Monitoring Biodiversity

Monitoring biodiversity using citizen science

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Monitoring biodiversity using citizen science

Starting in April 2025, this working group aims to connect people, communities, and organisations interested or engaged in innovative methods for monitoring biodiversity through citizen science to address current and future biodiversity challenges. It will promote the exchange of good practices and resources to support these methods,  including BioBlitz, strengthening capacity and fostering synergies for their implementation across Europe and beyond. The group will also explore how citizen-science-based biodiversity monitoring approaches can support policy and scientific integration.

Chair

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Aouefa Amoussouvi
European Citizen Science Association

Working group
members

  • Alessandro Campanaro (CREA Centro di ricerca Difesa e Certificazione)
  • Aletta Bonn (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research – iDiv)
  • Andrea Sforzi (Maremma Natural History Museum)
  • Annika Vogel (Hochschule Anhalt)
  • Caitlin Mandeville (Gjærevoll Centre for Biodiversity Foresight Analyses / NTNU Department of Natural History)
  • Carole Paleco (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences)
  • Carolina Doran ECSA (European Citizen Science Association)
  • Chara Megagianni (Web2Learn)
  • Chris Mammides
  • Claire Narraway (Earthwatch UK)
  • Daniel Issel (Leibniz-IZW Institute for Zoo and Wild Life Research)
  • Didone Frigerio (University of Vienna)
  • Elena Buzan (University of Primorska)
  • Eyal Simons (School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University)
  • Finn Danielsen (Nordic Agency for Development and Ecology – NORDECO)
  • Franziska Stressmann (European Citizen Science Association)
  • Ginevra Bellini (Museum für Naturkunde Berlin)
  • Gitte Kragh (Nordic Foundation for Development and Ecology, Aarhus University)
  • Giuliana Sinclair (National Education Nature Park)
  • Jaqui Goldin (Utrecht University)
  • Jodey Peyton (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis)
  • Jordy Janssen (Citizen Science Lab – Leiden University)
  • Juan Ignacio Ramirez Chiriboga (Museum of Natural History of Denmark / University of Copenhagen)
  • Julia von Gönner (German Monitoring Centre for Biodiversity – NMZB)
  • Kaarin Hein (University of Tartu – Estonian Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden)
  • Karen Haysom (ARC, National Amphibian and Reptile Monitoring Programme)
  • Kjell Bolmgren (Public & Science Sweden)
  • Markus Meyer (Hochschule Anhalt)
  • Michael Magee (Natural History Museum Denmark)
  • Mick dos Santos (Ecosystem Restoration Communities)
  • Monika Suškevičs (Estonian University of Life Sciences)
  • Petra Dieker (Research group Agricultural Landscape and Biodiversity at Agroscope, the Swiss federal agricultural research institute)
  • Quentin Groom (Meise Botanic Garden)
  • Rob Ward (ARC, National Amphibian and Reptile Monitoring Programme)
  • Roland Krämer (National Monitoring Centre for Biodiversity)
  • Selim Bayraktar (Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa)
  • Sophie Ewert (Museum für Naturkunde-Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science)
  • Stefano Martellos (University of Trieste)
  • Susana Scott (Ayala Stockholm University / Sapienza Università di Roma / Aix-Marseille Université)
  • Tim Adriaens (Research Institute for Nature and Forest)
  • Tomer Karni (HaMaarag — Israel’s Nature Assessment Program)
  • Yaela Golumbic (Steinhardt Museum of Natural History)

European Biodiversity Sampling Week

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Monitoring biodiversity is like taking a pulse check on Earth’s health. Accurate data are essential to know which species are disappearing or where ecosystems are failing. However, scientists cannot be everywhere at once.

This is where citizen science becomes vital.

During the week of the International Day of Biological Diversity (IDBD), our collective effort does more than just gather data; it connects people to their local environments. By engaging in participative activities citizens gain a deeper understanding of nature’s value, fostering a community dedicated to protecting it. For the future of our planet, citizen science is a powerful tool,
ensuring that we have the knowledge and the passion needed to preserve life in all its forms.

Activity plan

  • Define scope and strategic priorities for the WG: clarify the thematic and methodological focus and develop a short position paper or infographic on ‘What do we mean by monitoring biodiversity through citizen science?’;
  • Consolidate and expand the community: invite participation from relevant EU projects, NGOs, and grassroots initiatives, map interests and share practices and develop an up-to-date and cohesive contact catalogue;
  • Compile a collaborative map of existing monitoring biodiversity initiatives across Europe and beyond, including methodologies used;
  • Shared calendar and event mapping: set up a public, interactive calendar for biodiversity monitoring events (e.g. BioBlitzes, Nature City Challenge, etc.);
  • Capacity building: producing guidelines and practical resources and organizing training and capacity building activities;
  • Policy and scientific impact: analyse and report the WG impact and well as the use of citizen science in monitoring biodiversity;
  • Participation in ECSA Processes.

Past achievements

  • Working Group Report (2025)
  • Workshop at the ECSA 2026 Conference in Oulu, organised in collaboration with the ENFORCE EU-funded project, which resulted in the report Biodiversity Monitoring and Enforcement across Centre and Periphery: Exploring the Interplay between Citizen Science, Technology, Law and Policy (Zenodo, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19728272).
  • Design and implementation of the pilot European Biodiversity Sampling Week (EBSW): https://ebsw.my.canva.site/

How to get involved

Send an email to Patrícia Tiago and Aouefa Amoussouvi

Copyright by European Citizen Science Association (ECSA).
All rights reserved.

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Copyright by European Citizen Science Association (ECSA). All rights reserved.

Webdesign by Goldweiss