InitiativeEuropean Biodiversity Sampling Week 2026
European Biodiversity Sampling Week 2026
A week of citizen science activities focused on biodiversity monitoring
Monitoring biodiversity – understanding and protecting it together
Monitoring biodiversity is like a health check for our planet. Only with reliable data can we identify which species are in decline or where ecosystems are becoming unbalanced. At the same time, scientists cannot be everywhere at once.
This is where citizen science comes in.
Around the International Day for Biological Diversity, Biodiversity Sampling Week (BDSW) aims to bring people together to actively observe and document nature. It is not just about collecting data: those who take part develop a greater awareness of their own environment and become part of a community committed to its protection.
The activities take place in a variety of habitats – from cities and agricultural landscapes to water bodies and coastlines. They range from existing citizen science projects to special events such as bioblitzes and can last a day, several days or the entire week.
The European Biodiversity Sampling Week (BDSW) as a pilot project
In Germany, too, citizen science and volunteering play a central role in biodiversity monitoring. The aim is to make this diversity visible and to invite people to get involved: either as project organisers or as participants.
The European Biodiversity Sampling Week is jointly coordinated by the Biodiversity Monitoring Working Group of the ECSA (European Citizen Science Association) and is taking place this year as a smaller pilot project with the aim of allowing the EBSW network to grow steadily.
We invite everyone to get involved – whether through organised activities or by making your own nature observations in everyday life, for example using species recording apps.
When?
- 16–24 May
- In the same week as the International Day for Biological Diversity
What?
- A week of citizen science activities focused on biodiversity monitoring
- Events taking place across several European countries
- An evaluation will take place across Europe at the end of the week
Why?
- To highlight the importance of biodiversity monitoring
- And to highlight the contribution of citizen science and volunteering
How?
- Get involved yourself and collect data during the week, for example using the Naturblick app
- Or take part in the many activities on offer across Germany. Information to follow shortly
Naturblick – App
What is it about?
Discover the biodiversity right on your doorstep! With the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin’s Naturblick app, you can identify and document animals, plants and fungi. This makes biodiversity visible in everyday life, and every observation contributes to a better understanding of urban nature.
Who can take part?
Anyone interested – no prior knowledge is required.
How can you take part?
Observe nature, take photos, and identify and document them using the Naturblick app.
Where is the project taking place?
Berlin and across Germany.
About the project:
https://naturblick.museumfuernaturkunde.berlin/mobileapp
Get started straight away with the app:
Other participating projects across Germany
MeineWaldKI
What’s it all about?
Help us better understand the condition of our forests! As part of European Biodiversity Sampling Week, photos of individual trees are being collected. The images help us investigate which tree species are found in forests and how old these trees are.
Who can take part?
Anyone interested.
How can you take part?
Take photos of individual trees and upload them via the platform or app.
Where is the project taking place?
In forests across Germany.
About the project:
https://meinewaldki.de/en/mitmachen
VielFalterGarten
What is it all about?
Just how diverse are our gardens and city parks really? VielFalterGarten investigates the diversity of butterflies in urban green spaces and highlights which habitats are particularly important for butterflies.
The project is part of a growing European network for urban biodiversity monitoring. Butterfly sightings are collected and analysed in collaboration with partner cities in Germany and across Europe.
Who can take part?
Anyone interested, as well as school groups.
How can you take part?
Observe and count butterflies using the VielFalterGarten app. A count takes about 15 minutes and should ideally be carried out several times a year.
Where is the project taking place?
Across Germany in urban green spaces and gardens, with a focus on Leipzig, Mannheim, Berlin and Halle. There are also partnerships with other European cities.
Project links:
https://www.vielfaltergarten.de/
FLOW – Watercourse Monitoring
What is it about?
What actually lives in our streams and small rivers? FLOW is a citizen science project for the ecological monitoring of small watercourses. Together with interested members of the public, the project investigates the structure of the watercourses, nutrient levels and the diversity of invertebrates in streams. The observations help to better understand the ecological condition of the watercourses as well as potential pesticide contamination.
Who can take part?
Interested members of the public aged 15 and over. You can either set up your own group (5–15 people) or join an existing group.
How can you take part?
No prior knowledge is required to take part. However, group leaders must attend an online information session on how to carry out FLOW monitoring, as well as an in-person training session on macrozoobenthos identification. These training sessions will take place between February and April.
Important note for 2026:
Unfortunately, it is no longer possible for inexperienced groups or groups not accompanied by macrozoobenthos experts to take part in the 2026 FLOW campaign.
Where is the project taking place?
Nationwide, in small watercourses.
About the project:
https://www.flow-projekt.de/index.php/en/
Birdiary – How diverse is my garden?
What is it about?
Which bird species visit our gardens? A smart feeding station automatically detects and counts birds. The data collected helps to better understand and highlight biodiversity in urban areas.
Who can take part?
Anyone interested with their own garden or a suitable location.
How can you take part?
Set up a Birdiary station and share and analyse the automatically recorded data. You can also take part without a station and validate recordings online!
Where is the project taking place?
Across Germany.
About the project:
https://www.wiediversistmeingarten.org/view/validation
Spot & report ticks
What is it about?
Which tick species are now found in Germany? The campaign documents the distribution of native and newly introduced tick species – and helps us better understand changes caused by climate and the environment.
Who can take part?
Anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors – for example, on a walk, in the garden or walking the dog.
How can you take part?
Report tick sightings via an online form.
Where is the project taking place?
Throughout Germany.
About the project:
https://www.nabu.de/tiere-und-pflanzen/aktionen-und-projekte/36972.html
Naturgucker
Naturgucker aims to inspire people to take an interest in nature and to help them understand species and their habitats. Through a social network for nature observations, an online learning platform, group excursions and hands-on activities, the project offers a wide range of opportunities to actively experience, understand and protect nature.
As part of EBSW, the ‘Summer Insects’ campaign is taking place. Here, anyone interested can identify insects, learn more about them and report their own observations.
Who can take part?
Anyone interested – no prior knowledge required.
How can you take part?
Observe and identify insects, then report your observations online via the campaign page.
Where is the project taking place?
Across Germany.
About the project::
https://naturgucker.de/app/natur_nm.dll/Form1
Biodiversity Day in the Lower Oder Valley National Park
What is it about?
How many species can be discovered in a single day? On Biodiversity Day, experts and nature enthusiasts work together to document as many animal, plant and fungus species as possible in a short space of time.
Who can take part?
Anyone interested in nature. No prior knowledge is required. There are also special family activities.
How can you take part?
By joining excursions and joint species surveys.
Where does the project take place?
Lower Oder Valley National Park (Brandenburg).
About the project:
https://www.nationalpark-unteres-odertal.eu/tag-der-artenvielfalt-2026/
Krautschau
What is it about?
Which plants grow hidden away between paving stones and in cracks in walls? Krautschau brings wild urban plants to light and shows just how much biodiversity there is even in urban areas.
Who can take part?
Anyone interested.
How can you take part?
Identify plants in wall crevices or on pavements, label them with chalk, take photos and share them on social media.
Where is the project taking place?
Across Germany.
About the project:
https://www.senckenberg.de/en/krautschau/
Would you like to join the community?
Are you running a citizen science project involving biodiversity data during EBSW week? Would you like to join the EBSW community, share the week’s results with the network, and raise the profile of your project and its findings across the EU? If so, please get in touch by 4 May 2026 for further information and to take part: umfrage.citizenscience@mfn.berlin
