Motion 126

Background
The IUCN Strategic Plan emphasizes the need for inclusive, innovative, and participatory approaches to achieving global biodiversity goals. In this context, Citizen Science stands as a critical tool for advancing biodiversity conservation, bridging knowledge gaps, engaging local communities, Indigenous Peoples, volunteer groups, and other individuals, mainly women, and youth, in all stages and methods of biodiversity conservation and supporting the monitoring frameworks essential to achieving international environmental agreements.
Citizen science is recognized globally as a vital contributor to biodiversity monitoring and environmental governance. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (Decision 15/5, 2023) calls for integrating community-based monitoring and citizen science into global efforts to achieve biodiversity goals. Similarly, the GEF STAP Note on Citizen Science (2024) highlights its potential to deliver global environmental benefits (GEBs) and provide reliable, cost-effective data for decision-making. The IUCN Resolution 7.115 (Marseille, 2021) further underscores the role of environmental defenders, including citizen scientists, in safeguarding natural resources and promoting justice.

Actions, Strategies, and Processes
This motion outlines a comprehensive set of actions and strategies to mainstream citizen science into global and local conservation efforts, ensuring its integration into policy and practice.
We recommend that IUCN develop thematic citizen science toolkits and best practice guides addressing biodiversity monitoring, traditional knowledge, data standardization, use of open-source platforms, and others.
Governments, NGOs, treaties, and research institutions are encouraged to incorporate citizen science across all project phases, from planning and implementation to monitoring and evaluation, aligning efforts with the Kunming-Montreal Framework. Community-based monitoring is emphasized, leveraging traditional and scientific knowledge and subjective well-being data while prioritizing gender inclusion and youth engagement. To enable large-scale implementation, the motion advocates for resource mobilization through financial and technical support from multilateral organizations, governments, and foundations.
Capacity building is central, focusing on developing training programs and open-source tools to empower citizen scientists and community groups. Additionally, the motion calls on the IUCN Director General to establish a dedicated citizen science strategy and task force by 2026, appointing a senior lead to oversee coordination. Supporting these actions, key frameworks and publications underscore the importance of citizen science.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2023) highlights its role in achieving targets, particularly Target 3, while the GEF STAP Note on Citizen Science (2024) emphasizes its potential for scalable data collection and stakeholder engagement in monitoring global indicators, including the Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, IUCN’s initiatives demonstrate the success of citizen science in updating the Red List of Endangered Species and fostering collaboration among diverse communities, researchers, and policymakers.
Note.- Other organizations co-sponsoring but not listed are Fundación NATIVA Bolivia, Women For Conservation, ECO New Zealand, Abu Dhabi Gallifrey Foundation, WCC Species, Antwerp Zoo Society, and One Nature.