Open AccessLinking Public Participation in Scientific Research to the Indicators and Needs of International Environmental Agreements
Author(s) -
Danielsen Finn,
PirhoferWalzl Karin,
Adrian Teis P.,
Kapijimpanga Daniel R.,
Burgess Neil D.,
Jensen Per M.,
Bonney Rick,
Funder Mikkel,
Landa Arild,
Levermann Nette,
Madsen Jesper
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
conservation letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.153
H-Index - 79
ISSN - 1755-263X
DOI - 10.1111/conl.12024
Subject(s) - convention on biological diversity , environmental resource management , audit , citizen science , business , environmental monitoring , environmental planning , environmental management system , diversity (politics) , environmental governance , political science , biodiversity , corporate governance , environmental science , ecology , accounting , botany , finance , environmental engineering , irrigation , law , biology
Different monitoring approaches collect data that can measure progress toward achieving global environmental indicators. These indicators can: (1) Audit management actions; (2) Inform policy choices; and (3) Raise awareness among the public and policy makers. We present a generic, empirically based, framework of different environmental monitoring approaches, ranging from scientist‐driven to those undertaken by local people. This framework is used to assess monitoring possibilities for the Convention on Biological Diversity “2020” indicators, and those of 11 other international environmental agreements. Of the 186 indicators in these 12 environmental agreements, 69 (37%) require monitoring by professional scientists, whereas 117 (63%) can involve community members as “citizen scientists.” Promoting “community‐based” and “citizen science” approaches could significantly enrich monitoring progress within global environmental conventions. It would also link environmental monitoring to awareness raising and enhanced decision‐making at all levels of resource management.