Data collected by amateur botanists: coupling an old tradition and citizen science offers new opportunities for habitat monitoring and conservation

The coupling of amateur botanists' age-old tradition with citizen science and the use of digital photographs presents exciting opportunities for habitat monitoring and conservation. Driven by their passion for plants, amateur botanists contribute valuable data on plant species and habitats, leveraging digital photographs as scientific records. This practice provides insights into ecosystem dynamics and supports conservation initiatives. The utilization of digital photographs offers benefits such as increased data collection, enhanced spatial and temporal coverage, rapid response to conservation needs, and cost-effective monitoring. However, challenges related to data quality, accuracy, and standardization must be addressed to fully exploit the potential of amateur botanist-collected data. Despite these challenges, collaborative efforts between amateur botanists and professional scientists, enabled by digital photographs, have immense potential for advancing botany, understanding ecosystems, and supporting conservation. By overcoming challenges and implementing suitable protocols, this collaboration can contribute to a comprehensive understanding of plant biodiversity, fostering the protection and sustainable management of natural environments.