Coastal Biodiversity Assessment Aided by Citizen Science Volunteers: A Look at the Italian Central Adriatic

Federica Compagnone, Marco Varricchione, Michele Innangi (), Mirko Di Febbraro, Anna Loy, Angela Stanisci, Maria Carla de Francesco, Giorgio Matteucci and Maria Laura Carranza
Additional contact information
Federica Compagnone: EnvixLab, Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, I-86090 Pesche, IS, Italy
Marco Varricchione: EnvixLab, Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, I-86090 Pesche, IS, Italy
Michele Innangi: EnvixLab, Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, I-86090 Pesche, IS, Italy
Mirko Di Febbraro: EnvixLab, Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, I-86090 Pesche, IS, Italy
Anna Loy: EnvixLab, Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, I-86090 Pesche, IS, Italy
Angela Stanisci: National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), I-90133 Palermo, PA, Italy
Maria Carla de Francesco: EnvixLab, Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Via Duca degli Abruzzi, I-86039 Termoli, CB, Italy
Giorgio Matteucci: National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), I-90133 Palermo, PA, Italy
Maria Laura Carranza: National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), I-90133 Palermo, PA, Italy

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: Coastal ecosystems, encompassing land and marine environments and hosting substantial biodiversity, are among the most threatened worldwide. The European Habitats Directive prioritises coastal habitats and species, requiring legislative, direct protection, monitoring, and informational measures. Accurate habitat and species monitoring is crucial to conservation efforts, yet biodiversity research in complex, ever-changing environments like coastal areas is difficult. Citizen Science may bridge biodiversity assessment and eco-friendly monitoring by incorporating non-scientists into the data collection for scientists and stakeholders. A Citizen Science approach supported by a dedicated iNaturalist project (called Wild Coast CASCADE) was implemented to obtain a complete monitoring framework that includes observations of many taxa in terrestrial, aquatic, and transitional dynamic coastal environments in the Central Italian Adriatic coast. We explored data gathered focusing on the IUCN Red List species, the species and habitats of European conservation concern, and the non-native species. Between 2020 and 2023, we collected 3784 records covering 742 species, with 81% meeting the “research grade criteria”, and these were retained for subsequent research. Citizen Science volunteers have collected 291 georeferenced animal records from the global IUCN Red List, 51 plant species from 14 species that are indicators of the presence of habitats of European Conservation Concern, and 44 non-native plants and animals. Our results provide evidence that citizen research projects can effectively assist in monitoring coastal–marine habitats and species. They also underline the potential of Citizen Science for biodiversity conservation and emphasize the importance of public engagement in conservation efforts.

Keywords: cross taxa monitoring; iNaturalist; Habitats Directive; European regulation on alien species; IUCN Red List; Long-Term Ecological Research sites (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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