Question 1

How do I create an account?

Accepted Answer

Download Selva from the App Store or Google Play, then sign up with your email address or Google account. For organizations, visit selvaapp.com and click "Get Started" to create your organization account.

Question 2

How do I log my first tree?

Accepted Answer

Open the Selva app, tap the center "+" button on the bottom navigation bar, select "Tree", take a photo, and confirm your GPS location. Add optional details like species and age, then tap "Save". Your tree will appear on the map and in your Grove.

Question 3

How do I navigate the app?

Accepted Answer

The bottom navigation has five tabs: Feed (activity from people you follow), Map (explore planted trees worldwide), Log Asset (center button), Community (leaderboards and groups), and Grove (your personal profile and impact stats).

Question 4

How do I set up my profile?

Accepted Answer

Go to your Grove tab and tap "Edit Profile". Add a profile photo, display name, bio, and your city. Your city helps connect you with local planters and shows relevant leaderboards.

Question 5

How do I log a planting?

Accepted Answer

Tap the "+" button, choose between Tree or Plant (flowers, shrubs, vines, ground cover, grasses). Take a photo, confirm the GPS pin, add details, and save. Each entry is GPS-verified and timestamped.

Question 6

What are plants?

Accepted Answer

Plants are non-tree plantings that contribute to biodiversity: flowers (attract pollinators), shrubs (wildlife shelter), vines (cover walls and fences), ground cover (prevent erosion), and grasses (low maintenance ground restoration).

Question 7

What is Express Mode?

Accepted Answer

Express Mode lets you rapidly log multiple plantings in a single session. It uses a camera-first interface where each photo captures a separate GPS location. Perfect for planting events or logging multiple trees in one area.

Question 8

Do I need to identify the species?

Accepted Answer

Species identification is optional but recommended. It helps generate more accurate CO₂ estimates and contributes to biodiversity data. Use the Species Recommendation tool if you're unsure what to plant in your area.

Question 9

What is coverage area?

Accepted Answer

When logging a plant, you estimate the coverage area in square meters. This is used to calculate the CO₂ absorption estimate. Be as accurate as possible — you can always update it later.

Question 10

What do the dots and pins on the map mean?

Accepted Answer

Green dots are logged actions — trees, plants, cleanups, and other verified work by the whole community. Amber dots are spots people have flagged as needing improvement, and small calendar pins are upcoming events. Nearby actions group into one green circle with a count; tap it to zoom in.

Question 11

What is the "In this area" list?

Accepted Answer

The list next to the map shows everything in the area you're viewing: upcoming events first, then spots ranked by votes, then recent actions. Narrow it with the All / Happening / Needed / Done chips — Happening shows events, Needed shows spots, and Done shows logged actions.

Question 12

How do I join an event or back a spot?

Accepted Answer

Straight from the list: event rows have a Join button to RSVP, and spot rows have a Vote button to back a need you agree with. Tap a row or a pin once to highlight it on the map, and tap it again to open its details.

Question 13

How do I mark a spot that needs improving?

Accepted Answer

Tap the green "+" button on the map, then click the place that needs work. Add a short title, pick a category, and attach a photo — it appears on the map as an amber spot the community and local organizations can vote on and act on.

Question 14

How do I follow other planters?

Accepted Answer

Visit any user's profile and tap "Follow". Their plantings will appear in your Feed and as blue markers on your Map. Find planters through search or the Suggested Users page.

Question 15

Can I comment on plantings?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Tap any planting in your Feed to open the detail view, then use the comment section. You can also react to plantings with quick emoji reactions.

Question 16

What are groups?

Accepted Answer

Groups let you organize collective planting efforts. Create a group, invite members via invite code, and track your combined impact. Group admins can manage members and view analytics.

Question 17

How do events work?

Accepted Answer

Events are organized planting activities with a specific date, location, and optional planting area. Anyone can create events and share invite codes. Participants check in at the location and log plantings as part of the event.

Question 18

How do leaderboards work?

Accepted Answer

Leaderboards rank users and cities by number of trees and total estimated CO₂ absorbed. Your city leaderboard shows local rankings, and the global leaderboard shows worldwide impact.

Question 19

How is CO₂ absorption calculated?

