Enabling participatory monitoring and evaluation: Insights for conservation practitioners and organizations

Abstract Mounting environmental crises and the persistent factors driving them require a reconsideration of conservation approaches. Participatory monitoring and evaluation (PME) is increasingly valued as a way for Indigenous peoples and local community actors to lead or engage in conservation activ...

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Main Authors: Amanda Sigouin, Ana Luz Porzecanski, Erin Betley, Nadav Gazit, Peter Lichtenthal, Samantha H. Cheng, Pablo Pacheco, Shauna L. Mahajan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Conservation Science and Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70032
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author Amanda Sigouin
Ana Luz Porzecanski
Erin Betley
Nadav Gazit
Peter Lichtenthal
Samantha H. Cheng
Pablo Pacheco
Shauna L. Mahajan
author_facet Amanda Sigouin
Ana Luz Porzecanski
Erin Betley
Nadav Gazit
Peter Lichtenthal
Samantha H. Cheng
Pablo Pacheco
Shauna L. Mahajan
author_sort Amanda Sigouin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Mounting environmental crises and the persistent factors driving them require a reconsideration of conservation approaches. Participatory monitoring and evaluation (PME) is increasingly valued as a way for Indigenous peoples and local community actors to lead or engage in conservation activities that directly affect them. While research shows that PME can yield favorable outcomes for communities (e.g., knowledge co‐production, social learning, and trust building) and for conservation, practical insights are scattered. Here we draw from the literature and discussions with professionals in the field to distill practical guidance for the design, implementation, and support of PME in conservation. This perspective highlights three themes for effective PME: navigating collaborations, working within local and diverse cultural contexts, and co‐managing PME resources (including resources needed for PME and generated by PME). We recommend that practitioners and organizations, including our own, engage with these focal areas by reflecting on the purpose of PME, learning from relevant experiences, strengthening capacity for PME collaborations, and supporting PME through innovative and flexible financing. We see these actions as leverage points to promote effective PME and advance inclusive approaches to biodiversity conservation.
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spelling doaj-art-8c91c6086f3448d7a5d33a5b118ed9952025-08-20T02:16:29ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542025-04-0174n/an/a10.1111/csp2.70032Enabling participatory monitoring and evaluation: Insights for conservation practitioners and organizationsAmanda Sigouin0Ana Luz Porzecanski1Erin Betley2Nadav Gazit3Peter Lichtenthal4Samantha H. Cheng5Pablo Pacheco6Shauna L. Mahajan7Center for Biodiversity and Conservation American Museum of Natural History New York New York USACenter for Biodiversity and Conservation American Museum of Natural History New York New York USACenter for Biodiversity and Conservation American Museum of Natural History New York New York USACenter for Biodiversity and Conservation American Museum of Natural History New York New York USADepartment of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Columbia University New York USAGlobal Science World Wildlife Fund Washington DC USAGlobal Science World Wildlife Fund Washington DC USAGlobal Science World Wildlife Fund Washington DC USAAbstract Mounting environmental crises and the persistent factors driving them require a reconsideration of conservation approaches. Participatory monitoring and evaluation (PME) is increasingly valued as a way for Indigenous peoples and local community actors to lead or engage in conservation activities that directly affect them. While research shows that PME can yield favorable outcomes for communities (e.g., knowledge co‐production, social learning, and trust building) and for conservation, practical insights are scattered. Here we draw from the literature and discussions with professionals in the field to distill practical guidance for the design, implementation, and support of PME in conservation. This perspective highlights three themes for effective PME: navigating collaborations, working within local and diverse cultural contexts, and co‐managing PME resources (including resources needed for PME and generated by PME). We recommend that practitioners and organizations, including our own, engage with these focal areas by reflecting on the purpose of PME, learning from relevant experiences, strengthening capacity for PME collaborations, and supporting PME through innovative and flexible financing. We see these actions as leverage points to promote effective PME and advance inclusive approaches to biodiversity conservation.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70032community‐based conservationcommunity‐based natural resource managementinclusive conservationparticipatory monitoring and evaluation
spellingShingle Amanda Sigouin
Ana Luz Porzecanski
Erin Betley
Nadav Gazit
Peter Lichtenthal
Samantha H. Cheng
Pablo Pacheco
Shauna L. Mahajan
Enabling participatory monitoring and evaluation: Insights for conservation practitioners and organizations
Conservation Science and Practice
community‐based conservation
community‐based natural resource management
inclusive conservation
participatory monitoring and evaluation
title Enabling participatory monitoring and evaluation: Insights for conservation practitioners and organizations
title_full Enabling participatory monitoring and evaluation: Insights for conservation practitioners and organizations
title_fullStr Enabling participatory monitoring and evaluation: Insights for conservation practitioners and organizations
title_full_unstemmed Enabling participatory monitoring and evaluation: Insights for conservation practitioners and organizations
title_short Enabling participatory monitoring and evaluation: Insights for conservation practitioners and organizations
title_sort enabling participatory monitoring and evaluation insights for conservation practitioners and organizations
topic community‐based conservation
community‐based natural resource management
inclusive conservation
participatory monitoring and evaluation
url https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70032
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AT nadavgazit enablingparticipatorymonitoringandevaluationinsightsforconservationpractitionersandorganizations
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