The Concept, Practice, Application and Results of Locally Based Monitoring of the Environment

Locally based monitoring is typically undertaken in areas in which communities have a close attachment to their natural resource base. We present a summary of work to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of locally based monitoring and we outline tests of this approach in research and practice over the past 20 years. Our tests show that locally based monitoring delivers credible data at local scale independent of external experts and can be used to inform local and national decision making within a short time frame. We believe that monitoring conducted by and anchored in communities will gain in importance where scientist-led monitoring is sparse or too expensive to sustain and for ecosystem attributes in cases in which remote sensing cannot provide credible data. The spread of smartphone technology and online portals will further enhance the importance and usefulness of this discipline.

Automated summary

Locally based monitoring is conducted in areas where communities have a close attachment to their natural resource base, providing credible data for local and national decision making. This approach delivers reliable data at local scale independent of external experts, and becomes increasingly important in cases where scientist-led monitoring is sparse or too expensive to sustain. The advancement of smartphone technology and online portals will further enhance the importance and usefulness of this discipline.