What is Biodiversity Days?
Biodiversity Days is a month-long event in May, to honour the International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22) with a series of engagement opportunities that aim to celebrate and raise awareness of the fragile species, genes and ecosystems that sustain our communities.
Localizing this plan in Southwest BC is critical. Participate in one of our Biodiversity Days events to learn about the work already underway in our community and how you can take action from the ground up.
Events to Celebrate Biodiversity
This year’s fifth annual Biodiversity Days includes a diversity of in-person events. Dig into our 2025 program to celebrate biodiversity, with more events to come every week.
Interested in observing, identifying, and monitoring biodiversity on UBC Vancouver campus? Participate in our month-long Bioblitz this May! Last year, we recorded 654 observations of 288 unique species. Join us again this year!
Connect with the natural world this month by logging observations in iNaturalist around UBC Vancouver campus! Check out our project page to see what people are logging or contribute your own observation. This project aims to help track our community science efforts across campus as we engage with the diversity of species and ecosystems on the UBC Vancouver Campus!
When: All May Long!
Where: UBC Vancouver Campus
*Wondering what a Bioblitz is? It's an event for everyone that focuses on getting an overall count of the plants, animals, fungi and other organisms that live in an area.
This event is sold out.
Interested in learning how to identify and support birds in your backyard? Want to know more about bird biodiversity in our region?
Join us for an introductory bird walk at UBC Botanical Garden. We will identify familiar birds, look for spring migrating species and listen for the birds’ melodious songs. Participants will also learn about bird strike mitigation research at UBC and how to prevent bird strikes!
This event is suited for beginner birders and will help you to identify common birds of the Lower Mainland, based on their behaviour, size, shape and sounds. The Merlin App on cell phones will be demonstrated to identify the bird songs and calls. The walk will include:
- Tips for how to identify bird groups
- Different habitats preferred by specific bird species
- Considerations for making bird-friendly habitat in gardens and around your home
- Actions to preserve and protect bird biodiversity to help them thrive
When: May 3rd | 9:00am-11:30am
Where: UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 SW Marine Dr, Vancouver BC
Cost: $11 plus tax for Adults, $9 plus tax for Concession (Garden Members, UNA Residents, Youth (13-17), Seniors (65+), UBC Students|Staff|Faculty. Valid ID card required.)
Guides: Bev and Bill Ramey, experienced birders
Nature Club features special hands-on activities designed for children 5–12 years old accompanied by an adult. May’s Nature Club will feature Entomology: the study of insects, with specimens from the museum’s collection.
When: May 3rd | 10:00am-1:00pm
Where: Beaty Biodiversity Museum
Cost: Included with general admission
The Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration offers over 30 free and low cost events across the lower mainland promoting bird conservation for beginner and advanced birders alike. Check out the event calendar forwalks, talks, webinars, children's programs, and hands on workshops about birds of all kinds.
The Greater Vancouver area is an important resting point for the billion birds that follow the Pacific Flyway on their annual migrations. Over 268 species or resident, migratory, and over-wintering birds can be observed throughout the year.
When: Friday, May 9th to Sunday, May 25th
Where: All Across Greater Vancouver!
This event is sold out.
Interested in learning more about the goths of the insect world that come out to pollinate after dark? Join us at the UBC Farm for an event spotlighting the diverse and beautiful assemblage of nocturnal bugs that live in and around Vancouver! We will take a look at which insects are enjoying the moonlight: in our traps, through microscopes, and on a stroll around the farm. We’ll provide an intro on nocturnal insect biology, identification, how entomologists sample them, and the many exciting ways they have adapted to live in the dark. Come learn about how these creatures of the night benefit us and the ecosystems they live in.
When: May 9th | 8:30pm-11:00pm
Where: UBC Farm - 3461 Ross Drive, Vancouver, BC
Cost: $11 plus tax for Adults, $9 plus tax for Concession (Garden Members, UNA Residents, Youth (13-17), Seniors (65+), UBC Students|Staff|Faculty. Valid ID card required.)
Science Rendezvous is back at UBC for another exciting year! On May 10th from 10:00am-3:00pm festival-goers of all ages will get a chance to meet world-class researchers and innovators, participate in hands-on experiments, and see amazing scientific demonstrations on UBC’s Vancouver campus.
Join us at Nitobe Memorial Garden to learn how we are bridging cultures, science and community! Explore the intricate details of our natural world and learn how to sharpen your senses, ask insightful questions, and record your observations to contribute to community science.
