Apps on Urban Birds, Trees Launched for Bio-Diversity info

Hyderabad, Dec 9 (PTI) With a view to enthuse students with biodiversity and make them interested in environment, three mobile apps on urban birds, butterflies and trees were launched here today. The three apps were launched as part of the project 'Mobile Apps for Climate Change: A Citizen Science Programme for Schools in Metros' by World Wide Fund for Nature-India, in association with city-based L V Prasad Eye Institute.

The project, proposed by V Shubhalaxmi, Founder and Director at Ladybird Consulting involves development of the three mobile apps on urban birds, butterflies and trees of four metros: Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata and Hyderabad that will bring urban biodiversity information on the fingertips of the users.

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WWF-India will work with schools in Hyderabad, Delhi and Kolkata to help students document campus biodiversity through the Mobile App developed by Ladybird Environmental Consulting (LEC).

Speaking on the occasion, Anil Kumar V Epur, Chairman WWF-India said, "these mobile apps will help generate curiosity about biodiversity and encourage students to get involved in documenting biodiversity as a student scientist."

Besides, the development of mobile apps, the project includes a School Citizen Science Programme titled 'Urban iNaturewatch Challenge' wherein 40 city schools would take up local biodiversity studies as part of their project work.

"The apps will be helpful in identifying local trees, birds and butterflies which the students need to report back to the project. The project is expected to develop 3,000 student citizen scientists across the cities," Shubhalaxmi said, adding these apps will go live from December 12.

Source: PTI