{"id":452235,"date":"2026-09-03T14:00:23","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T14:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/452235\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T14:00:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T14:00:23","slug":"california-state-parks-and-partners-host-nearly-200-events-statewide-in-celebration-of-california-biodiversity-day-2026-nine-day-celebration-begins-saturday-september-5th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/452235\/","title":{"rendered":"California State Parks and Partners Host Nearly 200 Events Statewide in Celebration of California Biodiversity Day 2026; Nine-Day Celebration Begins Saturday, September 5th"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This year\u2019s event lineup includes a wide variety of in-person and virtual experiences across the state. Clockwise from top left: Dive into an underwater bioblitz at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, take on the 30 Species Challenge Hike at Mount Tamalpais State Park, tune in to a virtual elephant seal livecast from Hearst San Simeon State Park, learn about tarantulas at Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area and help remove invasive plants during a climate resilience workday at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. Photos from California State Parks.<\/p>\n

September 3, 2026 – SACRAMENTO\u00a0\u2014\u00a0The California Natural Resources Agency,\u00a0California State Parks,\u00a0the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW),\u00a0the California Academy of Sciences (CAS),\u00a0California Volunteers\u00a0and UC Environmental Stewards\u00a0invite the public to\u00a0join the celebration for\u00a0California Biodiversity Day 2026.\u00a0With\u00a0nearly 200\u00a0events taking place across the state from Sept. 5-13, the nine-day celebration\u00a0will offer opportunities\u00a0for all\u00a0to connect with nature and\u00a0learn\u00a0simple ways to help protect and steward the environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia Biodiversity Day provides an opportunity to get outside, learn more about the remarkable nature around us, and discover how we can protect it and help it thrive,\u201d\u00a0said California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot.\u00a0\u201cIn California, we often celebrate our cultural diversity, but less so our biological diversity. The fact is our state is one of three dozen\u00a0\u2018biodiversity hotspots\u2019\u00a0in the world, home to a richness of plants,\u00a0animals\u00a0and other life almost unparalleled across our planet.\u00a0That’s\u00a0something worth celebrating, and something we all have a role in protecting for generations to come.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the smallest tidepool creature to towering redwoods, every\u00a0piece\u00a0of California\u2019s\u00a0remarkable\u00a0biodiversity is worth cherishing and\u00a0understanding,\u201d\u00a0said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero.\u00a0\u201cCalifornia Biodiversity Day gives people of all ages an opportunity to experience that richness firsthand.I\u00a0invite\u00a0everyone to take this opportunity to\u00a0explore one of\u00a0their280-plus\u00a0state parks\u00a0and come celebrate\u00a0California\u2019s\u00a0unparalleled\u00a0plants\u00a0and wildlife\u00a0with us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia is a biodiversity hot spot well worth a celebration,\u201d said\u00a0CDFW Director Meghan Hertel. \u201cCalifornia Biodiversity Day gives us not just one day for this celebration but nine days to explore, appreciate and put a spotlight on the incredible natural diversity found across our state. Whether you go somewhere new or visit a familiar place, as part of a California Biodiversity Day event or out on your own, this week is all about taking a closer look at our varied landscape and the vast number of species that call the Golden State home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia Biodiversity Day is a great reminder to slow down, notice, and appreciate the incredible nature of our state,\u201dsaid\u00a0California Academy of Sciences Director of Community Science Rebecca Johnson, PhD.\u201cNature observations made and shared by Californians and visitors to California on iNaturalist not only help us learn about plants and animals all around us, but they are how we gather critical biodiversity data at scale. The California Biodiversity Data Exchange, a partnership with CDFW, iNaturalist, and Cal Academy, provides the state with critical iNaturalist data to inform and strengthen conservation decision-making throughout California. Every observation shared on iNaturalist\u2014during California Biodiversity Day events and beyond\u2014directly supports our efforts to protect the species and places that make our state extraordinary.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOn California Biodiversity Day, we celebrate the power of service to protect the places and ecosystems that make our state so extraordinary, said\u00a0Governor\u2019s Office of Service and Community Engagement Director Josh Fryday. \u201cAcross the state, California Service Corps members and volunteers are restoring habitats, planting native\u00a0species\u00a0and ensuring California\u2019s diverse landscapes and wildlife continue to thrive. Through Climate Action Counts, every Californian can take meaningful steps to help protect the communities we call home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUniversity of California Agriculture and Natural Resource recognizes the intrinsic value of biodiversity as well as its essential role in generating food and fiber, and providing invaluable environmental services,\u201d\u00a0said Greg Ira, director of UC Environmental Stewards.\u00a0\u201cThrough our programs \u2013 including our new statewide Biodiversity Conservation and Stewardship Program Team \u2013 we embrace our role as part of this vast community of life that sustains us all.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s\u00a0event\u00a0lineup\u00a0includes a\u00a0wide\u00a0variety of in-person and virtual experiences, from mountain hikes and underwater dives to paint parties and cozy campfires.\u00a0Find an event\u00a0near\u00a0you using\u00a0the\u00a0interactive\u00a0California Biodiversity Day\u00a0events\u00a0page<\/a>.\u00a0Here are some picks to get you started:\u00a0<\/p>\n


