Connecting research and policy to halt biodiversity decline in agriculture... On July 1st, 2025, FRAMEwork's coordinating partner the James Hutton Institute hosted a webinar organised with knowledge exchange partner Taskscape in collaboration with the UK's Natural Capital Initiative. " Halting biodiversity decline in agriculture: the role of science and essential policy initiatives in the EU and the UK" brought together leading experts from across Europe and the UK to explore innovative pathways for conserving biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Through a natural capital lens, expert speakers explored connecting science and policy to help leverage and conserve agrobiodiversity. Graphic: Natural Capital Initiative/Royal Society of Biology The webinar was organised as part of 'Recodo In Real Life', an event series associated with the project's online knowledge, action and legacy platform, Recodo . Previous events include a webinar on Farmland Ecosystem Assessment Support and a hybrid conference at the Czech University of Life Sciences. Want the TLDR? Look out for a summary of this webinar's key takeaways on LinkedIn . You can also explore the events calendar to sign up to future webinars or to receive dissemination materials from those that have already happened. Setting the Scene: Why Landscape-Scale Action Matters The webinar opened with an introduction from FRAMEwork chair Simone Martino , Senior Researcher in Valuing Natural Capital at the James Hutton Institute. After introducing the NCI, our H2020 project and the Recodo platform he posed a sobering reminder - despite decades of agri-environment schemes across Europe, biodiversity continues to decline in agricultural landscapes. This framing lead him to outline the guest speakers and webinar program, which was designed to explore how landscape-scale approaches and collaborative action could help reverse these trends. Speakers: Alison Smith  Senior Research Associate in sustainable land-use pathways at Oxford University. Kaley Hart  Policy Analyst for EU CAP Network focusing on environment and climate aspects. Camilla Moonen  Agroecologist focusing on sustainable cropping systems and landscape agronomy approaches at project partner Sant'Anna University, Pisa. David Baldock  Senior Fellow at IEEP, previously Executive Director, with expertise in European agricultural, environmental, and climate policy. Learning from European Experiences Kaley Hart  from the EU CAP Network kicked off the presentations by highlighting how the Common Agricultural Policy is evolving to better support biodiversity. Drawing on work from a recent thematic group involving 21 EU member states, she emphasized that individual farm-level agreements, while valuable, have limited impact on biodiversity at population levels. "We need to encourage greater spatial coordination," Hart explained, presenting inspiring examples from across Europe: In Austria, the "ÖPUL Connects" initiative requires farmers to create biodiversity areas on at least 7% of their land, specifically designed to form connecting habitats The Netherlands is supporting dairy farmers near Natura 2000 sites to collaborate on reducing ammonia emissions while raising groundwater levels in peat meadows Sweden's new approach encourages farmers to work together to create small habitats that increase landscape heterogeneity The key message? Collaboration between farmers at landscape scale, supported by adequate funding and peer-to-peer learning, is essential for meaningful biodiversity outcomes. Modeling Pathways and Finding Balance Alison Smith  from Oxford University presented fascinating insights from modeling work, exploring how to balance food production with biodiversity conservation. Her research compared land sparing (intensifying production on less land) with land sharing (integrating biodiversity measures across farmland) approaches. Using case studies from Scotland, Smith illustrated that, while land sparing requires challenging productivity increases of 34% or more, land sharing can enhance resilience but may reduce yields by up to 24%. However, a combined approach through improving low-input system yields while implementing agroecological measures could reduce this trade-off significantly. "The key is putting the right thing in the right place," Smith emphasized, showing how local opportunity mapping can help communities make informed decisions about land use that benefit both nature and farming. Ground-Truthing Evidence from the Field Next, FRAMEwork's Camilla Moonen  from Sant'Anna University, Pisa, brought the discussion down to earth with concrete examples from project areas in Italy. Her research in olive groves and arable systems revealed surprising findings: Low-input olive groves contribute as much to wild bee abundance as herbaceous linear elements typically considered optimal for pollinators Linear landscape elements (hedgerows, field margins) can be as effective as larger habitat patches for supporting biodiversity – good news for productive landscapes Different species groups benefit from different landscape elements, highlighting the need for diverse management approaches "There is not one single solution," Moonen stressed. "We need locally adapted approaches that respect both biodiversity needs and farming realities." Policy Lessons from the UK David Baldock   provided unique insights into England's post-Brexit agricultural policy experiment. The shift from CAP to a "public money for public goods" approach has been ambitious but challenging. The Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMS), while promising in principle, have faced implementation hurdles including sudden policy changes that undermined farmer confidence. Key lessons from the English experience include: The importance of consistent policy signals and adequate funding The need for robust advisory services during major transitions The value of linking biodiversity targets to agricultural support The challenge of moving farmers from simple to more ambitious environmental schemes Critical Challenges and Ways Forward The Q&A session revealed pressing concerns about the future of farming itself. As speaker Camilla Moonen poignantly noted, many farmers believe they represent "the last generation," facing severe labor shortages and economic pressures. This stark reality underscores the urgency of making biodiversity conservation economically viable for farmers and deploying appropriate technologies to support new generations coming through. Attendees echoed these concerns, raising practical questions about implementing biodiversity measures, including barriers posed by land ownership patterns and how to feasibly measure biodiversity outcomes given resource constraints. Participants also sought insights from England's ELMS experience and EU CAP developments to inform strategies for engaging farming communities to improve agricultural systems. Overall, questions revealed shared concerns about bridging the gap between ambitious biodiversity goals and on-ground realities. Despite these challenges, the webinar ended on a hopeful note with David Baldock arguing that biodiversity conservation must become central to farming's economic logic, supported not just by policy but by the entire food supply chain noting, "Retailers, processors, co-ops – they all need to understand that biodiversity conservation is part of agriculture's core mission and help pay for it." Engagement and Impact Following promotion of the webinar, Taskscape received 80 external registrations from around the world and, with additional promotion to the NCI and FRAMEwork community, the project is pleased to share that over 90 people attended on the day. All registrants will receive access to post-event dissemination materials including slides and recordings and the webinar will be made available on the Recodo and Royal Society of Biology YouTube channels for future reference by those working on these important topics. Taskscape and the project would like to thank event lead Simone Martino, the NCI partnership and the invited speakers for their essential involvement in this knowledge exchange opportunity. As we face the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change, the webinar demonstrated that solutions exist but require fundamental shifts in how we design and implement agricultural policy. By bringing together science, policy and practice, events like this help build the shared understanding needed to collectively improve our food systems.

