New AMBER Barrier Tracker App for Mapping River Barriers

A new version of the AMBER Barrier Tracker V2 has been launched. This citizen science tool enables users to easily record and map river barriers across Europe.

Although Europe’s rivers are estimated to be fragmented by millions of barriers, many of them remain unmapped. Data collected through the app contribute to a better understanding of river fragmentation and connectivity and can help identify priorities for river restoration and conservation.

What’s new?

The new version of the app introduces several improvements:

• improved geolocation, with more accurate GPS positioning and better map visualisation
• new categories for recording lateral barriers
• Expert Mode, providing additional questions and more detailed classification options for advanced users
• an updated web platform featuring interactive maps, real-time statistics and improved data visualisation.

Every new observation contributes to building a more complete picture of river fragmentation across Europe. By combining existing databases with observations collected in the field by citizens, experts and researchers, important data gaps can be filled, providing a better understanding of river connectivity and helping identify priorities for river restoration and conservation.

Such data are also valuable for river restoration projects such as IMPROVE RIVER LIFE, which aims to contribute to the conservation and improvement of the status of river habitats and species.

The AMBER Barrier Tracker V2 is currently available for Android devices, with an iOS version coming soon.

Download the app and contribute to mapping river barriers across Europe:

AMBER Barrier Tracker V2 – Google Play

For more information about the new version of the app, read the original news article published by the Blue Rivers Foundation:

Discover the new AMBER Barrier Tracker app – Blue Rivers Foundation