Community Monitoring for Nature-Based Solutions

In community monitoring programs, community members lead the design, the data collection, and the data interpretation, although external researchers, government agencies, and civil society associations may be involved in providing support and assistance.

Community monitoring can track phenomena of concern to community members at fine temporal and spatial scales, contribute to planning and decision-making, and lead to empowerment of community members in resource management.

Some community monitoring programs have been challenged by lack of long-term sustainability, limited collective action and community participation, and insufficient state responsiveness to data and proposals.

There is great potential to learn from other fields in terms of monitoring public performance and accountability in environmental governance, monitoring community benefits from conservation, and institutionalizing community monitoring.

Community monitoring can be made more effective with improved approaches for data collection, data management and sharing, and application in support of self-determination.

Data frameworks such as the CARE and FAIR principles coupled with an FPIC approach are the minimum requirements to promote Indigenous rights, governance and sovereignty over the collection, ownership, and dissemination of Indigenous data.

Community members defending the environment are increasingly persecuted by government agencies and corporations, particularly in countries with authoritarian rule.

Promising areas for future development of community monitoring for natural resource management are incorporating governance issues into monitoring, embracing integrated approaches at the community level, and establishing stronger links to national and global frameworks.