Community-based monitoring for environmental sustainability: A review of characteristics and the synthesis of criteria

Nur Khairlida Muhamad Khair; Khai Ern Lee; Mazlin Mokhtar

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112491

Community-based monitoring for environmental sustainability: A review of characteristics and the synthesis of criteria

J Environ Manage. 2021 Jul 1:289:112491. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112491. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Authors

Nur Khairlida Muhamad Khair¹, Khai Ern Lee², Mazlin Mokhtar³

Affiliations

¹ Research Centre for Sustainability Science & Governance (SGK), Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
² Research Centre for Sustainability Science & Governance (SGK), Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Centre for Research and Instrumentation Management (CRIM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University, No.5, Jalan Universiti, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: khaiernlee@ukm.edu.my.
³ Research Centre for Sustainability Science & Governance (SGK), Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University, No.5, Jalan Universiti, Selangor, Malaysia.

PMID: 33813302
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112491

Abstract

Community-based monitoring is increasingly recognised as one solution to sustainable environmental management. However, the development of community-based monitoring has led to confusion or misconceptions regarding other similar initiatives. Through a review of the characteristics and synthesising criteria of effective community-based monitoring, this article addresses how to distinguish community-based monitoring from other forms of community engagement research. A review of relevant community-based monitoring literature identifies the characteristics of and knowledge gaps in procedures and governance structures. Additionally, evidence of common benefits, challenges and lessons learned for successful community-based monitoring are deliberated. As an outcome of the review, the article synthesises a set of community-based monitoring criteria as follows: (1) efficacy of initiatives, (2) technicality aspects, (3) feedback mechanisms and (4) sustainability. These synthesised criteria will be instrumental in designing customised community-based monitoring initiatives for environmental sustainability.

Keywords: Characteristics; Citizen science; Community-based monitoring; Criteria; Sustainability.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Environmental Monitoring*
Knowledge*