Enjoy a traditional, Japanese stroll Garden while connecting with nature, learning scientific skills, and making a positive impact on your community. Let's observe and learn together!
When: May 10th | 10:00am-3:00pm
Where: Nitobe Memorial Garden, 1895 Lower Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
Cost: Free!
This event is sold out.
Join us at the UBC Farm for a guided tour and an in-depth look at on-Farm biodiversity. We'll explore the working Farm, surrounding coastal hemlock forest, hedgerows, flower fields, and soil, and learn aboutagroecology, agrobiodiversity, and all the kinds of life that support the Farm.
When: May 13th | 12:00pm
Where: UBC Farm - 3461 Ross Drive, Vancouver, BC
Cost: $11 plus tax for Adults, $9 plus tax for Concession (Garden Members, UNA Residents, Youth (13-17), Seniors (65+), UBC Students|Staff|Faculty. Valid ID card required.)
Stumpy is a 775-year-old section of a western redcedar that has had a long history at UBC, and a much longer history before that. In a reimagined exhibit, this treasure of the collection is presented as a portal into its biological, temporal, and ethnographic contexts. Hear from speakers involved in bringing this exhibit to life at 6pm. Join a tour of the whole museum at 7pm for this
Nocturnal evening.
When: May 15th | 5:00pm-8:30pm
Where: Beaty Biodiversity Museum
Cost: Admission by donation after 5:00pm
This event is sold out.
Discover the wonderful diversity of plants and life at UBC Botanical Garden's signature event, Family Nature Walk! Take a self-guided journey through our beautiful forest gardens for an unforgettable experience for the whole family!
This kid-friendly event will take your family through an exciting sequence of educational stations, complete with games, crafts, and activities, before taking you up into the treetops for the thrilling GreenHeartTreeWalk. The whole ~2-hour experience will teach your family about the importance of plants, soil, and pollinators while engaging with community leaders in building healthy, nurturing relationships with the environment.
When: May 17th | 10:00am-4:30pm
Where: UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 SW Marine Dr, Vancouver BC
Cost:
- Children's tickets (3-12 years) are $20 plus tax per child. This includes admission to both the Garden and TreeWalk, and a Kids Nature Kit*.
- Adult tickets are $25 plus tax per adult, with discounted rates for seniors (65+), UBC Card Holders and Non-UBC Students. This includes admission to both the Garden and TreeWalk.
- Youth tickets (13-17 years) are $19 plus tax per youth. This includes admission to the Garden and TreeWalk.
*Kids Nature Kit:
Each children's ticket includes one Kids Nature Kit, an exciting, family-favourite element of this event. When families arrive at the Garden, Kids Nature Kits are distributed to registered participants and include a cotton tote bag filled with fun learning materials that support children in engaging nature! Additional Kids Nature Kits will be available for purchase at the Shop in the Garden for $30 plus tax.
We strive to keep our programming accessible to all families. Please email garden.programs@ubc.ca if the admission cost is a barrier.
For additional information, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.
To mark World Cultural Diversity Day (May 21), join Musqueam weaver Vivian Mearns Notaro to learn about the traditional and ongoing importance of cedar for Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast.
In this workshop, Vivian will share her knowledge about cedar bark harvesting and uses. Following her presentation, she will teach participants how to make a twined cedar bark bracelet. This hands-on workshop is great for learners of all ages.
Please note: this event does not include a museum tour.
If cost is a barrier to attending this event, please reach out to the MOA Education team at education@moa.ubc.ca.
When: Wednesday, May 21st 2025
Where: Museum of Anthropology at UBC, 6393 NW Marine Drive Vancouver, BC
Cost: $15 Adult, $10 Youth (Under 18), $5 Indigenous People
Join us for an evening at UBC Botanical Garden and Nitobe Memorial Garden for an evening tour to celebrate the UN Day of Cultural Diversity!