Four Days, Thousands of Species! How FRAMEwork helped organise Neusiedl am See joining the World's Biggest Nature Hunt... Credit: Sebastian Frieler Picture this: Over 100,000 people across 669 cities worldwide, smartphones in hand, crouching in gardens, peering into bushes, and photographing everything from tiny beetles to soaring storks. This was the City Nature Challenge 2025, and for the fifth consecutive year, the region around Neusiedl am See , the location of FRAMEwork's Burgenland Farmer Cluster , was right in the thick of it. We were pleased that our project was able to help organise and promote their event . This year, the challenge took place from Friday, 25 April to Monday, 28 April, with the humble Common Dandelion taking home the crown as the world's most observed species. But the overall numbers were staggering. Around 103,000 people documented more than 3.3 million wildlife observations, recording over 73,765 species, including more than 3,338 rare, endangered, or threatened. Austria made a particularly strong showing in 2025, with 14 regions participating and contributing a remarkable 121,965 observations to the global total. Among these regions, Neusiedler See/Seewinkel recorded 3,523 observations documenting 828 different species, with 365 identifiers helping to verify and classify the findings. These numbers represent not just data points, but many of people taking time to explore and document the natural world around them. It was fantastic for our project's own Marie Louise Wohlmuth to be involved. Credit: Katherin Santha For those unfamiliar with this corner of Austria, the Neusiedl am See region is something special. Centered around Lake Neusiedl, Central Europe's largest endorheic lake, the landscape is a remarkable patchwork where the Alps meet the Pannonian Plain. The Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park, as Austria's only steppe national park, offers habitats you won't find anywhere else in the country, from alkaline pools that regularly dry out to extensive reed beds that shelter countless bird species. This year's challenge area was ambitious, covering the entire National Park, all communities east of the lake, the Nature Park Neusiedler See-Leithagebirge, and even stretching across the border to include parts of Hungary's South Hanság region. The cross-border nature of the participation reflects the spirit of the lake itself, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001. After all, birds don't check passports when they migrate, so why should nature observations stop at human boundaries? You can find out more about the work of the project's Farmer Cluster located their on Recodo , and look out for a video taking you into their work and landscape coming to our YouTube  channel in 2025. Credit: Steve Haider The City Nature challenge creates an interesting dynamic: it's simultaneously a competition between regions (who can record the most species?) and a collaborative effort to document urban, suburban and agricultural biodiversity. Every observation, whether it's a rare orchid or a common pigeon, contributes to our collective understanding of where and how wildlife thrives alongside human communities. This years' challenge has wrapped up, but the observations continue. After all, nature doesn't stop being interesting just because the official counting period is over. So keep the iNaturalist app handy, you never know when you might spot something worth sharing with the world. Want to explore the observations for yourself? Visit iNaturalist , where you can also search for previous years' pages for Neusiedler See-Seewinkel as well as observations from across FRAMEwork's areas. And mark your calendars for 2026 when challenge will take place from April 24-27. See some more photos from the day below by BOKU's Marie Louise Wohlmuth...

