SeasonWatch is a new citizen volunteer network that monitors plant phenology (the timing of seasonal events like flowering and fruiting) across India. Observations collected through this network will contribute to an understanding of the effects of climate change on plant ecology.

Volunteers are asked to register and monitor one or more individual trees. These trees should be checked for buds, flowers, fruits and fresh leaves at regular intervals (weekly or fortnightly). The trees can be located anywhere - in your garden, along the road, in a park, in your institution campus; any place that you visit regularly. The monitoring protocol is simple and straightforward.

We are beginning with a list of 90-100 plant species (mostly trees), covering the various regions of the country. Of these, 15 species are given special attention -- these 15 are common and widespread; they are easily identifiable, and their wide distribution will enable comparisons of phenology  across the country. The website will carry an identification guide for the species, as well as detailed descriptions of the different phenological phases (eg, bud, ripe fruit, and so on).

To begin with, registration and participation will be only available through the SeasonWatch website (not functional yet). In later phases, we will introduce the ability to contribute information through SMS and good-old paper. All information collected under SeasonWatch is freely available to anyone to search, download, and use in any way.

SeasonWatch will be launched in end-January 2010. If you wish to volunteer with this project, coordinate a local chapter, or help with publicity, please write to citizenscience(at)ncbs.res.in. SeasonWatch is run with support from Wipro Applying Thought in Schools. We are currently seeking applicants for a Wipro-NCBS fellowship to manage SeasonWatch. Click here to see the advertisement [pdf | 110Kb].

Table: The 15 focal species in SeasonWatch

Babool Sirish Devil's tree Neem Purple bauhinia Red Silk Cotton Flame-of-the-forest Gulmohur Indian laburnum Indian coral tree Banyan Giant Crape-myrtle Pongam Jamun Tamarind

Acacia nilotica Albizia lebbeck Alstonia scholaris Azadirachta indica Bauhinia purpurea Bombax ceiba Butea monosperma Delonix regia Cassia fistula Erythrina indica Ficus bengalensis Lagerstroemia speciosa Pongamia pinnata Syzygium cumini Tamarindus indica