Community-based environmental monitoring: conditions essential for long term provision of quality data

Abstract

This thesis investigates the notion of Community-based Environmental Monitoring (CbEM). CbEM is pictured as an integrated and applied approach to monitoring New Zealand's environment, where local communities are involved in collecting, analysing, and interpreting environmental data. Specifically, this research focuses on the conditions that facilitate the long-term provision of quality data and information by CbEM initiatives.

CbEM assists the greater cause of resource management by providing data to decision-makers and allowing the community to make informed changes to their behaviour. The various programmes investigated used CbEM as an effective tool for generating data for resource management decision-making, building environmental awareness, and fostering an ethic of stewardship for the environment. CbEM increases community participation in resource management decision-making and can allow community empowerment. Based on a review of the current legislative and policy framework in New Zealand, this research finds that New Zealand's environmental policy is not a barrier to the uptake of CbEM. However, a lack of directive in the Resource Management Act (1991) and a hesitancy by government regulatory authorities may be inhibiting CbEM in some regions.

To facilitate the uptake of CbEM by government agencies and community groups, the main effort of this research has been to define, explore and confirm a framework of 25 conditions that appear crucial to the success of CbEM. Ten conditions are verified to be generic to the long-term provision of quality data and information by all CbEM initiatives. These are: Communicative network and feedback; Maintaining novelty and variety; Realistic conclusions; Peer review of programme protocol and data release; Explicit and relevant objectives; Established or pre-tested protocol; Identifiable data quality control and assessment; training; specialist input on tap; and, Regular programme review and evaluation.

Six conditions are verified as being specific to the context of each case - that is they appear to be crucial in some but not all instances. These are: Community outreach; Screening participants; Application of programme and data to local resource management; Participant involvement in programme determination; Participant ownership of programme and data; and, Tangible reward.

Nine conditions require further revision and research. These are: Mechanisms for managing conflict as it arises; Ensuring participant safety; Participants make financial contribution; External sources of financial, in-kind, and donated resources and other support; Partnerships; Cohesive organisation apportioning responsibility for programme management and maintenance; Fostering leadership and active leader replacement; Informal or formal data management that maintains data quality and continuity; and, Strategic programme determination.