Researchers and community scientists in the U.S. and Mexico are calling attention to the rich diversity of life found in a uniquely threatened habitat: the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. The Border BioBlitz is a community science effort to record as many species as possible 15 kilometers north or south of the international border. Led by the Next Generation Sonoran Desert Researchers, Botanical Community Development Initiatives (BCDI), and the San Diego Natural History Museum alongside more than 40 partner organizations, the Border BioBlitz demonstrates the power of cross-border collaboration in the face of unique environmental challenges.
Since its inception in 2018, this annual effort has documented over 143,000 observations of 6,600+ species across both sides of the border—all through community science. By mobilizing interested citizens, researchers, educators, and local organizations, this initiative has helped fill critical biodiversity data gaps while promoting a shared appreciation for the diverse ecosystems adjacent to our borderlands.
“The Border BioBlitz creates a space for science and community,” said Ben Wilder, Director of Next Generation Sonoran Desert Researchers. “This effort is built on the solidarity of people across and along the U.S.-Mexico border and documents the immense biodiversity of the borderlands.”
From April through May, the Border BioBlitz is hosting over 40 “nodes” or events (and counting), which are listed on the Border BioBlitz website. Teams ranging from San Diego to Ciudad Juárez contribute their biodiversity observations to what is becoming a long-term monitoring effort.
Participation is open to all—children, students, researchers, photographers, and first-time observers alike. No formal scientific training is required, only curiosity and a willingness to explore. Using open access platforms such as iNaturalist and eBird, participants document wildlife to contribute to a shared, open-access database used by scientists and conservation leaders anywhere in the world.
“By documenting species, participants are also documenting relationships between land, people, and history,” said Bianca Bonilla Executive Director of BCDI. “In a region where infrastructure, development, and climate pressures continue to reshape ecosystems, this kind of data becomes a tool that can support conservation efforts, and strengthen arguments for the protection of culturally and ecologically significant places.”
Each observation, whether it’s a common plant or a rare species, becomes part of a collective effort to better understand and protect the biodiversity of the borderlands. “At its core, the initiative reflects a simple but powerful idea, that documenting life is also a way of giving it a voice and defending it,” added Bonilla.
While the data generated by the Border BioBlitz is significant, its impact extends beyond numbers.
The initiative creates space for connection between people who might not otherwise meet: across languages, disciplines, and national boundaries. It offers a counter-narrative to dominant perceptions of the border, highlighting instead a region defined by ecological continuity and shared responsibility.
“To me,” Wilder shared, “the Border BioBlitz reflects the breadth of a growing movement of cross-border collaboration, one that is as much about people as it is about species.”
The Border BioBlitz will take place throughout April and May 2026. Participants can make observations individually, create a team, or join one of many organized events that are listed on the Border BioBlitz website (see “Where to Go” on the Join the Discovery page). A few featured events include:
For more information and to join a team, visit nextgensd.com/border-bioblitz-2026/join-the-discovery/
About the Border BioBlitz
The Border BioBlitz is an annual, community-driven biodiversity initiative led by the Next Generation Sonoran Desert Researchers (N-Gen), Botanical Community Development Initiatives (BCDI), and the San Diego Natural History Museum in collaboration with organizations across the United States and Mexico. By combining scientific research with community participation, the initiative seeks to document biodiversity, strengthen conservation efforts, and foster a shared understanding of the borderlands as a connected and living ecosystem.
This year, 42 teams are already registered, spanning from San Diego and Tijuana to Ciudad Juárez. They are led by individuals, institutions and organizations including Ecotono Sustentable A.C., Biocachanilla, Expediciones Botánicas, Baja Rare, La Fortuna Reserva Ecológica, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, San Diego Bird Alliance, San Diego County Parks and Recreation, Latino Outdoors, Organ Pipe National Monument, Borderlands Restoration Network, Fauna del Noroeste, Sky Island Alliance, Cuenca Los Ojos, Voces de la Ciencia Juarense, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and many more.
About the San Diego Natural History Museum
The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) is one of California’s oldest and most respected cultural and scientific institutions. Founded in 1874 by a small group of community scientists, the Museum works to preserve and protect this amazing place we call home. The Museum is located at 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 in Balboa Park. For more information, call 877.946.7797 or visit sdnat.org. Follow The Nat on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
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For images of the Border BioBltiz, click here.
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