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| 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 enrichmonitoring progress
within global environmental conventions. It would also link environmental
monitoring to awareness raising and enhanced decision-making at all levels of
resource management. | |
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