News

On 16 January, the fourth webinar in the NBS EduWORLD UrbanByNature series took place, where Simon Bénateau, Biodiversity Researcher at the Natural History Museum in Paris, shared insights on how citizen science can play a key role in promoting and evaluating nature-based solutions (NBS). The discussion highlighted innovative ways in which citizens can actively contribute to the collection and assessment of data to promote more sustainable and resilient urban environments.

Citizen Science: A pathway to engagement and impact

Simon Bénateau introduced citizen science as the active participation of non-experts in scientific processes, ranging from simple actions such as photographing local plants to complex tasks such as monitoring pollinator behaviour over time. This approach, he noted, is much more than a means of collecting data; it is a tool for raising awareness, encouraging behavioural change and building support for sustainable urban development.

An outstanding example presented during the webinar was the 'Spipoll' project, a citizen-led pollinator monitoring initiative. Using structured protocols, participants document pollinators in their local environment, contributing to a broader understanding of biodiversity. This programme is an example of how citizen science can bring multiple benefits:

• Participants gain valuable knowledge about biodiversity and its critical role in urban ecosystems.
• Studies have shown that participation in such initiatives leads to environmentally conscious practices, such as reducing pesticide use and creating wildlife-friendly gardens.
• Ongoing monitoring generates valuable datasets that help measure the impact and effectiveness of NBS.

Challenges and opportunities of citizen science for NBS

While the potential of citizen science is immense, the webinar also highlighted critical challenges. Securing sustainable funding for long-term projects remains a major obstacle, as does keeping participants motivated over time. In addition, the integration of citizen-generated data into policy-making processes often lags behind, limiting its potential to influence decision-making at scale. Further the importance of comparative studies to assess the effectiveness of NBS was also highlighted. By analysing areas with and without NBS, researchers can build a robust evidence base to document the benefits of policies such as urban greening and biodiversity-focused planning.

Key learnings: Building a future with citizen science

The discussions during the webinar highlighted several key lessons for using citizen science as a driver for NBS:

• Community engagement is critical: Citizen science fosters not only data collection, but also long-term community support, which is essential for the sustainability of NBS initiatives.
• Education drives change: Empowering participants with knowledge transforms passive interest into active, long-term engagement.
• Policy integration is key: Data generated by citizen scientists must be systematically integrated into policy frameworks to increase their impact.
• Long-term vision is essential: Citizen science thrives on continuity. Building resilient networks and adapting methods over time is critical to maintaining momentum and relevance.

A positive outlook for resilient cities

The webinar ended on a hopeful note: Citizen science has the potential to transform urban environments, making them greener, more resilient and sustainable. By engaging communities, fostering behavioural change, and providing actionable insights, citizen science not only enhances the success of NBS, but also provides a foundation for informed, participatory urban development. 

Missed Simon’s input? Have a look here.