Community science supports research on protected area resilience

In a recent paper, Binley, Proctor, Pither, Davis, and Bennett (2021) call for greater integration of community science (also often called citizen science) into research on the resilience protected areas. We strongly agree with their focus as means to expand spatial temporal scale data collection, facilitate consistency in long-term environmental monitoring, promote conservation awareness action (Binley et al., 2021). Expanded use will undoubtedly contribute greatly However, achieve goal increased application science, it is vital that we acknowledge its current contribution. At same time applaud authors' clear spotlight opportunities offered by think conclusions downplay importance. To contrary, believe plays an active role planning, management, monitoring resilient assert improved understanding relationship between areas be critical achieving application. Conservation difficult capture literature reviews, part because practice rooted stewardship specific place local (Ganzevoort, van den Born, Halffman, & Turnhout, 2017; Halliwell, 2019; Haywood, Parrish, Dolliver, 2016; Lawrence, 2009). The place-based nature extends language used describe it; names other have been shown integral initiatives (Newman 2017). As result, reviews based broad search terms, such general terms Binley al. denote areas—“protected area,” “reserve,” “park,” “preserve,”—may fail many examples science. Inclusion sufficient number synonymous variation commonly key review concepts obtaining representative sample (Bramer, de Jonge, Rethlefsen, Mast, Kleijnen, 2018; Haddaway 2020), this limitation compounded focused documents' abstracts, titles, keywords, Web Science employed Franco, example, altered strategy (2021), using Google Scholar iteratively target 10 areas, including four well six more context-dependent (“wildlife refuge”; “state park”; “national “provincial “beach”; “conservation area”), adding indicating (Box 1). Because indexes articles' full text, expected broader set relevant articles; when topic defined several distinct likely some not appear all titles or abstracts despite presence article text (Bramer accessed first documents retrieved each iteration scanned them discussion contribution area resilience. (“[protected synonym*]”) AND (“citizen science” OR “community “citizen scientists”) (ecology ecological stewardship) (planning optimization design prioritization) (resilience resilient) *These ten were one represent concept “protected areas” iterative searches: “Protected area”; “Reserve”; “Park”; “Preserve”; “Wildlife “State “National “Provincial “Beach”; “Conservation area”. found ample evidence deeply integrated identifying 29 peer-reviewed articles 13 grey book chapters (Mandeville, these are diverse geographic region, management ranging from transnational. expect further could targeting descriptors substituting terms—for supplementing term “resilien*” threats resilience, “wildfire” “sea level rise.” Still, identified our exhibit strategies addressing five topics (Table An accurate assessment needed direct future developments impact countless participants currently engaged respect, results significant step forward, important trends demonstrating nearly absent academic discussions stated authors, problematic presents opportunity tightly integrate strategies. impacts global change increasingly felt, must recognize elevate And goal, essential learn successful wish thank Transforming Citizen Biodiversity group at Norwegian University Technology, which both authors part. also extend thanks anonymous reviewers who provided valuable feedback. Funding CPM was Digital Transformation Initiative Technology. declare no conflicts interest. Caitlin P. Mandeville conducted led writing manuscript. Both participated conceptual development contributed aware any ethical issues regarding work. reported manuscript available here: https://osf.io/pxkj5/.