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A new FRAMEwork-supported paper considers Concept, Practice, Application, and Results... We’re thrilled to share the publication of a new article in Bioscience , co-authored by Finn Danielson from consortium partner NORDECO . The paper, titled “The Concept, Practice, Application, and Results of Locally Based Monitoring of the Environment” highlights 20 years of research into locally based monitoring, a conservation approach where communities take charge of tracking their ecosystems.  The study shows that community-led monitoring delivers credible, timely data without needing external experts, making it an essential tool for local and national decision-making. In places where expert-led efforts are scarce or expensive, community monitoring offers a powerful solution, especially as smartphone technology and online platforms expand its reach. This work underscores how community engagement can transform conservation, especially in remote areas or for ecosystem attributes that remote sensing can't capture accurately. As digital tools become more widespread, this approach is poised to play an even greater role in global conservation efforts. To dive deeper into how community-driven monitoring can reshape biodiversity efforts, read the full paper in Bioscience .   BioScience is a peer-reviewed, monthly journal published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS). It features research articles, reviews, and essays that cover a wide range of biological disciplines, including ecology, evolution, genetics, and environmental science. The journal aims to provide comprehensive overviews of current biological research and policy issues, catering to both researchers and educators. BioScience is known for its interdisciplinary approach, connecting scientific discoveries with broader societal and environmental implications. It serves as a key resource for the latest developments and trends in the biological sciences.

Citizen science in action with public and private sector partners in Born... A selection of photos from the Bio Blitz | credits various On the weekend 30th April - 1st May 2022 Framework organised a Bio blitz in Born, Luxembourg. Partnering with City Nature challenge, Bio blitz and the iNaturalist platform the two day event was held at Luxembourg Farmer Cluster member Ramborn Cider. Framework worked with project partner the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology and the National Natural History Museum to deliver and engaging event that brought together people of all ages to explore the biodiversity present in the local orchard agroecosystem. Lead Gitte Kragh reports: We ran the BioBlitz on the weekend here at Ramborn. Lovely place, lovely orchards! But also the farmers are here and LIST, our partner. Lots of communication going on because citizen science involves a lot of people! It's all about involving the public and the local community here in biodiversity monitoring. It was also the City Nature Challenge, which is a global biodiversity monitoring challenge that we could tie into. In Luxembourg it was run by the Natural History Museum. There were loads of people. It was really good engagement, lots of people going on the walks, lots of observations. We're up to almost 800 on that weekend and over 70 people submitted records. That's really good! People have all kinds of interest, all kinds of motivations, and some just want to go for a nice walk! So people show up with all these different things and you have to work out very quickly what they're interested in. In beautiful place like this on a sunny weekend, they go like, we just want to go for a walk!And then you go, okay, but you can help us because we don't really know about the biodiversity in the area... Get the iNaturalist app. Just install it and take a photo - everybody can participate, which is what's fantastic about citizen science. Lots of families came. Lots of little kids running around like, oh, what's this? What's this? Getting excited about things that they had never really seen before. Even some of the adults were like, 'I've never seen this butterfly and I live in the area!' When you ask them to look for things, then they start seeing things that they've never seen before. For citizen science, everything is relevant, which is kind of the easy sell if you like. iNaturalists started in 2008, so it's been going for a long, long time. It's a platform developed by scientists to collect data, but it's open so anyone can use it. It doesn't cost anything. So you can download it. You have to create an account. But then if you take a photo and click on the little, this is this is what it is, the name thing. It will think about it. And then there is artificial intelligence behind it that will come up and say, Ooh, we think this is what it might be. It might be at a high level or it might just go, we are not sure. It might be this family or it might be a specific species that it comes up and suggests, which makes it really easy even for us. You know, we don't have to type in anything. We just upload the photo and go, Yeah, it looks like this. And for people who have no clue, they can do the same. They upload it and go, Oh, that kind of looks like that. And then they click it, send it in, done. So it needs a location which automatically by now on smartphones, it needs a time and place automatic as well. So then all the data goes into the big database and a lot of people sit at home, not necessarily scientist. Anyone can do this and go, Oh, this is, this is a grey heron. We went for a walk 20 minutes later, someone had gone, Yes, that's a grey heron! It's really, really quick! And when you have enough either experts or community scientists, then it gets verified and it gets a sticker on saying research. Great. Right. And when it gets that, we can use it as scientists and it gets into a global biodiversity information facility with all the other biodiversity data worldwide, where all scientists can then download the data and use it. The link to the local people is important as well. We know that spending time at night in nature is really good for people. It's good for our health. They go for a walk. It's uphill, it's downhill. It's not easy walking always. And they notice what's around that's really good for also for our mental health. So really important both for ecology but also for for us humans. To see the observations from the weekend, visit iNaturalist by clicking the button below... iNaturalist observations from the weekend

