Community‐derived solutions to increase citizen science participation

Abstract Citizen science provides members of the public with the opportunity to be involved in conservation. Redlands Coast Koala Watch is funded by local government which partners with citizens and koala researchers. This citizen science program commenced in 2020 and aims to track koalas and get help if koalas are sick or injured. Early detection of sick koalas greatly increases their chances of survival. This multi‐method study was undertaken to understand the characteristics of effective citizen science programs, analyze participation in Redlands Coast Koala Watch, and to work with a range of different member types of the Redlands community to design a koala‐focused citizen science program that would work for them and other people like them. Twenty‐five theoretically informed in‐depth interviews were first undertaken to gather a range of ideas. A total of 47 individuals participated in co‐design sessions generating 12 designs. Six core citizen science program strategies were identified: (1) make improvements to the reporting system (mobile app and web platform) and program sign‐up process; (2) hold training and koala‐spotting events; (3) increase public engagement and promotional activities; (4) provide youth education opportunities; (5) provide meaningful incentives; and (6) offer contests/competitions. This study demonstrates the utility of a solution‐oriented, community‐centered, participatory research and evaluation approach, while providing context‐specific recommendations to guide the further development of a citizen science initiative focused on biodiversity conservation.