Citizen-scientists use BioBlitzes to record Fort Worth’s biodiversity

Citizen-scientists use BioBlitzes to record Fort Worth's biodiversity

Published on November 11, 2025

The City's Parks & Recreation Department (PARD) celebrated the end of summer by participating in the Parks for Pollinators challenge, a national effort to document plants and the pollinators that use them.

This citizen-scientist event engages the public and helps park departments understand and better manage pollinators and their habitats. Using the iNaturalist app, the City partnered with Native Prairies Association of Texas and Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge to host several community biodiversity events known as BioBlitzes.

PARD's Central District Park Operations team earned the most observations and most species awards, thanks to Alexia Sanchez. The Northside Community Center's after-school youth program team, led by Raul Meza, was recognized for the most observations from a single facility. Both groups had an awards ceremony with delicious treats.

The combined efforts of partners, field staff, community center after-school programs and the public resulted in more than 4,000 observations of 794 species.

Pollinators are essential for our food supply, gardens and local ecosystems, as more than 75% of flowering plants depend on them for survival.

The event served to raise awareness about the importance of preserving and improving these habitats.

Help continue documenting local biodiversity by using iNaturalist and joining the City Nature Challenge in April 2026.

Photo at top: Northside Community Center's after-school youth program team was recognized for the most observations from a single facility.

Photo: PARD's Central District Park Operations team earned the most observations and most species awards.

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• Environment