The use and value of citizen science data in New Zealand

<div><p>There has been significant growth worldwide of citizen science projects involving community members collecting environmental data. The following study is based on questionnaire responses from 296 community environmental groups and interviews with 34 project partners (e.g. resource managers and scientists) and examines the use and value of citizen science data in New Zealand. Frequency counts and inductive thematic analysis were used to examine the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Groups reported using their data to support funding applications (63%; <i>n</i> = 151), inform restoration management decision-making (60%; <i>n</i> = 151) and for educational purposes (48%; <i>n</i> = 157). Outcomes such as relationship-building with project partners and increasing environmental knowledge highlighted the transformational nature of groups’ citizen science activities. Although groups reported providing data to project partners (60%; <i>n</i> = 151), concerns were expressed over data quality and a lack of institutional systems for using the data. Project partners, however, proposed novel solutions for enhancing collaboration with groups to produce useful data, underscoring the value they attributed to groups’ citizen science efforts.</p>