Farmland biodiversity monitoring through citizen science: A review of existing approaches and future opportunities

• Published in: Ambio Vol. 53; no. 2; pp. 257 - 275
• Main Authors: Ruck, Andy, van der Wal, René, S. C. Hood, Amelia, L. Mauchline, Alice, G. Potts, Simon, F. WallisDeVries, Michiel, Öckinger, Erik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adaptive management; Agricultural land; Agriculture; Atmospheric Sciences; Biodiversity; Citizen participation; Citizen Science; Common Agricultural Policy; Data collection; Decision making; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental Management; Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use; Farmers; Farms; Humans; Land use; Literacy; Miljö- och naturvårdsvetenskap; Monitoring; Physical Geography; Review; Science; Trends; Typology; Review; Typology; Citizen science; Agricultural landscapes; Biodiversity monitoring; Farmer engagement
• ISSN: 0044-7447; 1654-7209; 1654-7209
• DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01929-x

Biodiversity monitoring in agricultural landscapes is important for assessing the effects of both land use change and activities that influence farmland biodiversity. Despite a considerable increase in citizen science approaches to biodiversity monitoring in recent decades, their potential in farmland-specific contexts has not been systematically examined. This paper therefore provides a comprehensive review of existing citizen science approaches involving biodiversity monitoring on farmland. Using three complementary methods, we identify a range of programmes at least partially covering farmland. From these, we develop a typology of eight programme types, reflecting distinctions in types of data collected and nature of volunteer involvement, and highlight their respective strengths and limitations. While all eight types can make substantial contributions to farmland biodiversity monitoring, there is considerable scope for their further development—particularly through increased engagement of farmers, for whom receiving feedback on the effects of their own practices could help facilitate adaptive management.