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Mountain Plant Monitoring

Alpine Flower MonitoringThe AMC is seeking volunteers to participate in its Mountain Watch mountain plant monitoring program. Hikers are needed to collect data on the timing of plant flowering in the along trails for inclusion in a long-term study to understand how shifts in climate trends may impact mountain flora. 
 
You can choose between alpine and forest flowers, or do both along a trail that starts in a wForest Flowersoodland and takes you above treeline.  There are also different levels of participation from a few minutes a stop at trail junctions & mountain peaks to a longer term commitment in our Adopt-A-Peak program.  Click on the flower watch links for complete instructions and materials.  

We are urging volunteers to enter data online this year as the program expands.  AMC will share your monitoring reports with our partners, the National Phenology Network and the Appalachian Trail Mega-Transect Monitoring project, contributing unique mountain data to these larger national and regional studies.

By collecting data from thousands of hikers in the Appalachian Mountains we can further scientific understanding of how global climate change affects the health and vitality of key flora in mountain ecosystems. 

Learn more about our targeted plants:  

Alpine Species Profiles:

Why are hikers monitoring mountain plants annual cycles?

Plants in cold limited ecosystems, such as alpine and other mountain environments, may act as sensitive bioindicators of climate change. Scientists are paying particular attention to alpine and arctic ecosystems around the world. Although alpine areas in the Northeast are rare, they are economically, socially and spiritually a distinct part of the Northeast mountains. AMC scientists will compile these data and produce a web-based database of the observations. As this collection of information grows, it will be analyzed for trends indicating climate change. The information will also be used for public education, to raise media attention, and advocate for appropriate environmental policy to address climate change.  Stay up to date on the latest climate change legislation and how you can make a difference;
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