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Short Abstract

The work highlights diverse kinds of community-based monitoring and citizen science initiatives from western Canada (2019-2024). What can we learn about the influence participatory monitoring for policy making? What are the opportunities and challenges of this work moving forward?

Abstract

Understanding and enhancing the policy influence of citizen science remains a critical frontier. We have examined how the Community-Based Monitoring and Knowledge (CBM&K) Unit in western Canada has shaped environmental governance. During 2019-2024, the Unit supported Indigenous Peoples and local communities in Alberta in documenting environmental change and its implications for health and well-being. Guided by a Steering Committee of Indigenous Peoples, government representatives and other experts, our study involved a document and literature reviews, an inventory of CBM&K activities, 17 semi-structured interviews, and two participatory workshops. The research revealed diverse examples of community-based monitoring work across Alberta, and insights about the opportunities and challenges of producing and sharing out holistic insights about the complex environmental impacts observed and experienced (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) from petroleum development, agricultural expansion, forestry and climate change. With the aim of informing and advancing discussions on the value of participatory forms of monitoring, the work points to the need to: i) address equities in capacity and engagement, ii) improve the opportunities for knowledge-sharing between Indigenous Peoples, scientists and government, iv) coordinate inter-agency coordination; and v) catalyze institutional learning and engagement with communities, and stronger links to policy and decision-making.