Engaging citizen scientists in ecosystem restoration

As an overarching goal, this project aimed to empower adult learners, particularly farmers, landowners, and concerned citizens in the Matera region, who face increasing soil degradation, desertifi...

As an overarching goal, this project aimed to empower adult learners, particularly farmers, landowners, and concerned citizens in the Matera region, who face increasing soil degradation, desertification, and extreme weather events. These community members are eager to change how they work with the land, gain green skills, and contribute to climate resilience. Additionally, we sought to strengthen cooperation between Rocciaviva and ERF, promoting mutual learning between a locally rooted, community-led model and an internationally connected restoration network. Specific objectives included: enhancing citizen science capacity to monitor and respond to ecosystem degradation, creating a mobile app to support restoration regionally, nationally and at a European and global level, and fostering innovation in adult education through local learning spaces. We also aimed to improve partners’ skills and experience in working with Erasmus+, language skills, and ability to engage in future EU programmes, while disseminating results locally and across Europe to inspire broader climate action.

The project began with an online meeting in Dec 2023. The kick-start meeting (Jan 2024) involved field visits and expert discussions. We held meetings with the following organizations: Farmtree, Biodiverity Challenge, Vlinder Stichting, SQApp, Wageningen citizen science hub, Vang de watermonsters, NIOO KNAW, Naturalis, Waterdiertjes, Meerbomen.nu. Project coordination was managed by ERF, ensuring regular online coordination meetings, regular project activities monitoring, and timely reporting. The Citizen Science Monitoring Training Program was offered at Rocciaviva (Basilicata) over two consecutive long weekends (6 days in total) between the 19 April and the 5 May engaging 3 participants in field-based data collection and testing a beta version of the app. Feedback was gathered through surveys and used to improve and finalize the app, while simultaneously building local capacity and generating baseline data. ERF managed a communication plan that included social media posts, newsletters, and dissemination of events. Rocciaviva hosted the local event in Matera, while ERF organized online dissemination (with an international reach) to share project results with a broader audience.

The project successfully strengthened the partnership between Rocciaviva and ERF, enabling mutual learning and best practice exchange. Rocciaviva was introduced to international knowledge and trained in using citizen science to engage farmers, landowners, and community members in ecosystem restoration. This first Erasmus+ experience opened new opportunities for Rocciaviva, while ERF strengthened its capacity to manage grassroots EU projects and support educations efforts for ecosystem restoration and regenerative livelihoods. Environmental literacy among the target group, especially local farmers, was enhanced through hands-on training, enabling them to identify degradation, gather data, and take action effectively. The key output of the project was the development of a web-based app to monitor and scale restoration efforts, which is now integrated into both organizations' work and available to other initiatives. The app and related educational content were widely shared, especially via ERF’s global network of 85+ restoration communities, ensuring continued use and long-term impact.