, 7,340 participants across the region shared observations of local wildlife through iNaturalist, showing how small moments of curiosity and wonder can come together to tell a richer story of Asia\u2019s living world.

Explore ANC below and join a growing community celebrating nature, one observation at a time.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is the Asia Nature Challenge?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Asia is home to some of the world\u2019s most incredible biodiversity \u2014 from rainforests and coral reefs to mountains, deserts, and wetlands. It is also home to more than half of the world\u2019s people. Yet, despite this richness, Asia is still missing from much of the global biodiversity conversation. Our analysis of iNaturalist data from 2023\u20132024 found that less than 9% of global observations came from Asia. Barriers such as limited internet access, language differences, and a lack of regional coordination continue to make participation difficult for many communities.

The Asia Nature Challenge (ANC) was created to help change this.

In 2025, ANC brought together 7,340 participants from across the region to document local biodiversity through iNaturalist. The edition also focused on learning and community building, with workshops on moths, dragonflies, and biodiversity documentation. Participants developed new skills and contributed exciting discoveries, including first-ever iNaturalist records such as the Androctonus caspius <\/em>scorpion in Iran and the Clitocybula esculenta <\/em>mushroom in Japan.

More than a biodiversity event, ANC is a reminder that anyone can take part in science and conservation. All it takes is curiosity and a willingness to notice the nature around you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ANC is a 10-day event with two simple phases, and everyone is welcome to join! From September 11 to 14<\/strong>, head outdoors and take a closer look at the nature around you. Photograph or record the sounds of any wild plants, animals, fungi, or other living things you find, and upload your observations to iNaturalist. From September 15 to 18<\/strong>, help identify what others have shared. You can also finish uploading anything you recorded during the observation days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Observation<\/h3>

Sep 11 – 14<\/p><\/div>

Snap photos or make
sound recordings of wildlife.
Upload them on iNaturalist<\/a>!<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Identification<\/h3>

Sep 15 – 18<\/p><\/div>

Finish uploading observations.
Identify them with experts
and fellow citizen scientists.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Whether you’re an individual, a school, a local group, or an environmental organisation, the Asia Nature Challenge invites you to explore, observe, and share the nature around you. Your contributions on iNaturalist don\u2019t just stay on the app. They feed into global biodiversity databases and are used in real research and conservation efforts around the world. Every observation helps fill the gaps in knowledge about Asia\u2019s wild species. Together, we can grow Asia\u2019s role in citizen science and build a deeper connection with the living world around us.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What Are the Key Goals?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ANC intends to inspire communities across Asia to become active contributors of citizen science. By documenting local flora and fauna, participants can deepen their connection with nature and contribute to a larger conservation mission. The project key goals include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n