REDDING, Calif. — California Biodiversity Week returns Sept. 7 with events planned across the state, including a first-time celebration in Redding aimed at helping residents learn more about and support habitats close to home.
The California Natural Resources Agency coordinates Biodiversity Week each year to highlight the state’s wide range of plants, wildlife and ecosystems.
California is recognized as one of 36 biodiversity hotspots worldwide and has greater species diversity than any other state in the U.S.
The state is home to more than 650 bird species, 220 mammals, 100 reptiles, 75 amphibians, 70 freshwater fish species, and 100 marine fish and mammal species. California also has more than 6,500 types of plants and over 30,000 insect species, including about 1,600 species of native bees.
About 30% of all plant and vertebrate species found in the United States can be found in California. The state is also home to a large number of endemic species, meaning they are found naturally in California and nowhere else.
In Redding, Western Shasta Conservation is hosting its first biodiversity event to educate residents about the region’s natural environment and encourage people to help protect local habitats.
“The main point of Biodiversity Day here is Redding is to empower our community members to support biodiversity in their own backyard” said outreach and education coordinator Kalyn Nash.
The Redding event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Whistlestop Park. Activities include opportunities to build birdhouses and bee hotels. There will also be a DJ and information booths hosted by local conservation groups.
After Saturday, events will continue until Sept. 13, all across the state of California. To find more events closest to you, check out the California Natural Resources site here.
Some events span further than the local community, like the statewide challenge to find 30 different species.
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