Citizen science - Phenoclim

Phenoclim logo

Phénoclim is a scientific and educational programme that invites the public to contribute to the assessment of the impact of climate change on mountain fauna and flora. Launched in 2014 in the Alps at the initiative of CREA Mont-Blanc (Centre de Recherches sur les Écosystèmes d'Altitude), this programme is based on two scientific disciplines: FENOlogy and CLIMAtology to highlight the rhythms of nature. The data collected in the different mountain ranges allows researchers to understand better the functioning of ecosystems for each season of the year, in order to be able to study the effects of climate variations on the environment.

In the Pyrenees, Phénolcim is run jointly by CREA Mont-Blanc and the Réseau Education Pyrénées Vivantes (Living Pyrenees Education Network), coordinated by the LPO (League for the Protection of Birds), within the framework of the FLORAPYR project led by the Conservatoire botanique national des Pyrénées et de Midi-Pyrénées (National Botanical Conservatory of the Pyrenees and Midi-Pyrénées) and by the OPCC2 project led by the Working Community of the Pyrenees.

Phenology

Phenological studies consist of the evaluation of seasonal events taking place in living beings. Within the framework of the Phénoclim programme, observers closely monitor the phenological evolution of various plant species (bud opening dates, flowering and leaf colour changes) throughout the seasons.

The 13 species of trees and plants typical of the Pyrenean range, proposed for monitoring are:

English name	Scientific name	French name	Spanish name	Catalan name	Occitan name	Vasco name
Coltsfoot	Tussilago farfara L.	Tussilage	Uña de caballo	Pota de cavall	Huelha de canard, pè d'aso	Eztul-belarra
Common ash	Fraxinus excelsior L.	Frêne	Fresno	Freixe	Frèisho, heréisho, herèisho	Lizar arrunta
Common beech	Fagus sylvatica L.	Hêtre	Haya	Faig	Fag, hau, hai	Pagoa
Common cowslip	Primula veris L.	Primevère officinale	Primavera	Cucut	Èrba cocuda, primavèra	Sudaberri lorea usainduna
Common hazel	Corylus avellana L.	Noisetier	Avellano	Avellaner	Mata, averanèr, averassèr	Hurritza
Downy birch	Betula pubescens Ehrh.	Bouleau pubescent	Abedul pubescente	Bedoll pubescent	Bedoth pelut	Urki iletsua, urki zuria
European larch	Larix decidua Mill.	Mélèze d'Europe	Alerce	Alerç	Mèlze, mèuze,	Alertze europarra
European spruce	Picea abies (L.) H.Karst	Épicéa commun	Abeto rojo	Avet roig	Avet de nadau, faus avet	Izei gorria.
Lilac	Syringa vulgaris L.	Lilas commun	Lila	Lilà comú	Lilàs	Lila
Rowan	Sorbus aucuparia L.	Sorbier des oiseleurs	Serbal de cazadores	Moixera de guilla	Besurt	Otsalizarra.
Scots pine	Pinus sylvestris L.	Pin sylvestre	Pino rojo	Pi roig	Pin roi, pin arroi	Ler gorria
Silver birch	Betula pendula Roth.	Bouleau verruqueux	Abedul común	Bedoll comú	Bedoth blanc	Urki dilindaria
Silver fir	Abies alba Mill.	Sapin pectiné	Abeto	Avet	Avet	Izei zuria

Consult the species observations sheets (FR)

How to participate in Phénoclim in the Pyrenees?

Present around us, the trees and other plants selected for the monitoring program are easy to observe as long as you pay attention to the details that differentiate the different important phenological stages.

To participate in the observation ofthe flora, it is necessary to follow some steps:

Firstly, you will have to select and describe very accurately a chosen observation area (your garden, a forest in the vicinity of your home...) where there are at least three of the plants or trees of three different species from among the 13 plant species studied in the context of this initiative. After marking the chosen specimens to be sure that you will be able to recognize them throughout the different seasons, all you have to do is to complete the information fields on the Phénoclim website relating to the observation area (such as altitude, exposure, etc.) and the chosen species.

In spring and autumn, you will have to visit once a week the chosen site to monitor the evolution and note the dates on which you have observed the stages of phenological evolution described in the protocol (budding, flowering, leaf development). The various photos and additional information contained in the monitoring protocol will help you in carrying out the monitoring correctly.

Click here to see the plant monitoring protocol (FR).

In order to facilitate the transmission of observation data, we invite you to download the Phénoclim app that will allow you to send the data in real time to the programme technicians for validation and subsequent insertion into the visualization tool.

Your account in Phénoclim

ACCESS TO YOUR ACCOUNT

Contacts and documentation

CONTACTS AND LOCAL ANIMATION

General coordination of the Phénoclim intermassive program (Alpes, Corse, Jura, Massif central, Pyrénées, Vosges) : CREA Mont-Blanc 04 50 53 45 16, mail

Pyrénées Referring Scientific Structure : Conservatoire botanique national des Pyrénées et de Midi-Pyrénées 05 62 95 85 30, mail

Coordination of the Phénoclim Pyrénées program : Réseau Education Pyrénées Vivantes 05 62 97 27 02, mail

Contact the local program facilitator!

Pyrénées-Atlantiques : Education Environnement 64, mail

Hautes-Pyrénées : CPIE Bigorre-Pyrénées, mail

Haute-Garonne : Pays de l'ours ADET, mail

Ariège : Oxalys Randonnée, mail (Couserans) and Observatoire de la montagne, mail (vallée de l'Ariège)

Pyrénées-Orientales : Fédération des Réserves Naturelles Catalanes, mail

Andorre : Institut d'Estudis Andorrans, mail

Catalonia : Verd e Blu, mail (val d'Aran) and Taiga, mail (Catalunya)

Aragon : Pirinature, mail

Navarre : Mendikate, mail