Citizen Science training focusing on soil held on-farm... On May 19, 2022, a Bio-Blitz event was held at a Cluster farm in Groß Enzersdorf, Austria. During this event, BOKU presented a new approach for assessing soil fauna activity to four farm businesses from the Cluster. Credit: BOKU This event was a warm up to a future workshop digging into Soil Health - w ooden planks were placed on the soil at different places (cultivated crops) of the crop rotation a few weeks before the action. On the action day, the animals under these planks could be observed and identified. Identification keys were used for soil animals, beetles and snails. Each participant received a sheet on which they could note down the animals they found. In addition, participants had the opportunity to use the iNaturalist app to obtain additional information about unknown or little-known animals. Despite the extreme drought in the region, a large number of different soil organisms were found. Participants worked intensively and soil organisms were sighted at all 3 sites and roughly classified using the identification keys. Follow more activity from the Cluster here .

The second project-supported citizen science initiative in Italy... On May 4, 2024, the hills of Monte Pisano once again came alive with the enthusiasm of citizen scientists as a FRAMEwork-supported partnership of local organisations hosted a successful BioBlitz at the Parco della Ricordanza in Montemagno, Calci. This biodiversity event brought together local residents, studentsa and nature enthusiasts to document the remarkable recovery of an area that had been devastated by fire just six years earlier. Project event lead Camilla Moonen walks with participants | Credit: SSSA The choice of location was particularly meaningful. The Parco della Ricordanza, inaugurated in May 2023, stands as a living memorial to the countless volunteers who mobilized after the catastrophic fire that swept through Monte Pisano in September 2018. What was once a scarred landscape has transformed into a vibrant symbol of resilience and community dedication to environmental restoration. Discoveries in the Field The Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies contributed through its Agroecology Group of the Institute of Plant Sciences, while the local Agroecology Desk of Calci helped coordinate community involvement. From 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, participants explored the park and surrounding areas under the guidance of botanical and zoological experts. Armed with cameras, notebooks, magnifying glasses and binoculars, they set out to document the biodiversity that has returned to this recovering ecosystem. The focus of the survey was comprehensive, targeting several key groups of organisms that serve as indicators of ecosystem health: Amphibians and reptiles  - sensitive indicators of environmental quality Pollinating insects  - crucial for ecosystem services and agricultural productivity Decomposer insects  - essential for nutrient cycling Orchids  - indicators of mature, undisturbed habitats Nitrogen-fixing legumes  - important for soil fertility restoration The structured approach allowed participants to contribute meaningful data while learning about the intricate web of life that characterizes Mediterranean ecosystems. Expert naturalists shared their knowledge generously, turning every observation into a learning opportunity. Participants examine soil samples | Credit: SSSA Biodiversity Helps Build Community The event concluded with a bring-and-share aperitif, transforming the scientific expedition into a true community celebration. This social element reinforced the BioBlitz's dual purpose: not only to collect valuable biodiversity data but also to strengthen the bonds between people and place, fostering a deeper appreciation for local nature. The Monte Pisano BioBlitz demonstrated how areas affected by natural disasters can become living laboratories for studying ecological recovery. The park now serves multiple functions - as a memorial to community resilience, an educational resource for sustainability, and a space where traditional agricultural practices coexist with natural elements characteristic of the territory. The integration with the City Nature Challenge 2024 through iNaturalist ensured that the observations made during the event would contribute to global biodiversity databases, making local efforts part of a worldwide scientific endeavor. Participants at the BioBlitz | Credit: SSSA The success of this BioBlitz highlights the importance of citizen science in monitoring biodiversity recovery and engaging communities in conservation efforts. By combining accessible scientific tools with accessible public participation, events like these create a new generation of nature advocates who understand and value their local ecosystems. With climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires across the Mediterranean, Monte Pisano offers hope and a roadmap for recovery. It shows that with community dedication, scientific guidance and sustained effort, even the most damaged landscapes can bloom again - both ecologically and socially. As participants headed home that evening, they hopefully carried with them not just photographs and field notes, but a renewed connection to their local environment and the knowledge that they had played a part in documenting nature's remarkable comeback story. Read more on Recodo .

