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Manchester partners with Nature Conservancy to run City Nature Challenge April 25–28; commission to help promote
Summary
The Nature Conservancy will lead Manchester's participation in the City Nature Challenge April 25–28 using iNaturalist; the conservation commission agreed to partner on promotion and suggested a mayoral proclamation and local events tied to the challenge.
The Manchester Conservation Commission heard an update that The Nature Conservancy will coordinate a City Nature Challenge for Manchester from April 25–28 and asked the commission to partner in promotion and outreach.
A staff member said the Nature Conservancy will lead the official effort for Manchester and that Nashua and Mount Washington Valley are the other New Hampshire locations. Participants use the iNaturalist app to photograph and record observations of wild organisms (the contest excludes humans and domestic pets). The dataset is publicly available for science and community use; iNaturalist does not display exact locations of sensitive species to the general public.
Commissioners discussed promotion and community events tied to the challenge. Options included a kickoff tree‑identification event, prizes through local business sponsorships, and school and youth engagement using kid‑friendly tools. Staff suggested the commission could help promote an April 27 kickoff or tie the challenge into an existing Manchester cleanup event. A commissioner proposed pursuing a mayoral proclamation to designate the weekend as Manchester’s City Nature Challenge weekend and to increase visibility.
Organizers said Nature Conservancy is exploring sponsorships and prize options and that local organizers could run Manchester‑specific contests in addition to the broader global competition. Staff said Nature Conservancy will handle primary promotion but welcomed commission help in outreach, school engagement and identifying local prize donors.
No formal action was required; commissioners asked staff to continue coordination with Nature Conservancy and to bring a draft mayoral proclamation and outreach plan to a future meeting.
