This project aimed to identify priority areas for methods development associated with better utilising citizen science datasets for conservation management. In particular, furthering understanding of the demographic parameters, and habitat use of seabirds, shorebirds and marine mammals for application in population assessments and for informing conservation plans (e.g. such as recovery plans for species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999). The report from this project contributes to a larger report that brings together the exploration of a range of methodologies for improving and expanding monitoring efforts to support conservation management.
This project focused primarily on a stakeholder workshop aimed at capturing Commonwealth, state and territory departmental and expert experiences in collecting, collating and utilising citizen science datasets to expand understanding and inform decision-making processes. Workshop attendees were tasked with identifying priority areas of methods development with a focus on seabirds, shorebirds and marine mammals, and associated research gaps that the National Environmental Science Program could potentially direct efforts to address in the future.
