Project:            Citizen Science
Partners:         Galapagos National Park, Charles Darwin Foundation,
                           State University of New York, American Museum of Natural History, 
                           others
Status:             International Workshop Scheduled for June 2012

Tourists could play a valuable role in scientific data collection in Galapagos. (Photo by Tammy Lytle)

New approaches to involve the public in the collection of information about the state of the environment are rapidly evolving around the world.  Known as citizen science or participatory monitoring (and various other terms) these efforts seek to involve members of the public as vital partners in the process of generating data to inform our collective understanding of the state of the environment. 

Collection of data by the public can generate a body of observations about the environment at broader spatial scales and in a more timely fashion than is feasible using only experts. The Galapagos Islands provide an extraordinary opportunity to develop citizen science with both the local community (about 30,000 permanent residents) and the community of tourists who visit the archipelago (currently >170,000 per year). 

A workshop entitled “Development of a Participatory Environmental Monitoring Program for Galapagos” will be convened in June 2012.  Participants will focus on outlining the elements of a successful participatory environmental monitoring program for enhancing environmental stewardship, scientific literacy, and the effectiveness of conservation decision-making in Galapagos.  During the 4-day workshop, a suite of Galapagos-based experts along with professionals invited from outside with experience in participatory monitoring will focus on conservation questions and approaches to boosting knowledge, participation, and learning through broad engagement of citizens in monitoring.  The group will also tackle issues of ensuring credibility of the program, promoting inclusion of all strata of the resident community, working with less-literate communities in Galapagos, and capturing participation and interest by both tourists and their guides. 

The workshop group will generate an operational plan for “Public Participation in Environmental Monitoring for Galapagos” as well as a financial plan and a list of priority next steps for the year ahead.

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