Hosted on 19 March 2026, this lab explored how citizen science can empower local communities to play an active role in biodiversity monitoring and management.
The session combined conceptual framing with practical field-based case studies from the Caribbean context. Liliana Betancourt (CEPF Caribbean Regional Implementation Team) opened the session by providing an overview of citizen science approaches for biodiversity conservation and community stewardship, drawing on experiences from collaborative humpback whale monitoring in the Dominican Republic.
The presentation highlighted the role of long-term community participation, volunteer engagement, and practical field training in supporting biodiversity monitoring and conservation research.
Shanna Challenger of the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) shared experiences from Antigua and Barbuda on volunteer-driven bird monitoring and citizen engagement initiatives. The presentation explored practical approaches to volunteer recruitment and retention, hybrid online/in-person training models, and mechanisms for ensuring scientific credibility and data quality within citizen science programmes.
Marta Curti of The Peregrine Fund presented experiences from community participation in the conservation of the Ridgway’s Hawk in the Dominican Republic. The presentation highlighted the importance of community relationships, volunteer motivation, and local participation in supporting long-term species conservation efforts.
Collectively, the presentations demonstrated a range of practical citizen science models being implemented across the Caribbean and reinforced the value of peer learning and experience-sharing within the CEPF Caribbean portfolio.
Key takeaways
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Click here to access the recording and presentations: https://bit.ly/4c4dCoK