FRAMEwork supported paper in Bioscience... We’re delighted to share a new paper, co-authored by Finn Danielson from consortium partner NORDECO , in this month’s issue of  Bioscience .   The paper highlights a key challenge linked to community-based environmental monitoring - ensuring Indigenous peoples maintain control over their knowledge and data.  The authors first emphasise the vital role that Indigenous peoples and local communities can play in monitoring environmental health, biodiversity, and land-use changes. They describe how these communities are now able to use digital tools to expand the scope of their existing traditional knowledge systems and make impactful contributions to monitoring, helping to inform local decision-making and global environmental governance. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding data sovereignty:  “Given the historical power imbalances between knowledge systems, most written documents using or referring to Indigenous data do not explicitly address Indigenous peoples’ sovereignty over information, often resulting in misrepresentation, or mistreatment of Indigenous knowledge holders’ contributions, and limited opportunities for benefit sharing.” The paper advocates for respecting Indigenous peoples’ rights, drawing attention to the importance of culturally respectful and equitable community-based monitoring. To get the full picture, read the complete article in Bioscience. BioScience is a peer-reviewed, monthly journal published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS). It features research articles, reviews, and essays that cover a wide range of biological disciplines, including ecology, evolution, genetics, and environmental science. The journal aims to provide comprehensive overviews of current biological research and policy issues, catering to both researchers and educators. BioScience is known for its interdisciplinary approach, connecting scientific discoveries with broader societal and environmental implications. It serves as a key resource for the latest developments and trends in the biological sciences.

New FRAMEwork supported paper in the Annual Reviews , co-authored by Finn Danielsen from consortium partner NORDECO. The paper delves into the critical role of community-based environmental monitoring in addressing global challenges such as climate change, social welfare, and public health.  A key insight is that community-based monitoring not only tracks environmental and resource-use changes but also empowers local communities by involving them in resource management and decision-making processes. This engagement enhances self-determination and links local actions to broader national and global frameworks. The co-authors emphasise the importance of continuing to prioritise these links.  The review highlights both the successes and challenges of community monitoring programs. Key benefits include enhanced local governance, increased community resilience, and improved data for informed decision-making. However, challenges such as limited participation, state responsiveness, and safety concerns for participants must be addressed to maximise effectiveness. The authors call for improved data management, better integration with national and global initiatives, and robust conflict resolution mechanisms to ensure these programs' sustainability and impact. Read the full paper   here .  Annual Reviews is a nonprofit publisher dedicated to synthesising and integrating knowledge for the progress of science and the benefit of society. The Annual Review of Environment and Resources  provides authoritative reviews of significant topics within environmental science and engineering, including ecology and conservation science, water and energy resources, atmosphere, oceans, climate change, agriculture and living resources, and human dimensions of resource use and global change.

