How Do You Train Farmers to Run a Citizen Science Event?

New training materials from a project workshop support replication across project areas, and beyond!

FRAMEwork has published the training materials and event documentation from a May 2022 workshop in Luxembourg that taught farmer cluster facilitators how to organise and run bioblitz events. The materials are designed as a replicable package. One cluster that attended the training conducted a bioblitz, generating 701 observations of 249 species from 129 participants, demonstrating that the model transfers from training to the field.

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What Does the Training Cover?

The workshop walked facilitators through the full event lifecycle: choosing a site, recruiting local identification experts, engaging target audiences, managing logistics on the day, and evaluating outcomes. Facilitators learned to use iNaturalist, a global biodiversity platform available in 61 languages, as the recording backbone.

The materials address practical detail that generic guides tend to skip. Welcome stands matter because participants arriving at a large outdoor site need immediate orientation. Expert stations positioned at strategic locations help people identify what they find. Guided walks engage more participants than self-guided routes. Advance coordination meetings between all partners prevent confusion on the day.

How was it Implemented?

The training package illustrates implementation using one case study from the project’s extensive Citizen Science activities across its Farmer Clusters. Shortly after the training, the Born Farmer Cluster in Luxembourg ran a bioblitz as part of the City Nature Challenge 2022, coordinated with the Luxembourg Museum of Natural History, Ramborn Cider Company and Naturpark Mellerdall Geopark.

The event featured a 5.5-kilometre trail through orchard landscapes, three expert stations, two guided tours and refreshments. Participants documented ticks (Ixodes Ricinus), hogweed or cow parsnip (Heracleum plants), the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) and dozens of other species. Feedback was positive: participants described the event as friendly and informative and said they learned about orchards through direct observation.

The materials note areas for improvement too. Earlier advertising, clearer species guides for non-experts, and iNaturalist instructions printed on maps would all strengthen future events.

Access the full training package: https://zenodo.org/records/16080010. Browse all FRAMEwork resources at https://www.framework-biodiversity.eu/publications.