Exploring Citizen Science as a Tool in Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflict

Citizen science is scientific research involving the public in long-term data collection across large spatial-temporal scales. This form of science has made a significant furtherance to science, education and society... [ view full abstract ]

Citizen science is scientific research involving the public in long-term data collection across large spatial-temporal scales. This form of science has made a significant furtherance to science, education and society throughout history; citizen scientists provide a vast quantity of data about species occurrence and distribution at a global scale while they learn about the species in question, shift attitudes and learn the scientific processes involved. Latest advancements in technology have created new platforms for citizen science to be applied to larger target numbers of volunteers to help address biodiversity conservation issues such as human-wildlife conflict. The public can now be involved in early warning initiatives and intelligence gathering over scales and resolutions that would otherwise be challenging for scientists on their own, in addition to data collection and analysis. It can also help scientists to access local knowledge, interact better with the locals and implement conservation projects that would be challenging otherwise.

Here we present case studies from different locations in the world exploring how citizen science has been used to tackle key issues in conversation and ecology, with a specific focus on human-wildlife conflict mitigation. We also shed to light the importance of data quality, volunteer recruitment, program monitoring as well as the integration of science and human systems in citizen science projects. We also look at the challenges experienced and possible future advancements.