Pl@ntNet's strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

1. An accessible and collaborative tool: Pl@ntNet is a free platform, open to all, and available as a mobile app and web version. It allows millions of people worldwide to contribute to plant identification and inventory.

2. Power of artificial intelligence: The integration of advanced AI models, such as vision transformers, offers fast and accurate plant identification, with continuous improvement thanks to the collected data.

3. Scientific and environmental impact: Validated observations feed open databases like GBIF, contributing to research on biodiversity, ecosystem conservation, and the fight against climate change.

4. International dimension: With contributors in over 200 countries, Pl@ntNet covers a wide diversity of floras, making it one of the largest biodiversity observatories in the world.

5. Education and awareness: Pl@ntNet encourages citizens to learn more about the flora around them and to participate in data collection.

Weaknesses

1. Lack of human resources to validate observations: Despite an active community, the volume of observations often exceeds validation capacities. This can slow down the integration of new reliable data into the database.

2. Limited participation: Many users do not share their observations or choose not to activate geolocation, which limits the usefulness of the data for biodiversity monitoring.

3. Unequal quality of contributions: Some observations are blurry, poorly framed, or lack essential information (plant organs, geolocation), which complicates their validation.

4. Presence of errors in the data: Although Pl@ntNet relies on a collaborative system and quality control, identification or location errors may remain. Community contribution to detect and correct these errors is essential.

5. Partial taxonomic coverage: Pl@ntNet currently covers approximately 70,000 species, a small fraction of the 350,000 known plant species. Although the database is growing every day, there is still a long way to go to cover all plant biodiversity.

6. Lack of technical and financial resources: As with many scientific and participatory projects, the resources available to improve tools, expand taxonomic coverage, and strengthen teams are insufficient compared to the project’s ambitions.

Collective motivation at the service of biodiversity

Despite the challenges, our team and our community remain firmly committed to making Pl@ntNet an accessible tool for all, built by all. Each contribution, whether a shared photo, a vote, or a validated observation, is a stone added to the edifice of a common project serving science, education, and the preservation of biodiversity. Together, we are moving forward every day to fill the gaps, push the boundaries, and strengthen Pl@ntNet as an essential resource for better understanding and protecting the nature around us.