Our knowledgeable guides will lead you though the Garden, sharing fascinating insights about the plants and the stories they hold - in both English and an alternative language! We have French, German, Spanish and Mandarin tours to choose from at both Nitobe Memorial Garden and UBC Botanical Garden. These multilingual tours are designed for fluent speakers and new learners
When: Wednesday, May 21st 2025
Where: UBC Botanical Garden (6804 SW Marine Drive) and Nitobe Memorial Garden (1895 Lower Mall)
Time: 6:00pm and 6:30pm tours available, see the schedule below
Tours at UBC Botanical Garden
6:00pm to 7:00pm - Mandarin
6:00pm to 7:00pm - German
6:30pm to 7:30pm - Mandarin and Cantonese
6:30pm to 7:30pm - Spanish CANCELLED
Tours at Nitobe Memorial Garden
6:30pm to 7:30pm - French CANCELLED
Cost: $11 plus tax for Adults, $9 plus tax for Concession (Garden Members, UNA Residents, Youth (13-17), Seniors (65+), UBC Students|Staff|Faculty. Valid ID card required.), $5.50 plus tax for Children (aged 5-12)
For many British Columbians, the impacts of climate change have begun to show themselves in some very concrete ways, such as flooding and increased forest fires. However, as a global problem that will change lifeon earth in a myriad of known and not-yet-known ways, climate change is still quite challenging to speak about with others, and it is hard to know what kinds of action to take. This community-oriented research forum will bring together scientists, planners, policy experts and scholars from a variety of disciplines to share the results of their research with a broader public and collectively reflect on the following question: how can research—whether through its results, or its processes—help us to imagine and speak about the complex but concrete realities of a climate-changed future?
Featuring four expert panels, a keynote presentation by climate fiction author, Lisa Brideau, catered lunch and a tour of UBC Botanical Garden, this event is intended to engage and empower a diversity of climate-concerned citizens and community leaders. The day’s proceedings will be documented by a visual artist, and conclude with a collaborative, action-oriented session. Join us for an inspiring day of learning, discussion and constructive imagining!
When: May 22nd | 8:45am-4:45pm
Where: Reception Centre at UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 SW Marine Dr, Vancouver BC
Cost:
- Adult Tickets: early bird (up to April 18th), $80 plus tax; regular (after April 18, 2025), $95 plus tax
- Garden Members, UNA, Seniors (65+), and Friends of the Garden: early bird (up to April 18, 2025) $70 plus tax; regular (after April 18, 2025) $85 plus tax
We aim to make this event as accessible and inclusive as possible. A limited number of bursaries will be made available to audience members experiencing financial barriers. Individuals with access needs are invited to inform the organizers prior to the event to ensure proper arrangements can be made ahead of time. In both cases, please contact: erin.despard@ubc.ca or 604-822-3928.
This event is sold out.
Mosses are all around us, but how many of them do you know? Join Dr. Karen Golinski, Collections Curator and Justin Ngo, Collections Assistant of the Bryophytes, Lichens, and Fungi in the UBC Herbarium to differentiate mosses from similar organisms, to learn about how they live and reproduce, and how to identify some commonly found species on UBC campus. Please dress appropriately for the weather.
When: May 24th | 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Where: Begin outside the Nitobe Memorial Garden at 1:00pm, end at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, approximately 1km away
Cost: $25 per person, which includes entrance to the Nitobe Memorial Garden and all-day admission to the Beaty Biodiversity Museum.
Join Vancouver Black Library and UBC Botanical Garden for an afternoon of reading, learning, and celebrating biocultural diversity in the Garden’s Forest Theatre!
The BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Reading Buddies program focuses on diversity and inclusion. Elementary-aged children (4-12 years old) and their families come to Vancouver Black Library to read diverse stories and narratives written by authors of many different backgrounds. This program allows young BIPOC learners to connect with mentors who look like them, whom they can look up to and learn from. Participants will learn about others, celebrate our differences, and see themselves represented in the stories they read.
This special edition of BIPOC Reading Buddies will occur at UBC Botanical Garden and highlight diverse stories of BIPOC children in nature! Children and families have the exciting opportunity to immerse themselves in the forest, read books with mentors, and even experience the TreeWalk. Overall, we aim to promote a love of reading, the development of literacy skills, and a sense of community.
When: May 25th | 2:00pm-4:00pm
Where: Forest Theatre at UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 SW Marine Dr, Vancouver BC
Cost: Free!
Interested in being a mentor at our event? Please sign up here.
This event is sold out.
Come learn about our nocturnal neighbours – bats! This walk will provide an introduction to bat ecology and behaviour, the different bat species that live in and around Vancouver, and their importance toecosystems and people. We will visit a nearby bat roost to observe bats emerge for the night, and will use ultrasonic detectors to listen for bat calls. We will not be handling any bats, just visually observing them and listening to their ultrasonic calls.
