Analyzing environmental communication and citizen science in the context of environmental monitoring and assessment for Agenda 2030 in rural settings of Chile and Sweden

Abstract

Introduction This article offers an analysis of environmental communication (EC) and citizen science (CS) in the context of Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (EMA) for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land) in Chile and Sweden.Methods The paper is based on fieldwork in two rural study areas of Chile and Sweden where we followed different CS initiatives in relation to EMA and Agenda 2030. We conducted interviews, analyzed documentation and conducted an SDG mapping workshop to understand the implementation of SDG 15 in these two rural forest settings.Results Our findings suggest that CS has potential as a democratic innovation for environmental governance in both countries. However, we also found important barriers to the legitimacy of CS as a feature of EMA and local environmental governance in both countries. The paper situates CS in the wider governance and environmental communication processes in regional politics surrounding implementation of national policies for the use of natural resources.Discussion The article offers new insights into the barriers and possibilities for public participation in environmental governance and policy at local levels, by addressing the interlinkages between environmental communication and citizen science in rural settings.

Keywords

legitimacy; agenda 2030; citizen science; democratic innovation; environmental monitoring and assessment; sustainable development goal 15 (Life on Land); tree plantations; forests

Published in

Frontiers in communication
2024, Volume: 9, article number: 1387111Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA

SLU Authors

• Alarcón Ferrari, Cristián

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Jönsson, Mari

  • SLU Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Karltun, Linley Chiwona

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Mark-Herbert, Cecilia

  • Department of Forest Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hilding Rydevik, Tuija

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bishop, Kevin

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Communication Studies


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2024.1387111

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132824