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Alpine Flower Monitoring

Access Plant Monitoring Materials  

Forest Flowers

We need you: Hikers, families, school groups, and conservationist!
Help us make observations along the trails on the timing of plant flower and fruit development for inclusion in a long-term study to understand how shifts in climate trends may impact mountain flora.

Become a Citizen-Scientists
View our tutorials to learn why AMC is studying mountain plants and climate and walk through our step-by-step instructions on how to identify and monitor plants as part of our Citizen-Science program.

Tutorials (updated April 30, 2012):

Not sure about your ability to identify the right plants?  Start with our simple Flower Check List!  A great way to get to know the plants and their flowers and a fun activity for families on the trail. Here are some other...

Kid friendly activities:

  • Backyard-to-the-Trail booklet: Discover the basics about flowers and fruit! If in live in northern NH, ME, NY or VT use: Northern areas.  If you live in south of those regions use: Southern areas

  • A simple matching game for little ones; print and laminate. Trail Flowers Matching Game

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.

Alpine Species Profiles:

Why should hikers help?

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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