Public Participation in Tropical Conservation and Environmental Management Research: Toward a Locally Grounded and Reflexive Practice

Piland, Natalia C., Couto, Thiago B. A., Pulido‐Velosa, Maria, Cruz, Juan, Varese, Mariana, Leite, Gina, Heilpern, Sebastian, Koning, Aaron A., Dutka‐Gianelli, Jynessa, Jackson, Sue, Hyera, Pendo, Hossain, Faisal, Pavelsky, Tamlin, Gómez, Angélica M., Myint, Tun, Wisesjindawat‐Fink, Wisa, Kays, Brenna and Anderson, Elizabeth P. (2026) Public Participation in Tropical Conservation and Environmental Management Research: Toward a Locally Grounded and Reflexive Practice. Biotropica, 58 (1). ISSN 0006-3606

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Abstract

Public participation in scientific research (PPSR) is the intentional engagement of the public in scientific inquiry and is increasingly popular in conservation and related fields. It advances knowledge, participant learning opportunities, local innovation and empowerment, and more equitable natural resource management. While the published literature recognizes various PPSR types, many reviews—especially those labeled “citizen science”—have overlooked comparable experiences in tropical regions. Consequently, our current knowledge of PPSR in the tropics is limited to disparate case studies, hindering broader connections and lessons. This review aims to clarify PPSR and the interactions between institutions, the environment, and local and non-local actors by drawing from a bibliometric review and authorial experiences to illustrate the role of PPSR across the tropics. Results show that public participation has significantly contributed to tropical conservation and environmental management for at least 50 years. However, international authorities and scholarly sources only began recognizing its value and potential in the early 1990s. Most publications reviewed (383/453 papers) describe one place-based research activity, with high representation from terrestrial- oriented research, in the field of resource management, and developed countries (e.g., Australia and British, French, and US territories). We follow with vignettes to illustrate participation and make recommendations from our synthesis of lessons. These recommendations present public participation as an opportunity for tropical conservation and environmental management to better value the local context and contributions from diverse communities. This approach encourages embedding participation in more reflexive practices to enhance the overall effectiveness and inclusivity of conservation efforts.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Data Availability Statement: The data AND code that support the findings of this study are openly available in the Dryad Repository at http://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.dfn2z35fv.
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	29 Jan 2026 17:30
Last Modified:	31 Jan 2026 01:08
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/101801
DOI:	10.1111/btp.70149

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