New project -supported paper in BioScience  by Finn Danielsen of consortium partner NORDECO and colleagues. Graphic | Taskscape We are pleased to share the publication of an insightful paper in BioScience  by Finn Danielsen of consortium partner NORDECO and colleagues. By comparing global programmes with community-based programs in the Artic, the research examines how integrating large-scale, top-down monitoring with local, community-driven (bottom-up) approaches can significantly enhance environmental observation and decision-making.  Their findings indicate that combining large-scale satellite and sensor data with community-based observations allows for more comprehensive and effectuve environmental monitoring.  The authors review 124 global programs and 30 Arctic community-based monitoring initiatives. These case studies illustrate that benefits of integrated monitoring can include improved data accuracy, increased community engagement, and enhanced policy relevance. The paper discusses challenges, such as aligning objectives between different monitoring scales, respecting Indigenous knowledge systems, and ensuring adequate organizational support. The authors propose solutions that include fostering collaboration between scientists and local communities, and developing frameworks that incorporate diverse data sources. Ultimately, the authors advocate for policies that support the co-production of knowledge and value the contributions of local communities. Delve deeper into these findings by reading the whole paper   here .  American Institute of Biological Sciences 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.

Publication of a significant FRAMEwork-supported paper... New Publication on Synergizing Citizen Science and Indigenous Knowledge We are delighted to announce the publication of a significant new paper titled "Creating Synergies between Citizen Science and Indigenous and Local Knowledge" in BioScience. Co-authored by FRAMEwork participant Finn Danielsen (NORDECO), the paper explores how integrating citizen science with Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) can enhance environmental monitoring and conservation efforts. To quote from the abstract: “Drawing on field experience and scientific literature, we explore the connection between Citizen Science and Indigenous Local Knowledge and demonstrate approaches for how CS can generate useful knowledge while at the same time strengthening ILK systems.” Key Insights from the Study The research emphasizes the potential for synergistic benefits when citizen science initiatives incorporate ILK. It highlights how these collaborations can improve data quality, foster mutual learning, and empower local communities in conservation efforts. Key Themes: Complementary Strengths: Citizen science and ILK bring different yet complementary strengths. Citizen science offers broad engagement and technological tools, while ILK provides deep, context-specific ecological understanding. Case Studies: The paper presents various case studies demonstrating successful integrations of citizen science and ILK, showcasing improved environmental outcomes. Recommendations for Integration: The authors suggest practical steps for fostering these synergies, including building trust, ensuring mutual respect, and creating frameworks for equitable knowledge sharing. Practical Recommendations: The authors call for policies and frameworks that support the integration of ILK into Citizen Sience projects. They stress the importance of respecting ILK systems and ensuring that local communities benefit from the collaborative efforts. 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. For more details, please read the full paper here.

FRAMEwork supported paper co-authored by Finn Danielsen from consortium partner NORDECO published in BioScience. The study, titled "The Use of Digital Platforms for Community-Based Monitoring," explores the increasing use of digital technologies in environmental observing programs based on Indigenous and local knowledge. Community-based monitoring (CBM) programs are vital for collecting environmental data, particularly in regions where traditional scientific monitoring is challenging. These programs rely heavily on the knowledge and participation of local communities. With the advent of digital platforms, the process of collecting, archiving, and sharing CBM data has become more efficient. The study delves into how these platforms can improve data management and facilitate better understanding of larger-scale environmental patterns through integration with other platforms. The research, drawing on published literature and a survey of 18 digital platforms, identifies both the benefits and challenges associated with their use in CBM programs. Digital platforms enhance data accessibility and technical capacity, supporting local and larger-scale decision-making processes. However, they also introduce new challenges, such as the sustainability of CBM programs and the control communities have over their data. One of the key insights from the study is the need for ethically developed digital platforms. As communities gain more access to data and strengthen their technical capacities, there is an increasing demand for platforms that are designed with ethical considerations in mind. These platforms should support not only the efficient management of environmental data but also empower communities to make informed decisions and maintain control over their information. The study’s findings have significant implications for the future of CBM programs. By highlighting the potential and pitfalls of digital platforms, the research provides valuable guidance for developing tools that can sustainably support environmental monitoring efforts led by local communities. Read the full paper here . © American Institute of Biological Sciences 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.