We are excited to announce the publication of a new FRAMEwork supported paper in Nature. Graphic | Taskscape The paper is co-authored by Gerid Hager from consortium partner IIASA, Finn Danielsen from consortium partner NORDECO and colleagues and appeared in the Nature Reviews: Methods Primers  section of the publication.  The work offers a comprehensive review of the significant role of citizen science in environmental and ecological sciences. It explores how non-professional participants contribute to data collection, advancing scientific research and addressing critical issues such as biodiversity, land cover, forest health, and marine pollution. The authors highlight the full life-cycle of citizen science projects, from design and implementation to evaluation and data management. Key issues like participant engagement, data quality, and ethical considerations are addressed, providing valuable insights for both new and experienced practitioners. Examples illustrate the diverse applications of citizen science, emphasizing its potential to fill data gaps and enhance scientific knowledge through public participation. This publication underscores the importance of integrating citizen science into broader scientific and policy frameworks, promoting open science and societal collaboration. Its practical guidelines offer great value to anyone involved in or considering citizen science projects.  Of course, these insights reflect a key aspect of the FRAMEwork approach and you can find further helpful resources  on the topic of Citizen Science on our information hub, Recodo .    Read the full paper   here   to learn more about the transformative potential of citizen science in environmental and ecological research. Nature is a weekly international journal publishing the finest peer-reviewed research in all fields of science and technology on the basis of its originality, importance, interdisciplinary interest, timeliness, accessibility, elegance and surprising conclusions. Nature also provides rapid, authoritative, insightful and arresting news and interpretation of topical and coming trends affecting science, scientists and the wider public.

The Cranborne Chase Cluster get involved in outreach and engagement activities... Participants on a 'bug safari' | © GWCT/FWAG The 9th June marked Open Farm Sunday in FRAMEwork's Cranborne Chase Farmer Cluster and our cluster members ran some family activities at Rawston Farm , attended by 1800 people! They held a display of crops and wild plants which children could use to make bracelets or crowns and offered ‘bug safaris’ for families to go out on the farm with a sweep net and see what they could find and identify. It was a drizzly and overcast day, but our participants found plenty of meadow browns, green fly, flower beetles, grass bugs, orb web spiders, and a lot of snails after the heavy rain shower! FRAMEwork consortium partner GWCT attended with a stand on their Owl Box Initiative, describing their conservation work across the cluster, with a barn owl pellet dissection activity for the children. The Importance of Pollinators for UK Farming Pollinators play a pivotal role in natural pest control and ecosystem health within UK farming. By aiding plant reproduction, they encourage the growth of habitats that support beneficial predator species, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. This interconnected web of pollination enhances soil health, plant diversity, and crop resilience, underpinning more sustainable agriculture and robust ecosystems. The UK PoMS (Pollinator Monitoring Scheme)  seeks to better understand insect pollinator populations across the UK. In the UK there's a notable decline in pollinators. 42% pollinator species became less widespread between 1980-2022 with 21% exhibiting a strong decline. The decline impacts not only the species themselves but also the pollination services critical for agricultural productivity and the sustenance of wild flowers. This is ocurring within global context where 40% of invertebrate pollinator species, particularly bees and butterflies, are facing extinction - while being crucial for the reproduction of over 75% of food crops and 90% of flowering plants . Open Farm Sundays Kick-started by LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) in 2006, Open Farm Sunday is a UK initiative that encourages farmers to open their farms to the public for one day each year, usually in June. This movement aims to connect people with the farmers who produce their food, offering a firsthand look at the realities of modern farming and food production. Through farm tours, demonstrations, and activities, visitors gain insight into the agriculture industry, fostering greater understanding and support for farming communities. It's a unique opportunity for families to learn about where their food comes from in an engaging, interactive environment. And for all parties to explore more sustainable practices and develop environmental awareness of how agriculture and nature interact where they live.

