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Abstract Detail



Public Participation in Scientific Research:Emerging Resources for Botany

Masi, Susanne [1].

Plants of Concern, Chicago Botanic Garden: Citizen Scientists Engage in a Regional Rare Plant Monitoring Program - an Overview.

Plants of Concern (POC), a citizen science-based, rare plant monitoring program coordinated through the Chicago Botanic Garden within the Chicago region, completed its 12th year in 2012. Since 2001, POC has trained over 730 volunteers, partnered with 116 public (federal, state, local) and private landowners, and monitored 237 endangered, threatened and rare species at 318 sites in 12 counties(IL, WI, IN). A standardized monitoring protocol, approved by an Advisory Group of land managers, scientists and volunteers, is used consistently throughout the region and makes comparisons across property lines possible. A major program goal is to track changes in plant populations in response to management over time in an adaptive management process. Results reported to land managers alert them to threats to populations, aid in creating management plans, and indicate beneficial practices. The presentation describes the POC program structure and scope and presents examples of some trends in selected plant populations beginning to emerge from this long-term dataset. It focuses on real benefits for rare plants through examples of manager responses to citizen scientist reports. Finally, the presentation describes challenges encountered but emphasizes how trained citizen science involvement contributes reliable scientific data, leverages scarce agency resources and creates a constituency for conservation efforts and policy.

Broader Impacts:


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Related Links:
Plants of Concern, Chicago Botanic Garden
Chicago Botanic Garden


1 - Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL, 60022, USA

Keywords:
Citizen Science
rare plant monitoring
management response.

Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: SY01
Location: Jasperwood/Riverside Hilton
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2013
Time: 10:00 AM
Number: SY01005
Abstract ID:187
Candidate for Awards:None


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