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Community-Based Monitoring Frameworks: Increasing the Effectiveness of Environmental Stewardship

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Abstract

This article presents an adaptable community-based monitoring (CBM) framework. The investigators used a well-tested conceptual CBM framework developed by the Canadian Community Monitoring Network (CCMN) as a basis from which to work. With the use of feedback from various types of CBM groups in the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada, obtained through surveys and interviews, the CCMN framework was modified into a document that attempts to address current disparities and inefficiencies within most CBM systems. The need for such a framework was underscored by the lack of stewardship groups’ use of standardized monitoring protocols and inability to effectively provide information to decision makers. From the information collected through the survey, it was concluded that the proposed framework must be a functional, multiparty form of CBM that addresses the key concerns of a standardized monitoring and communication program and must be able to be fed into the environmental-management system.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the Saint Mary’s University Student Employment Program for providing financial assistance to undertake this study as well as the numerous environmental organizations who willingly participated. We also thank Peter Duinker and the anonymous reviewers whose helpful comments and suggestions helped make this article better.

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Correspondence to Catherine T. Conrad.

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Conrad, C.T., Daoust, T. Community-Based Monitoring Frameworks: Increasing the Effectiveness of Environmental Stewardship. Environmental Management 41, 358–366 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-007-9042-x

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