How does biodiversity monitoring impact those who conduct it? Reported outcomes and perspectives of a field team in Lore Lindu National Park, Indonesia

Biodiversity monitoring enhances our understanding of the natural environment, provides insights into ecological trends, and evaluates the effectiveness of conservation and management efforts. However, less is known about how such monitoring affects those who conduct it, both in terms of personal benefits and potential shifts in their environmental perspectives. To explore these impacts, we (the project consortium) interviewed the 44 individuals who participated in a biodiversity monitoring campaign from February 2023 to February 2024 in Lore Lindu National Park, Indonesia. All respondents reported enhanced knowledge and professional networks, while the vast majority also highlighted increased income generation (97 %), capacity development (92 %), and personal fulfillment (97 %). Most respondents reported increased awareness, motivation, and knowledge related to the national park and its preservation, with 43 % of responses classified as a genuine perspective shift. Participants from the local communities in particular described a heightened sense of pride and responsibility towards protecting the park’s natural resources. More broadly, 80 % of respondents expressed a positive perspective shift towards nature and the environment as a whole. These findings align with participant outcomes observed in both citizen science and other collaborative monitoring contexts, suggesting that, beyond scientific and management benefits, biodiversity monitoring campaigns also provide meaningful social, economic, and educational benefits. These additional outcomes support both conservation and local development and should be considered when planning future monitoring campaigns.