Did you know that citizen science is an alternative to collecting biodiversity data on a global scale without breaking the bank? But its adoption in developing countries, where most species live, is currently quite rare. This article reveals the imbalance between the Global North and Global South in utilizing citizen science and how this gap can be reduced with the help of local teachers.
The rise of citizen science
The use of citizen science is growing. The number of projects that rely on non-specialists to contribute to scientific research, referred to as citizen science projects, has increased greatly over the past two decades. And for good reason. Having a team of professional researchers collecting data around the globe will very quickly result in unsustainable costs but setting up a network of volunteers to engage in data collection can be a cost-effective alternative. In terms of the quality of the data collected by volunteers, studies and scientists indicate that enthusiastic citizens can collect high-quality data, particularly when the projects provide training or add validation checks.
However, this is not a one-way trade-off. The people who participate in these projects also reap benefits, such as acquiring new knowledge, professional growth, and personal enjoyment.
But does this approach work in the Global South? This question will be explored by looking at iNaturalist – one of the largest citizen projects worldwide.
iNaturalist in the Global South
iNaturalist has over 3 million users who have already contributed 220 million observations of biodiversity. Anyone can contribute to this project by creating an account and submitting pictures of the fauna, flora, or fungi they encounter. Imagine you are walking home and you spot a stunning butterfly – simply take a photograph of it and add this to your iNaturalist account. When the entry has been uploaded, the platform will use AI to suggest likely species identification, and then other users will review this and either confirm or correct the identity.
Is iNaturalist successful in gathering data from the Global South? Let’s look at the numbers:
Insight #1: 24% of observations were made in the Global South featuring 360,000 different species
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the Global South is home to more than half of all known species. However, only a small percentage of observations feature species from these regions. In fact, the number of species registered on iNaturalist for the Global South (360,572) is quite similar to those observed in the Global North (363,435) which indicates that many species in developing countries have yet to be spotted by platform users.
Insight #2: 26% of citizen scientists registered observations in the Global South
iNaturalist’s data shows that only a minority of its users have provided observations from developing countries and even those who did submit data from these regions were possibly tourists briefly visiting the country on holiday. iNaturalist does not currently allow users to be filtered by their home location which limits the conclusions that can be drawn.
Insight #3: 44% of volunteers validated observations made in the Global South
Any iNaturalist user can help to validate the submissions entered by other people. To review and validate submissions from the Global South, it is not necessary to be physically present in the region which makes it easier for citizen scientists from other countries to contribute.
Global South vs Global North: a citizen science gap
Gaining knowledge, contributing to wildlife conservation, and spending time in nature are three common motivations and benefits reported by citizen scientists who are based in developed countries.
Are the motivations similar in the Global South? Not exactly, according to some reports by certain NGOs which indicate that personal development and altruistic drivers are not particularly relevant in this hemisphere. While previous projects have shown that financial compensation is vital to keep people engaged, citizen science contributions are rarely remunerated so bridging this gap will require creativity. Citizen science in the Global South needs to aid the monitoring of biodiversity because this region houses an astonishing number of all known species, but how can this be achieved?
Bringing citizen science to the classroom
One way of involving communities in citizen science at a low cost is to include these projects in a school context. In developing countries, teachers are well respected within their communities. Having students collect scientific data as part of their classroom learning means they will be naturally motivated.
One team of researchers put this theory to the test by challenging students from two high schools in Nepal to collect rainfall data as part of the curriculum. The results were encouraging with the students being proud to be selected and most collecting data for over six months. Although more research and case studies are needed, partnering with local teachers does appear to be a promising way of promoting citizen science in the Global South.
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