HEROES(http://www.bpn.gov.bt), a school based phenology monitoring system in Bhutan, was operationalised in February, 2014. Since then, students from 17 schools have been closely monitoring , recording and reporting plant’s phenological event such as timing for budburst, young leaf, flower bud, open flower, ripe fruit and leaf fall. Within a time frame of six months, HEROES has collected over 30000 phenology records. Observations were reported for 30 species of trees, 10 species of shrubs and 10 species of herbs. On average, each school has reported observation of 120 days since February, 2014.
Although it is very early to draw any conclusive result based on few months data, it is said to have yielded heightened awareness of daily and seasonal changes occurring in plant among the group of observers. Also, as per the first phase record, the observation from few schools are sporadic and inconsistent.. Six months exercise on phenology observing has yielded some insight which could be used in refinement and standardization of phenology observing and reporting protocols.
1,817 total views, no views today
