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What Counts? Volunteers and their organisations in the recording and monitoring of biodiversity

Bell, S.; Marzano, M.; Cent, J.; Kobierska, H.; Podjed, D.; Vandzinskaite, D.; Reinert, H.; Armaitiene, A.; Grodzinska-Jurczak, M.; Mursic, R.

Authors

M. Marzano

J. Cent

H. Kobierska

D. Podjed

D. Vandzinskaite

H. Reinert

A. Armaitiene

M. Grodzinska-Jurczak

R. Mursic



Abstract

There is a pressing need for volunteer amateur naturalists to participate in data collection for biodiversity monitoring programmes in Europe. It is being addressed in some countries, but less so in others. This paper discusses the results from qualitative research using semi-structured interviews, focus groups and participant observation within nine Participatory Monitoring Network (PMN) organisations in six European countries. The paper examines the features that facilitate recruitment, retention and motivations of volunteers to participate in biodiversity monitoring, including the social and cultural milieus in which they operate. The paper concludes that volunteers place a high degree of significance on their social experience within PMNs. Successful creation and management of PMNs thus requires that similar levels of attention be paid to social aspects of the organisation as are paid to the generation and management of data.

Citation

Bell, S., Marzano, M., Cent, J., Kobierska, H., Podjed, D., Vandzinskaite, D., …Mursic, R. (2008). What Counts? Volunteers and their organisations in the recording and monitoring of biodiversity. Biodiversity and Conservation, 17(14), 3443-3454. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-008-9357-9

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Dec 1, 2008
Deposit Date Feb 18, 2009
Journal Biodiversity and Conservation
Print ISSN 0960-3115
Electronic ISSN 1572-9710
Publisher Springer
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 17
Issue 14
Pages 3443-3454
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-008-9357-9
Keywords Amateur naturalists , Biodiversity, Monitoring, Participation, Volunteers.


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