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.

Bad weather couldn’t stop this years' record breaking bioblitz! © FRAMEwork Cluster Farm: Ramborn Cider The sixth installment of the annual worldwide City Nature Challenge   took place from the 26th-28th of April this year, and our project partners in Luxembourg made full use of the occasion to share FRAMEwork insights and connect with their community of nature enthusiasts!  Originally conceived of by scientists at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, the international bioblitz-style competition, which invites people around the world to make nature observations using the iNaturalist  app, has now expanded to over 400 areas worldwide! The goals of the CNC are to:   Connect people in urban/metro areas to their local nature   Connect people to each other: build community in person & online around local nature   Collect urban biodiversity data available to use for science, management, and conservation   Grow volunteer biodiversity documentation globally   Have fun through some friendly competition!  For three years in a row, the FRAMEwork partner for Luxembourg, LIST , and our cluster in the Born region, have taken part. Once again, they partnered with FRAMEwork friends Ramborn Cider Co . and NGO BeeTogether   to engage members of the community with the event and help make it as successful as possible.  Ramborn provided a base camp where LIST scientists, BeeTogether volunteers and employees of the Natur-& Geopark Mëllerdall  could explain to visitors how to use iNaturalist. Several guided tours with scientists and farmers were organised, so that visitors could learn about the management of the Born cluster and the background of the apps use there. There were also three stands established along the trail through the orchards, giving out additional guidance and information.  Adverse weather conditions resulted in less visitors than previous, sunnier years, but 150 members of the community turned out - and their enthusiasm wasn’t dampened. When we caught up with LIST, they shared that,, in fact:  “More observations were made compared with previous years, suggesting that the motivation of the participants that decided to come under the given conditions was higher compared with previous years!” Altogether 850 observations were uploaded this year, which is a fantastic contribution to Citizen Science monitoring in the region.

The project's Czech partners bring communities together for a special day... © Taskscape Media In June 2023, we shared that a new biodiversity pathway within FRAMEwork’s Velke Hosteradky Farmer Cluster had been approved for funding:  The path is designed to illustrate the relationship between farming and the landscape to the wide public, such as families with children, those interested in organic food production, or people interested in biodiversity. Visitors will learn about organic farming and some of its superstructures in which local farmers participate.  We can now report that, after almost a year of hard work, the path opened to the public on 18th May with a large-scale event termed Clover Day and hosted by the Czech FRAMEwork partner, Czech University of Life Sciences  (CULS) in collaboration with the farms Ekofarma Probio   and Sociální Podnik Jasan   and our friends at Czech Organics .  The 7 km trail offers breathtaking views of the agricultural landscape and its fields, forests, vineyards. Most importantly, it makes the beautiful local biodiversity - all manner of birds, insects, and vegetation - accessible to the community.  © Taskscape Media On Clover Day, a 300 strong crowd of enthusiastic visitors were invited to walk along the path, starting at Ekofarma Probio where organisers helped them to install and use the iNaturalist   biodiversity monitoring app. Along the path, representatives of CULS spoke to visitors about the FRAMEwork project and our environmental research, plus organic farming methods. NGO representatives from organisations like Czech Birdlife were also present, either as visitors or with stands along the path. Plenty of organic produce was on offer to restore hungry walkers: Jasan provided their own delicious produce as catering for the event and the Cluster's own Veritas Winery  had a stall selling locally grown organic wine with over 15 varieties available to taste. There was also the opportunity to see a fascinating demonstration by EarthBridge  of the potential for Earth Observation methods like drones, spectrometers and thermal cameras to enhance our understanding of the environment and help traditional ecologists with biodiversity monitoring.    We caught up with CULS who said:  “We were able to attract 300 people, thanks to the superb network of friends and supporters of Jasan and Ecofarma Probio ” The event was a fantastic example of what local networks of biodiversity-conscious actors and audiences can achieve by coming together, and a great opportunity for a positive celebration of one of the project’s achievements.  Over 40 participants of all ages recorded more than 500 observations with 90 new species spotted during the course of walking the path. FRAMEwork participants from Czech Organics and Eko Farm Probio handed out prizes to the those who had recorded the most in a prize giving session with visitors. Taskscape was in attendance to capture interviews and footage - so keep an eye out for videos featuring this event! You can read additional coverage of the path from the Farmer Cluster here .

Farmer Cluster Facilitation Course now available online... We’re pleased to announce the launch of a free online course for local leaders working with agrobiodiversity! The 'Landscape Leaders: Farmer Cluster Training Programme' is a comprehensive course sharing best-practice information and advice. Course material is drawn from project experience helping establish and lead 11 new Farmer Clusters across Europe. Plus, over a decade of previous engagement at consortium partner GWCT with the 100+ UK Cluster Network. The course is designed to empower advisors, farmers and land managers who are seeking to improve biodiversity and sustainability at a landscape scale. We've synthesised key content and takeaways from throughout FRAMEwork, bringing you an exclusive backstage pass to working with Farmer Clusters. Inside, you'll find a unique curation of resources and project materials. Learners can enjoy interactive content ranging from research-backed summaries to guides, quizzes, specific protocols, video case studies and tools. How was the course developed? The course was developed by The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust , UK, alongside other project consortium partners. Its curriculum is tailored to those exploring the concept of Farmer Clusters and the environmental opportunities and challenges they respond to. Nature doesn’t recognise farm boundaries. As a result, significant benefits for managing biodiversity and ecosystem services can be realised when farmers collaborate. Voluntarily forming a ‘Farmer Cluster’, supported by an advisor or ‘facilitator,’ enables farmers to collectively manage functional biodiversity crucial to their farming systems while also contributing to regional conservation and sustainability priorities. Screenshots from the course How can the course benefit me? Learners will gain a comprehensive understanding of Farmer Clusters, from on-the-ground operations to engaging broader support systems. By the end of the course, participants will be able to: ✔ Appreciate the context surrounding Farmer Clusters ✔ Understand the ethos behind their success ✔ Navigate common obstacles Clusters face ✔ Describe select biodiversity monitoring approaches ✔ Describe select habitat management approaches ✔ Communicate to build momentum Behind every successful Cluster are pioneering farmers, passionate facilitators and others contributing leadership - but this work is impossible alone. Supporters from Community, NGO, Green Finance, Citizen Science, Participatory Research and Policy initiatives will also find insights inside. Who should sign-up? ✔ Lead Farmers and Facilitators interested in setting up a Farmer Cluster. ✔ Supporters seeking best-practice information and insights. ✔ Stakeholders curious about the Cluster approach. What about access and user support? 'Landscape Leaders' is available in english on desktop and mobile devices, via the Trainer Central platform . We're currently working to provide course content in select additional languages. While the project is running, learners can reach out to ask questions, offer feedback or request to be put in contact with people from our network. Updates to course content are guaranteed for the remainder of FRAMEwork, which ends in October 2025. For further information, please get in touch . Screenshots from the course How does the course fit into the project? FRAMEwork aims to enhance how agrobiodiversity is valued by promoting collaborative biodiversity management across diverse ecosystems and landscape stakeholder groups. Our Farmer Clusters function as 'living labs' for life and social science research and host citizen engagement initiatives. This new course is part of our developing   knowledge and action platform 's core offer. Visit recodo.io to discover more free resources!