Project delegation take FRAMEwork to OECSK2023... © Johannes Kepler Universität Linz Under the theme Versuchen - Vereinen - Verantworten  (Try - Unite - Take Responsibility), this year’s Austrian Citizen Science Conference (OECSK2023) took place at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz between April 19 - 21, 2023. The aim of the conference was to celebrate and promote actively involving citizens as part of research processes. Representatives of the FRAMEwork project attended to present the Farmer Cluster Citizen Science approach.  Across a series of “Lightning Talks” and “Cabin Talks”, attendees were able to share and discuss each others’ diverse array of Citizen Science projects, with 30 projects presenting at a poster session at LIT Factory . FRAMEwork consortium representatives Daniela Ablinger ( AREC ) as well as Gerid Hager ( IIASA ) and Marie-Luise Wolmuth ( BOKU ) presented the Farmer Cluster Citizen Science approach. FRAMEwork WP3 Lead Gerid Hager | © Johannes Kepler Universität Linz The cohort enjoyed their time at the conference, saying: “the event gave lots of new impressions on how Citizen Science is conducted in different scientific and social fields and which projects are currently worked on. We had a few very interesting discussions on Citizen Science and the Farmer Cluster approach during the poster presentation.”  The first day’s keynote speech was delivered by Margaret Gold ( University of Leiden ). Titled ​​ " Riding Four Waves of Citizen Science: A Global to Local View of a Field in Motion, " the talk detailed Margaret’s extensive experience in creating strategies designed to globally support Citizen Science at European, national, and local levels. Melanie Smallman (University College London) delivered the keynote speech: "Engaging Citizens Across Scales: A Vital Approach to Ethical Technological Development." She emphasized the importance of including citizens in the processes of technology development and implementation for integrating ethical considerations and fostering greater trust in scientific and technological advancements.  OECSK2023 was organised by the Citizen Science Network Austria in close cooperation with the Johannes Kepler University Linz, Ars Electronica and the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft. Events like this provide invaluable opportunities for discussing common areas of interest with representatives of a diverse range of organisations, as well as fostering future partnerships. Congratulations to the team for taking FRAMEwork to OECSK2023!  © Johannes Kepler Universität Linz

Launching an iNaturalist farmland biodiversity observatory across our Farmer Cluster network... The Framework Project is engaging stakeholders in rural communities and regions through Farmer Cluster visits, workshops and citizen science events. We're reaching out to the communities in which our Clusters are located for a range of local and regional impacts. This includes farmers and their families, countryside leisure and environmental groups, NGOs and political representatives. Farmers in our Clusters are receiving training to help them monitor the biodiversity that's important to them and their agroecosystems. Community participation can help farmers from feeling marginalised in their localities and supercharge the amount of data that can be collected. Citizen Science events like Bio Blitzes also offer an opportunity for the wider community to be educated about the biodiversity of their region in a fun and interactive way. Several Bio Blitz events have taken place so far on the project across our Farmer clusters in Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Scotland, Austria, Estonia and Italy. Recently, project partner The International Institute of Advanced Systems Analysis has collated the results of these into a single profile on the biodiversity data platform iNaturalist. iNaturalist is a great tool for BioBlitzes as it can be used by anyone with a smartphone in their pocket! But it also allows for data collected to be useful to scientists and farmers for building up a picture of the biodiversity present in agricultural landscapes. Through the American nonprofit social network, users can share observations of plants, animals, fungi, and more, adding to a global database of approximately 161 million observations. By recording encounters with organisms and collaborating with experts, users create valuable data for scientific research and resource management. iNaturalist also offers opportunities to become a citizen scientist, participate in missions, and learn from other naturalists. With open-source software and partnerships with institutions like the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic Society, iNaturalist has become a standard-bearer for crowd-sourced biodiversity data. We look forward to many more Bio Blitzes to come across the project!

