Key messages
- Low-cost, reliable methods for monitoring water levels and water quality are needed to assist water-resource managers in their decision-making.
- 'Citizen scientists' willing to take part in simple monitoring activities can expand the data sets in understudied regions.
- We worked with citizens in a remote Kenyan catchment who contributed valuable water level and water-quality data. Long-term motivation of participants, active recruiting of new volunteers, and an effective reward system will be key to sustainable citizen-resourced water-monitoring programmes.
- Data provided by ‘citizen scientists’ can be scientifically robust and cost-effective in supporting the monitoring needed to inform the development of water management strategies.
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17528/cifor/007013Altmetric score:
Dimensions Citation Count:
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Publisher
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
Publication year
2018
Authors
Rufino, M.C.; Weeser, B.; Stenfert Kroese, J.; Njue, N.; Gräf, J.; Jacobs, S.; Kemboi, Z.; Ran, A.M.; Cerutti, P.O.; Martius, C.; Breuer, L.
Geographic
Kenya
Topic
Research was conducted by project
Funded by
Geographic
Kenya
Project Leader
Paolo Cerutti
Senior Scientist and Interim Hub Leader - Nairobi
Christopher Martius
Bonn Hub Leader and Managing Director of CIFOR Germany