Engaging European local communities in biodiversity genomics research: A five-step framework for scientists

Biodiversity genomics research can inform conservation, management, and policy, including implementation and monitoring linked to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Still, its societal relevance depends on how research is designed and interpreted with the people who live in, work with, and care for the species and places being studied. Local Communities often hold Local Ecological Knowledge that can improve sampling design, contextualise genomic patterns, and support the translation of findings into practice. Yet, community participation in biodiversity genomics remains limited, partly because researchers may lack practical guidance, training, incentives, or time for engagement. Here, we propose a five-step framework for engaging European Local Communities in biodiversity genomics projects. The framework covers early relationship building, respect for local context and knowledge, co-creation of research roles, transparent benefit sharing, and long-term knowledge transfer. We also outline biodiversity genomics-specific points that require early discussion, including biological sampling, genomic sequence data, genetic variant data, analytical outputs, associated ecological and locality information, Digital Sequence Information, repository deposition, interpretation, and reuse. The framework is intended as a practical starting point for research teams, funders, and community collaborators seeking to make biodiversity genomics research more transparent, locally informed, and useful for conservation decision-making.

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Publication Details

Journal
Biological Conservation
Published
2026-06-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111991
Primary Topic
Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Engaging European local communities in biodiversity genomics research: A five-step framework for scientists

Alice Mouton, Kay Lucek, Ann M. Mc Cartney, Jaakko Pohjoismäki et al.
Biological Conservation
Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
article

Engaging European local communities in biodiversity genomics research: A five-step framework for scientists

Alice Mouton, Kay Lucek, Ann M. Mc Cartney, Jaakko Pohjoismäki, Chiara Bortoluzzi, Stefaniya Kamenova, Camilla Reginatto De Pierri, Tammy E. Steeves, María José Ruiz‐López, Elena Bužan, Andreia Miraldo, Mercè Montoliu-Nerin, Svein‐Ole Mikalsen, Robert Michael Waterhouse, Олександр Зіненко, Tinatin Chkhartishvili, Camila J. Mazzoni, Lino Ometto, Lada Lukić‐Bilela, Jennifer A. Leonard, Luísa S. Marins, Christian
article en

Abstract

Biodiversity genomics research can inform conservation, management, and policy, including implementation and monitoring linked to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Still, its societal relevance depends on how research is designed and interpreted with the people who live in, work with, and care for the species and places being studied. Local Communities often hold Local Ecological Knowledge that can improve sampling design, contextualise genomic patterns, and support the translation of findings into practice. Yet, community participation in biodiversity genomics remains limited, partly because researchers may lack practical guidance, training, incentives, or time for engagement. Here, we propose a five-step framework for engaging European Local Communities in biodiversity genomics projects. The framework covers early relationship building, respect for local context and knowledge, co-creation of research roles, transparent benefit sharing, and long-term knowledge transfer. We also outline biodiversity genomics-specific points that require early discussion, including biological sampling, genomic sequence data, genetic variant data, analytical outputs, associated ecological and locality information, Digital Sequence Information, repository deposition, interpretation, and reuse. The framework is intended as a practical starting point for research teams, funders, and community collaborators seeking to make biodiversity genomics research more transparent, locally informed, and useful for conservation decision-making.

Biological ConservationVol. 321
University of the Faroe Islands (FO), University of Sarajevo (BA), University of Primorska (SI), SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (CH), University of Liège (BE), University of Eastern Finland (FI), Ilia State University (GE), University of Oslo (NO), University of California, Santa Cruz (US), University of Canterbury (NZ), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BG), University of Pavia (IT), Wellcome Sanger Institute (GB), Estación Biológica de Doñana (ES), Sustainability Institute (ZA), Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA), College of Environmental Protection (SI), National Museum of Natural History (BG), Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (DE), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (ES), University of Florence (IT), University of Neuchâtel (CH), V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (UA)
Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Bulgarian National Science Fund, Javna Agencija za Raziskovalno Dejavnost RS, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, European Regional Development Fund
Openalex Percentile: Top 10%
Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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