New project-supported publication considers Citizen Science's contributions to the UN's SGDs... Image | Unsplash Finn Danielson from consortium partner NORDECO   has contributed to a collection of 21 papers, published in Citizen Science: Theory and Practice , addressing the relationship between citizen science and the SDGs and/or other international agreements and frameworks.  Titled “The Contributions of Citizen Science to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Other International Agreements and Frameworks,” the collection considers different perspectives including those of citizen science researchers and practitioners, NSOs, and international organizations.  The authors posit that a lack of resources and institutional capacity makes the monitoring of the UN’s indicators for Sustainable Development goals very challenging for the producers and users of official statistics. They advocate for increased leveraging of citizen science as a solution to those issues.  To quote from the collection’s introduction:  “In a nutshell, this collection demonstrates that several issues need urgent attention to leverage citizen science approaches for the SDGs and other frameworks, while simultaneously utilizing these frameworks to fully realize the potential of citizen science. These issues include insufficient inclusiveness and lack of long-term participant engagement in many citizen science intiatives, which is in part related to the lack of sustainable funding. Additionally, a lack of awareness of the SDGs and other frameworks within the citizen science community and a lack of understanding of citizen science data and approaches among the official statistics and policy communities was also highlighted, which requires establishing partnerships between these actors and other stakeholders.”  To read the full collection, visit Citizen Science: Theory and Practice . Citizen Science: Theory and Practice (CSTP) is an online, open-access, peer-reviewed publication focused on the global field of citizen science and other participatory sciences. It provides a venue to share and advance related theories and practices, and serves those interested in and contributing to citizen science across all disciplines, including scientists, educators, community organizers, evaluators, information technologists, and resource managers.

In our Cranborne Chase Farmer Cluster, several months of Citizen Science activities kick off with a focus on mammals! © The Mammal Society UK On the 2nd May, the Cranborne Chase Farmer launched their citizen science programme for the year with an event at Launceston Farm, training locals in monitoring small mammals. The fifteen attendees looked at some of the small mammals observable in the local countryside and were introduced to the PTES methodology for small mammal monitoring and hedgehog surveys. This included a demonstration of the use of the Mammal Mapper  app for recording any mammal sightings. Participants were invited to undertake a survey of a 1km2 area within the cluster and three groups volunteered - one group has since submitted their survey results with more to come! Farm sign | ©Taskscape Media Launceston Farm is an organic, family-run establishment nestled in the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, covering 1,700 acres. Since converting to organic farming in 2008, it has focused on sustainable agriculture, maintaining a beef suckler herd, arable crops, and new woodland areas. They also offer eco-tourism options for accommodation and events. Through the FRAMEwork project, Launceston has made interventions for habitat and agrobiodiversity supported by Cluster-level funding schemes coordinated by FWAG Cluster Facilitator Claire Buckerfield. Read more on this activity here . Launceston Farm landscape from above | ©Taskscape Media More Information The People's Trust for Endangered Species ( PTES ) is a UK-based charity founded in 1977, dedicated to the conservation of wildlife in Britain and overseas. PTES engages in research, practical conservation work, and education, supported by public involvement through surveys, volunteering, and donations. Their efforts aim to support species undergoing a biodiversity loss crisis by addressing root causes of their decline, promoting sustainable coexistence, and informing land use. PTES's work is evidence-based, guided by scientific research and community engagement, to ensure effective conservation outcomes which bring different stakeholders together - a perfect fit for FRAMEwork's approach! The PTES m ethodology for small mammal monitoring recommends deploying things like footprint tunnels and camera traps tailored to target species' unique behaviours and environments. They also recommend gathering animal movement and population dynamics information through surveys and, where feasible, tagging and tracking animals. For more, please see the guidlines PTES publish for specific species. The Mammal Society is a UK-based organisation dedicated to the conservation of British mammals. They conduct scientific research, provide expert advice, and work to improve understanding and appreciation of mammals and their habitats. Their Mammal Mapper app is a citizen science tool designed for the land users to record sightings of mammals across the UK. This app helps gather vital distribution data, contributing to conservation efforts by monitoring population changes and understanding the impact of environmental pressures on mammal species. It's a user-friendly way for people to engage in wildlife conservation directly. Keep your eyes peeled for more updates on Citizen Science and community engagement from our Cranborne Chase Cluster !

