SeasonWatch a citizen science project aimed at understanding seasonality of common tropical trees in India over the long term, and hence the correlation between seasonality and climate change. Since 2010 SeasonWatch has accumulated more than 500000 observations on more than 95000 trees. In September 2021 there were more than 1200 unique contributors and students from more than 1300 Schools contributing information to SeasonWatch from across the country. These data have allowed for the creation of baseline seasonality patterns for 3 of the most observed species in the programme and identify species with potentially aberrant phenology as compared to culturally known patterns.
Image credits:
SeasonWatch team
Monitoring tree seasonality across India
Year of Initiation:
2010
Project Coordinator:
Geetha Ramaswami
E-mail Address:
Role in the project:
Project Lead
Institutional Affiliation:
Nature Conservation Foundation
Taxa:
Shrubs, trees
Status:
Active
No. of participants:
Above 1000
Geographical spread of project:
ALL INDIA
Further information:
The project works through partnerships with organisations and institutions across India and is taken to communities and schools via partners.
Purpose of the project:
SeasonWatch has the twofold aim of 1) creating a phenology baseline for common Indian trees to understand seasonality across latitudes and compare against future change, 2) provide an opportunity for children and adults to go outdoors and observe nature, and create a sense of stewardship towards local biodiversity.
Coordinating institution/organisation:
Nature Conservation Foundation
Location of the coordinating institution/organisation(s):
Bangalore
Data availability:
Available upon request, without a fee
Participation in language other than English:
No
Appropriate age groups of participants:
All age groups
Citizen participation through:
Paper participation, Website, Mobile application
Why should people participate:
In an increasingly digital world, this project offers people the opportunity to go outdoors and interact with the biodiversity in their neighbourhood regularly. When many people contribute even one observation to the project, it adds to a better understanding of tree seasonality, and eventually of climate change
Prior knowledge or expertise required:
Ability to ID locally abundant or culturally important tree species; ability to discern differences in phenophases of these species
Website: