With the distinct and persistent calls of the Asian Koel (Sinhalese: Koha), another calling is gracing Sri Lanka during the month of April. For the first time in the nation’s history, the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) – Youth Wing is spearheading Sri Lanka’s inaugural entry to the City Nature Challenge 2026, a global effort to document urban biodiversity. Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the City Nature Challenge (CNC) was initiated in 2016 as a “bioblitz” competition between the two cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco by the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM). A decade later, it has grown into an international movement where over 600 cities document the local biodiversity thriving within their urban limits.

A Historic Milestone for Kandy

The WNPS Youth Wing, in partnership with Rotaract Club of Kandy, Zoologists’ Association of University of Peradeniya, Youth Exploration Society of Sri Lanka, Clean Kandy Force and the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society – Colombo Branch, takes pride in nominating the historic and ecological rich city of Kandy to lead this inaugural chapter in 2026. 

From April 24 to 27, 2026, we invite the public to become “citizen scientists” by documenting the wildlife that thrives within our urban limits. The CNC Kandy will feature a four-day bioblitz explored across three distinct trails, each with its unique exploration of culture and ecology. From the bustling streets of Kandy town to the sacred hills of Udawatte Kele Sanctuary and Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve, participants and cities will compete for global titles:

• Most Observations Made
• Most Species Recorded 
• Most People Engaged

Participation is simple: Download the iNaturalist app, join the “City Nature Challenge 2026: Kandy” project and register for the event. This initiative transforms everyday observations into vital scientific data and providing conservationists with the insights needed to protect our shared natural heritage.

Registration & Merchandise

Formal registration for City Nature Challenge 2026 - Kandy begins on March 28, 2026. Given the high anticipated interest, we encourage early sign-ups through the WNPS Youth Wing’s official social media channels. To commemorate the event, the WNPS Youth Wing has released a series of three limited-edition t-shirts, each featuring a custom-designed map of the Kandy trail routes.

Kandy is prepared and the Youth Wing is ready, we now need your passion. Join us in putting Sri Lanka’s incredible biodiversity on the global stage. Together, we can observe, record, and protect the intricate beauty of the world around us.