Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Can I participate?
A. Anyone interested in trees and the changing climate can register and participate. You can register as an individual or as a school. More details are available when you register.

Q. When can I start?
A. There are no time limitations or starting dates. You can start participating any time. How about today?

Q. How much time do I have to spend monitoring each tree?
A. About five minutes per tree to look at it closely. This needs to be done only once a week for your regular trees or anytime if you are making casual observations. It takes only a little time to connect with your tree and observe it for any changes.

Q. What if I have more questions?
A. You can send your query to us through CONTACT page or write to us on sw@seasonwatch.in and we will be happy to answer all your queries.

Q. Which species can I observe?
A. You can choose any species from our list of 130+ species. See the complete list here. Majority of these species are commonly found across the country and some are specific to the Himalayas.

Q. How to choose a tree?
A. You need to choose a mature tree, that is, a tree that is old enough to bear flowers and fruits. It is okay if the tree has some damages, just make a note of these.

Q. What can I do if I need help in tree id?
A. You can go through our list of species that has details on species characters, including common names in various Indian languages, and a photograph. You can also write to us on sw@seasonwatch.in with a couple of good photographs (including close-up of leaves, flowers and fruits if they are present) of the tree that you wish to identify.

Q. What can I do if I need help in identifying a phenophase?
A. Often multiple phenophases are present on a tree at any time. If you look closely, you may be able to distinguish between them, such as fresh and mature leaves. Flower buds and unripe fruits can at times be sources of confusion, and if you are not able to tell them apart right away, it is best to observe the tree over multiple days. The flower buds progress into open flowers, unripe fruits, and ripe fruits. You will easily learn these as you watch the tree closely.