When: May 28th | 8:30pm-10:30pm
Where: W. Robert Wyman Plaza on UBC Campus (Main Mall and Memorial Road next to the Frederic Laserre and Old Administration Buildings)
Cost: $11 plus tax for Adults, $9 plus tax for Concession (Garden Members, UNA Residents, Youth (13-17), Seniors (65+), UBC Students|Staff|Faculty. Valid ID card required.), $5.50 plus tax for Children (aged 5-12)
Speaker: Dr. Matt Mitchell
Last summer, the UBC Reconciliation Pole meadow transformed from a regular lawn into a colourful haven — and it quickly became a summer highlight for campus residents and visitors. This hands-on demonstration of biodiverse and resilient landscapes was part of a SEEDS applied research collaboration between UBC staff, students and faculty. This spring, we’re inviting you to come join in the research and
explore the meadow up close with us!
As this naturalized landscape continues to establish over the coming years, its composition will change.. While last year’s blooms were dominated by gorgeous pink Clarkia, this spring we’re excited to see which new and unexpected species might make an appearance. Join us for a BioBlitz in the meadow, where we’ll be identifying flowering plants, pollinating insects (with a focus on bumblebees!) and pesky invasives! As part of the Biodiversity Days 2025 iNaturalist project, your observations will contribute to monitoring the diversity of species across the UBC Vancouver campus. Whether you’re here for a few minutes or the whole event, your contributions will help us learn more about the plants and pollinators making UBC buzz with life!
This event will be held outdoors, rain or shine. Please dress accordingly. Don’t forget to bring a smartphone or camera if you’d like to contribute your observations to the iNaturalist project!
When: May 29th | 10:30am-12:30pm
Where: The Reconciliation Pole on UBC Campus (2373-2425 Main Mall, next to the Forest Sciences Centre)
Cost: Free!
Speakers: Renée Lussier, Heather Bylsma
Join us for a guided Tree Walk and Forest Therapy experience that blends nature connection with research in action. As we explore UBC’s vibrant urban forest, you’ll be introduced to a variety of tree species while engaging in sensory and mindfulness exercises designed to deepen your connection with the natural world and all the benefits it provides to our physical and mental wellbeing.
This event builds on the knowledge gained through the UBC Tree Inventory Project, a multi-year SEEDS research collaboration between the Faculty of Forestry, Campus and Community Planning and other partners. This valuable student research initiative maps and monitors the health, diversity, and ecological value of trees across campus—informing biodiversity conservation and climate resilience planning at UBC.
Whether you're a nature lover, a curious student, or simply in need of a reset, this walk offers a chance to slow down, reflect, and experience the forest in a new way. Leave feeling refreshed, grounded, and more attuned to the trees that shape our campus urban forest.
This event will be held outdoors, rain or shine. Please dress accordingly.
When: May 30th | 1:30pm-4:30pm
Where: The Reconciliation Pole on UBC Campus (2373-2425 Main Mall, next to the Forest Sciences Centre)
Cost: Free!
Speakers: Dr. Tahia Devisscher and Finn Koepf
Learn about all of the amazing native bees that help pollinate the plants at UBC Botanical Garden. This walk will provide an overview of native bee diversity as well as the opportunity to try your hand at capturing and identifying native bee species.
When: May 31st | 10:00am-11:30am
Where: UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 SW Marine Dr, Vancouver BC
Cost: $11 plus tax for Adults, $9 plus tax for Concession (Garden Members, UNA Residents, Youth (13-17), Seniors (65+), UBC Students|Staff|Faculty. Valid ID card required.), $5.50 plus tax for Children (aged 5-12)
Speaker: Jens Ulrich
Why Biodiversity Days?
UBC Vancouver is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam People. The land has always been a place of learning for Indigenous People, who for millennia have passed on their culture, history and traditions from one generation to the next on this site.
Biodiversity is integral to past, present and future communities, yet we are losing ecosystems, species and genes faster than we can account for them. The extinction crisis requires inclusive solutions to prevent ecological collapse.
Biodiversity Days is an annual event that aims to:
- Raise awareness of biodiversity and its importance to human and ecological health;
- Mobilize local and global action to stop the loss of biodiversity; and,
- Build a generation of stewards, scientists and citizens that actively protect and restore biodiversity.
Biodiversity Days Organizers: Biodiversity Days is a month-long celebration every May that honours the International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22). Local celebrations highlight the many species, genes and ecosystems that sustain our communities. Hosted by UBC Botanical Garden in collaboration with SEEDS Sustainability Program, this year’s program features a diversity of events, including family nature walks, a student Research to Action Showcase, bird tours, community science action, virtual events and more.
Biodiversity Days is made possible with funding provided through the UBC Botanical Garden Community Outreach Fund and with funds from the SEEDS Sustainability Program.
Questions? Contact us at: garden.programs@ubc.ca