Accepted Answer

Trees: We estimate 10-20 kg CO₂/year based on reported age and species data. Plants: 0.15 kg CO₂/m²/year based on coverage area. These are community-sourced estimates, not scientifically verified measurements. See Legal & Safety for important disclaimers.

Question 20

What is the Grove dashboard?

Accepted Answer

Your Grove is your personal profile showing all logged plantings, total estimated CO₂ absorbed, tree count, and plant statistics. It also shows your planting timeline and activity history.

Question 21

Can I share my impact?

Accepted Answer

Yes! From your Grove or any individual planting, tap the share button to create a shareable image card for Instagram Stories, WhatsApp, or other platforms.

Question 22

What is Selva for Organizations?

Accepted Answer

Selva for Organizations is our B2B platform for companies, universities, and institutions to track and showcase collective environmental restoration efforts. It includes an admin dashboard, team management, and impact analytics.

Question 23

What roles are available?

Accepted Answer

Organizations have three roles: Owner (full control including billing), Admin (manage members, events, and settings), and Member (log plantings and participate in events).

Question 24

How do organization events work?

Accepted Answer

Organization admins can create planting events with defined areas, invite members via codes, and track check-ins and plantings in real time. Post-event analytics show participation rates and environmental impact.

Question 25

What privacy settings are available?

Accepted Answer

You can control who sees your plantings (public, followers-only, or private), whether your profile appears in search results, and your display name visibility. Configure these in Settings > Privacy.

Question 26

How do I block someone?

Accepted Answer

Visit the user's profile, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Block". Blocked users cannot see your profile, plantings, or activity. Manage blocked users in Settings > Blocked Users.

Question 27

Can I export my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes, request a data export from Settings. This includes all your planting records, photos, GPS coordinates, and profile information in a standard format.

Question 28

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Go to Settings > About > Terms & Privacy, then select "Delete Account". This permanently removes your account and all associated data. This action cannot be undone. You can also use our web deletion page at selvaapp.com/delete-account.

Question 29

What data does Selva collect?

Accepted Answer

Selva collects GPS coordinates (planting verification), photos (planting records), basic profile information, and app usage analytics. We do not sell your data. See our full Privacy Policy for details.

Question 30

Am I responsible for checking planting laws?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You are solely responsible for knowing and complying with local planting laws, obtaining land owner permission, checking species restrictions (invasive species regulations), and compliance with environmental regulations in your jurisdiction. Selva does not authorize, validate, or verify the legality of any planting activity.

Question 31

What about invasive species?

Accepted Answer

Many regions have laws restricting or prohibiting certain plant species. Before planting, research your local invasive species lists and regulations. Our Species Recommendation tool suggests species suitable for your area, but you must verify compliance with local laws. Selva is not responsible for species-related violations.

Question 32

Are CO₂ estimates accurate?

Accepted Answer

CO₂ absorption figures shown in Selva are community-sourced estimates based on general formulas, not scientifically verified measurements. They should not be used for carbon credit claims, regulatory compliance, or official environmental reporting without independent verification.

Question 33

Where can I find the full legal documents?

Accepted Answer

You can find our full Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and Cookie Policy on our website at selvaapp.com/legal, or through Settings > About > Terms & Privacy in the app.

Question 34

My GPS location is inaccurate

Accepted Answer

Ensure location permissions are enabled for Selva in your device settings. Go outside with a clear sky view for better accuracy. Wait a few seconds for the GPS to lock on before confirming. You can also drag the pin manually.

Question 35

Photos aren't uploading

Accepted Answer

Check your internet connection. Photos are compressed before upload, but a stable connection is needed. If the problem persists, restart the app. Make sure Selva has camera and storage permissions.

Question 36

I can't log in

Accepted Answer

Try resetting your password via "Forgot Password" on the login screen. If you signed up with Google, use "Sign in with Google" instead. Make sure you're using the same email you registered with.

Question 37

How do I contact support?

Accepted Answer

Email us at support@selvaapp.com with a description of your issue. Include your device model, app version (found in Settings > About), and screenshots if possible. We typically respond within 24-48 hours.

Help Center

Important Legal Notice

Getting Started

Logging Trees & Plants

Map & Discovery

Community & Social

Your Impact

Organizations

Privacy & Account

Legal & Safety

Troubleshooting