The Kinmen National Park Administration under the National Park Service of the Ministry of the Interior will host the “Kinmen Plant Phenology Survey Outreach Event” on Saturday, May 30, 115, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Through lectures and hands-on activities, the event will introduce participants to plant phenology survey methods and provide a firsthand experience of field observation work.The event is open to the general public. Registration is online, and spots are limited; registration will close once capacity is reached. Anyone interested in nature and ecology is welcome to sign up.

Plant phenology refers to the growth changes in plants at different times of the year, such as budding, flowering, and fruiting. It serves as a key indicator for observing climate change and assessing ecosystem health. This course will use indicator plants as case studies to illustrate the relationship between their phenological changes and climatic factors such as temperature and humidity. Through systematic instruction, participants will gain an understanding of the basic concepts and practical applications of plant phenology surveys.

Registration for this event will begin at 8:30 a.m. that morning at the Zhongshan Forest Visitor Center. The course will open with a lecture by Associate Professor Lu Changze from the Department of Biological Resources at National Chiayi University, who will cover the basic concepts of plant phenology, the characteristics of phenological cycles for different growth types, and the impact of environmental factors on phenological events.Participants will then be divided into groups to enter the Zhongshan Forest study area, where they will observe various flowering plants, select 10 individuals of the same species to record their phenological status for the current month, and create phenological bubble charts. Based on their observations, combined with the plants’ growth forms and trends in Zhongshan Forest’s monthly average temperatures, participants will estimate the annual phenological changes of these species and share their findings at the conclusion of the course.

The Kinmen National Park Administration stated that this event not only enhances the public’s understanding of plant phenological surveys and their ecological significance but also deepens participants’ comprehension of phenological cycle variations while strengthening their observation and interpretation skills. Through a curriculum that balances theory and hands-on practice, the program promotes citizen science participation and environmental education, cultivates public awareness of ecological conservation, and encourages everyone to contribute to the establishment of a foundational ecological database for the Kinmen region.