\nInterested in the intersection of nature,\u00a0culture\u00a0and community?Join\u00a0our\u00a0special\u00a0Elkhorn Slough Reserve event<\/a>\u00a0honoring\u00a0California Biodiversity Day and Latino Conservation Week\u00a0or\u00a0learn about native birds<\/a>\u00a0and their\u00a0cultural\u00a0significance to\u00a0the Wilton Rancheria’s Miwok and Nisenan people.\u00a0 <\/p>\n


\nCurious about the science behind a biodiversity hotspot?\u00a0Tune in to\u00a0a\u00a0virtual talk<\/a>\u00a0to learn\u00a0what makes\u00a0Santa Barbara County an incredible hub that\u00a0has led to national environmental protections.\u00a0 <\/p>\n


\nReady to\u00a0take action\u00a0at home?\u00a0Get outside, discover California\u2019s natural wonders and volunteer to help protect the communities we call home. Explore simple ways to\u00a0take action\u00a0with\u00a0Climate Action Counts<\/a>, because every action counts.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Can\u2019t\u00a0make it to an event? You can take part in California Biodiversity Day no matter where you are!\u00a0Simply join the\u00a0Find 30 Species for California Biodiversity Day project<\/a>\u00a0on iNaturalist and record 30 wild species between Sept.\u00a05\u00a0and\u00a013.\u00a0\u00a0Every observation adds to a statewide picture<\/a>\u00a0of California\u2019s amazing biodiversity, and the information we\u00a0gather together\u00a0helps inform the\u00a0California 30×30 Initiative<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

California is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world and is home to more species of plants and animals than any other state. California Biodiversity Day,\u00a0observed\u00a0annually on Sept. 7, was\u00a0established\u00a0in 2018 to safeguard the state’s natural heritage. Since then, several executive orders and other actions by the Newsom Administration \u2013 such as the\u00a0Pathways to\u00a030×30<\/a>\u00a0strategy \u2013 have built on this foundation to understand and protect the state\u2019s unique natural resources.\u00a0<\/p>\n

State Parks offers programs and events year-round, with opportunities to explore, learn and connect at parks across the state. Discover more upcoming events this fall using the new statewide event calendar and interactive map at\u00a0parks.ca.gov\/events<\/a>.<\/p>\n

California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state\u2019s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.<\/p>\n

Source:\u00a0California State Parks<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This year\u2019s event lineup includes a wide variety of in-person and virtual experiences across the state. Clockwise from…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":452236,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,9,8,178705,178706],"class_list":["post-452235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news","tag-california-state-parks-and-partners-host-nearly-200-events-statewide-in-celebration-of-california-biodiversity-day-2026-nine-day-celebration-begins-saturday","tag-september-5th"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=452235"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452235\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/452236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=452235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=452235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=452235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}