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Short Abstract

Citizen Science can empower marginalised communities in shaping Nature-Based Solutions. The Trans-Lighthouses project applies participatory methods to ensure inclusive, just, and caring governance models that strengthen community agency and diverse knowledge.

Abstract

Citizen Science (CS) creates opportunities to empower marginalised communities by placing citizens at the centre of knowledge production and decision-making. Its transformative potential, however, relies on practices that are equitable, inclusive, and sensitive to diverse local contexts. The Trans-Lighthouses project (https://trans-lighthouses.eu) addresses this challenge by embedding CS and participatory methods throughout the full lifecycle of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS): co-diagnosis, co-design, co-implementation, and co-evaluation. An ethic of care underpins this approach, emphasising respect, trust, and attentiveness to participants’ needs. Care-oriented recruitment is particularly critical, as it determines whose voices are heard and how communities are represented. Rather than treating recruitment as a one-time step, the project views it as a continuous practice of outreach and relationship-building. This involves actively engaging groups who are often excluded from environmental governance, fostering representation, and creating safe spaces where multiple forms of knowledge are recognised and valued. In the co-diagnosis stage, CS ensures that local perspectives on environmental and social challenges are brought forward. During co-design, it allows proposed NBS to align with community priorities and cultural contexts. In co-implementation, inclusive participation strengthens ownership and shared responsibility. Finally, co-evaluation integrates diverse citizen perspectives, enabling more just assessments of outcomes while reflecting on inclusivity, justice, and sustainability. By embedding ethics of care into recruitment and engagement across all stages, Trans-Lighthouses shows how CS can advance socially and ecologically just NBS. This approach not only addresses challenges of inclusivity and representation but also strengthens community agency, amplifies marginalised voices, and supports more just, equitable futures.