Efforts were made in this section to provide a glimpse of technology tools used across the globe for forest inventorying by forest owners, community-based forest managing institutions, industries and governments. These tools include a wide array of modules and functionalities to help prepare inventories of smallholders in forestry as well as big operators including the governments.
Our planet has an amazing biodiversity with around 390,000 plant species and around 8.7 million animal species. How nice it would be to know these different forms of life that co-exist on this planet with us. If you are a botanist, taxonomist, wildlife researcher or forester, who can identify plants and animals by just seeing them, touching them, or hearing them, that’s absolutely amazing.
A bird identification tool developed by Cornell Labs, Merlin assists users through photo recognition and the analysis of bird calls. It offers downloadable regional bird packs at no cost and includes features such as species images at different life stages and sound recordings, making it ideal for ornithologists and bird enthusiasts.
A widely utilized app for identifying plants and animals globally. It connects users to a network of naturalists to support biodiversity research. With features such as detailed galleries, mapping tools, and project creation capabilities, iNaturalist is an invaluable resource for both casual users and scientific endeavors.
Powered by AI and integrated with iNaturalist, this application aids in identifying plants, trees, fungi, and animals. It provides preliminary suggestions, such as family or genus classifications, and can be used alongside other apps like Obsidentify for confirmation purposes. Seek is particularly effective for obtaining group-level identifications.
This platform identifies tens of thousands of plant species through photo analysis. It incorporates cooperative learning by leveraging shared user observations to enhance its AI capabilities. Expert validations carry more weight in the review process, and the AI is re-trained regularly to ensure precision while minimizing energy consumption.
This application specializes in identifying wild plants, animals, and fungi. It utilizes photos taken in the field to suggest identifications, providing a confidence score. Originally developed for use in the Netherlands, it is effective globally as a standalone tool. Accurate results depend on the visibility of key identification features within the image.
Leveraging AI and citizen science, Wild Me facilitates global animal identification by analyzing natural markings, vocalizations, and genetic data. It supports the creation of collaborative research networks and collects behavioral data to study wildlife populations.
This app quickly identifies wild and garden plants, as well as insects and birds in its 'more' section. It provides common names, photos, FAQs, name origins, facts, symbolism, care guides, scientific classification, distribution, and garden uses. While helpful for plant ID and info, it doesn't contribute to science or conservation. To aid research, consider uploading IDs to iRecord or iNaturalist.
mobile app is a component of the Biodiversity Atlas – India mobile app. The app can be used as a field guide for identifying butterflies, learning about their biology, organizing field observations, and contributing to this citizen science platform. The app can be downloaded for Android phones from this website. It will be available on Google Play Store and the iOS version on Apple App Store soon.
This digital bird guide covers over a thousand bird species, supports personalised checklists, and records sightings using preferred taxonomy formats. It offers size comparisons with common species and access to typical vocalisations, featuring over 25,000 sound recordings from the Indian subcontinent.
This application excels at identifying trees, boasting a botanical database that can pinpoint over 90% of known plant and tree species. Additionally, LeafSnap serves as a handy reminder tool, enabling users to track their plant care and maintenance activities. Renowned for its precise identification capabilities, it includes a vast database encompassing more than 90% of known plant species. The app features an intuitive user interface and consistently delivers high accuracy.
Plantora is a plant scanner and medical application. The app includes features such as plant health checks, diagnostics, symptom analysis, plant care instructions, and personalized reminders. The navigation section provides information on the requirements and maintenance of various devices. The app is free and allows unlimited daily scans. Plantora has a large database and offers many features without requiring a premium subscription. The app has a clean user interface and does not display ads.
This application identifies plants, cacti, mushrooms, leaves, and flowers by comparing them with a database of over 60,000 plant species. Users can create a personal plant map with their photos, enabling them to keep track of all the plants, trees, and flowers in their collection.
This application from India includes information on 50 common tree species found in metropolitan areas such as Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, and Hyderabad. It assists users in identifying trees, serving as an alternative tool to consulting with an expert. If a tree is not listed in the app, additional references including books and online resources are provided for identification.
This application allows users to upload a photo of a flower or leaf, providing precise information about the plant in seconds. It includes a species profile page with details such as characteristics and distribution. The application can identify over 4800 plant species and offers search and filter options for quick identification. Users have the ability to save, export, and share observations across various social media platforms.
This application can accurately identify over 10,000 plants with an accuracy rate of up to 95%. It offers a range of features including plant disease diagnosis and allows users to set multiple reminders for plant care.
The Picture Insect app helps users identify and learn about insects. It features a large database with over a thousand insect species and has an identification accuracy rating of 95.28%. After identifying a bug, the app provides detailed information about the species. Users can use Picture Insect to Know More about insects found in their yard or house.
Birda is quickly becoming popular for bird identification among birdwatchers worldwide. Apple has awarded it 'App of the Day' in 148 countries. The app receives updates every two weeks, and you can identify birds by photo via AI, community assistance, or the species guide. Birda's free species guide rivals paid guides, making it a top choice for birdwatchers. Premium features like private challenges and custom lists are available for those looking to enhance their experience
Tools such as Google Lens enable species identification using uploaded images. Users can receive matches and taxonomic hints; however, accuracy may be limited at the species level, especially for organisms with closely related characteristics.