As more people become aware of the environment and humans’ impact on it, there is a burgeoning group of South Africans who want to know which trees are growing in various areas across the country.

In response to this growing need innovator and project leader, Val Thomas and a team of highly skilled and diverse professionals have created what has been called by some reviewers “the Google of tree search engines”.

Named TheTreeApp, South Africa, it enables users to search for specific trees; or to get an idea of what trees are growing in the region they happen to be in – including (for example) which of the trees are endangered and how many trees are poisonous  – with a series of simple screen touches.

Project IT development and systems analyst, Herman van den Berg says: “Unlike many apps used for identification in wildlife, TheTreeApp is far more than an e-book. What differentiates it is the incredibly powerful search engine, which allows the user to easily and accurately filter trees into very short identification lists, or even identify an individual tree – with names in any of the 11 local languages that have the tree in their home language area.

“This search function not only comprises hundreds of categories but also has a powerful GPS location capability that can narrow down the search from eleven hundred trees to those that are within a 12.5km radius of the chosen spot. These range from 480 to less than 25 trees.”

Assisting conservation

Dr. Robbie (Ernest) Robinson, senior botanical advisor for TheTreeApp and Honorary Conservation Fellow, Zoological Society of London Scientific advisor, says: “It is almost impossible to over-state the importance of correctly identifying indigenous trees in natural environments, and this app provides a unique tool to achieve this.

“Because there is such a rich diversity of tree species in South Africa, multi-species tree communities provide habitats and niches for many kinds of animals, birds, and other plants and micro-organisms. The correct identification of the trees is a prerequisite for understanding the functioning and therefore the conservation and management of those ecosystems.”

Thomas adds: “Indigenous trees in South Africa are our passion. We have created the ‘go-to’ place for information, alongside a simple but comprehensive search system to identify them. And it is accessible to everyone from primary school learners to tree experts.”

In addition to the indigenous core, the app covers 130 invasive and other alien trees to strengthen the general public’s understanding of the threat that these trees pose in many parts of our country.

The app can be used on any smart phone or tablet under 3 years old and is available for download from 1 September 2017 – the start of Arbor Week – from both the Apple iStore and the Google Play Store.