River Monitor App
Description
REVIVO and its strategic partner FRIS&ZRSVN under the leadership of The River Trust and IFI from Ireland, will suggest, prepare and test the updated version of the existing Barrier Tracker App (BTApp) to record the hydro-morphological (HM) changes in rivers which will support the implementation of the FFMP objectives- task 5.8 “Evidence of freshwater fisheries and reporting”, 6.11 ”Tasks for conservation of favourable fish status and good ecological status” & task 7.3 “Fishing management with the conservational effect.”. The updated features will be codeveloped with all RIWET partners, FTF and SH (managing authorities) so that a broad spectrum of HM changes can be covered throughout Europe. Experience of all partners will be shared and have the possibility to transfer the BTApp to their regions, depending on the success of this pilot. The aim of this pilot is to test the use of the app as well as utility of the data (collected in this way) for the management bodies (e.g. FRIS, ZRSVN, DRSV, environmental inspectorate…). Targeted field tests will be performed with SH groups such as fisheries,environmental rangers, concessionaires, managing authorities etc. to determine specific app features, discuss data management strategies, conditions of use, automated analysis etc. If successful, the app will be launched as a citizen science program for monitoring HM status of rivers. No similar app exists in Slovenia for monitoring freshwater habitat status. The data will be used by experts&officials (FRIS,ZRSVN, Fishing Association, DRSV) to analyse conservation trends and adapt the policies (especially FFMP) and measures to prioritise action for freshwater habitat restoration and take immediate protective&corrective actions in case damaging activities are reported. An online extension of the BTApp will be developed for automated reporting of illegal activities directly to the Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia, further easing the work of nature conservation officials.