Grassland tours for the Mostviertler Farmer Cluster provide an opportunity to spot species and discuss biodiversity-sensitive management techniques... Farm tour with meeting participants | © HBLFA Cluster Facilitator Daniela Ablinger, HBLFA and Citizen Science Lead Gerid Hager, IIASA want to meet the Mostviertler Farmer Cluster in May to show them some opportunities how they may monitor their own grassland with the help of  iNaturalist. Daniela reports: The purpose of this meeting was to make an approach to the farmers about the i-Naturalist App. AREC explained the monitoring and how the farmers could support it with their observations and the App and how important their support in monitoring was. IIASA explained how to install and use the APP. Farmers working with the I-Naturalist App in the fields | © HBLFA Additionally, all participants went out on the fields to make observations, like the well-known BIO Blitzes. It was a great afternoon for the scientist and farmers due to the knowledge exchange and the interactive character of the meeting. Everybody really enjoyed being outdoor in the meadows! Farm view of the Mostviertel | © HBLFA Common milkwort found during the meeting BIO Blitz | © HBLFA To see the farmland biodiversity findings from this session, visit their iNaturalist profile! Artenvielfalt im Mostviertler Grünland iNaturalist Profile | © HBLFA

A series of successful events engaging farmers and citizens recently took place in Austria... The Heiden's Farm | © Taskscape Media On Thursday 25th May 2023 a Framework Conservation Practitioners’ Course was held with participants from the project's Mostviertel Farmer Cluster and BIO Austria . The course was lead by Dr Waltar Starz of consortium partner HBLFA. A morning session focused on presentations about sustainable grassland management and supporting pollinators with talks from Dr Starz and visiting bee expert Dr Johann Neumayer . Participants write notes during the morning session | © Taskscape Media In the afternoon, the group were invited to tour two meadows nearby to the meeting in Sankt Veit an der Gölsen. First the group examined the management and biodiversity of a conventionally managed meadow before moving on to the farm of Christian Knoll, a participant in Framework's Mostviertel Farmer Cluster. There the group was able to see biodiversity sensitive management in practice. It was great to spot the project's information boards from previous blogs in place. Participants included local farmers, Farmer Cluster Facilitator Daniela Ablinger, who lead on the info board initiative, as well as representatives from BIO Austria. Dr Neumayer speaking to farmers | © Taskscape Media Attendees enjoyed talking to Christian about his families' management practices as well as examining the biodiversity present with Dr Starz and Dr Neumayer. Observable differences in impacts were immediately clear and people jumped at the chance to get up close with rare orchids. It was a beautiful day, and at the end of the afternoon the Knoll family hosted an evening discussion with local cider where everyone compared notes over a glass. BIO Austria's Doris Wimmer examines an orchid at the Knoll family farm | © Taskscape Media The following day, Friday 26th May, Framework participants represented the project at Hope am "Aubauernhof". The event was a celebration of biodiversity and sustainable farming hosted by the Heiden family who are leading organic farmers in the region. It marked the family's 30th anniversary as an organic farm, alongside their longstanding membership with Bio Austria as well as more recent participation in Framework. The day was packed with informative sessions and interactive experiences. The morning sessions revolved around agricultural themes, including insights into the "Aubauernhof" and a presentation on "Biodiversity Monitoring by Farmers" by Barbara Steuerer from the Austrian Board of Trustees for Agricultural Engineering and Rural Development (ÖKL). The sessions also delved into the benefits of biodiversity requirements in Austria's ÖPUL 2023 Eco-schemes directive and shared practical tips for enhancing biodiversity-promoting grassland management. Dr Starz held a further series of group talks on at a meadow near the farm, demonstrating sustainable grassland management. In the afternoon, Gerid Hager, from consortium partner IIASA, held bioblitzes with attendees alongside Mostviertel Farmer Cluster Facilitator Daniela Ablinger. These provided a fantastic opportunity for farmers, locals and their families to look closely at the biodiversity present on the land. Visiting project participant Marie-Luise Wohlnuth, from Framework's Burgenland Farmer Cluster, also attended to build links across the project's Cluster network. The energetic festival showcased the region's high levels of organic farming, bringing farmers together from far and wide, while also providing an immersive experience into the world of biodiversity and sustainable agriculture. The curiosity and enthusiasm of visitors was clear to see as was engagement with Framework's Farmer Cluster and key areas of knowledge exchange. Overall, It was great to watch the project's network in action during a busy few days of participation in lower Austria. The region has a unique perspective and history when it comes to the agri-food systems change needed to boost farmland biodiversity and secure environmental sustainability. Helmut Heiden, host of the Friday event, taking part in the project Bio Blitz | © Taskscape Media

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.