The Cranborne Chase Cluster community monitor butterflies... Volunteer proudly showing off the Small Blue she caught in her net | © FWAG/GWCT On 14th June, fourteen volunteers attended a pollinators event at Chettle House , in the project's UK Farmer Cluster Cranborne Chase - many returning from the first event. Here, the group were introduced to butterfly monitoring through Butterfly Conservation and FIT surveys. Butterfly Conservation's surveys, including the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), track butterfly populations, providing crucial data on trends and declines. The Flower-Insect Timed (FIT) Count is part of the Pollinator Monitoring Scheme, gathering information on flower-visiting insects, aiding conservation efforts. This session was fascinating and inspiring to the group, who found several Small Blue butterflies on site. Several volunteers have been in touch to say they have since carried out their own FIT survey.  One participant followed up with the project saying:  "I'd expected the cluster to be full of motivated and determined people but I felt your group has already moved well beyond that, whilst retaining that enthusiasm and sense of joy in what you are doing. I was left with the very strong impression that this is going to have a significant impact and was so impressed by the team." The Cranborne Chase Cluster Established in February 2022, supported by FRAMEwork, the Cranborne Chase Farmer Cluster consists of 22 farms on 10,000 hectares with conventional and organic farming systems represented. The Cluster focuses on habitat management, soil regeneration, and biodiversity restoration, involving community and conservation groups. Initiatives include installing wildlife boxes, planting hedgerows, cultivating plots for rare plants, meadow management and securing agri-environment funding for these interventions. CC Stock Butterfies and biodiversity loss In the UK, butterfly populations have faced significant declines, with reports indicating 80% of species have declined since the 1970s. This trend mirrors global concerns, notably with the Eastern migratory monarch butterflies experiencing a 22% drop in their wintering habitat area in one year, highlighting a continuous decline over 25 years. These declines are attributed to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change, posing risks to biodiversity and agriculture. For more detailed information, visit Butterfly Conservation and World Wildlife Fund . Butterflies contribute to agricultural systems primarily through pollination. As they move from flower to flower to feed on nectar, they inadvertently transfer pollen. This process facilitates the fertilization of plants, leading to the production of fruits, vegetables, and seeds. This ecological service supports the growth of crops and wild plants, enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem health. Butterflies also have roles as part of the larger ecosystems - helping maintain the balance of other species and serving as indicators of environmental change impacting agricultural practices and yields.

Citizen Scientists celebrate the biodiversity of Luxembourg's Orchards... © LIST On the 30th April people from all walks of life were warmly welcomed by the project's Luxembourg Farmer Cluster to spot biodiversity using the user-friendly app, iNaturalist, as part of the City Nature Challenge 2023. The project partner, LIST, along with dedicated volunteers from the NGO Bee Together, organised stands along a guided orchard hike trail. These offered participants guidance on using the iNaturalist app, enabling them to identify various organisms and learn about their vital contributions to the local ecosystem. To ensure inclusivity, information was presented in multiple languages, including English, French, German, and Luxembourgish. © LIST Adding to the enjoyment, project stakeholder, Ramborn Cider provided a welcoming base camp, arranging for catering and guided tours. Collaborating with the Nature and Geopark Mëllerdall, the farmers of the cluster thoughtfully concentrated their cattle in selected orchards, ensuring safe access to all the remaining orchards for visitors of all ages. The goals of this event were to engage people with insights into the ecosystem services behind the production of fruits used for making cider and juices, and, most importantly, involve citizens in the essential task of monitoring biodiversity within the Farmer Cluster. © LIST This year marked the second edition of the City Nature Challenge organised in Born and the response from the local community and visitors was excellent . Throughout the weekend, an impressive 330 species observations were recorded along the enchanting orchard trail. This data collection provided a fascinating glimpse into the rich biodiversity present in the area. It demonstrated how communities can contribute to scientific knowledge on agroecological health while getting to know their region better. As we look ahead, anticipation is already build for the third edition of the City Nature Challenge at Born, scheduled for 2024. By bringing together citizens, stakeholders, and scientists, events like the City Nature Challenge strengthen our collective understanding of farmland biodiversity - with every observation, every identification, and every moment spent in nature valuable in multiple ways. Together, we can make a difference in preserving the natural systems that enrich our lives and sustain our planet. See you in 2024 for the third edition of the City Nature Challenge at Born! Head here to read more about last year's event.