Sustainability Solutions Initiative, University of Maine, 5710 Norman Smith Hall, Orono, ME, 04469, USA,
Environ Manage. 2013 Dec;52(6):1369-85. doi: 10.1007/s00267-013-0168-8. Epub 2013 Sep 25.
The Vernal Pool Mapping and Assessment Program (VPMAP) was initiated in 2007 to create a vernal pool database as a planning tool to foster local compliance with new state vernal pool regulations. In the northeastern United States, vernal pools are seasonal wetlands that provide critical breeding habitat for a number of amphibians and invertebrates and provide important resting and foraging habitat for some rare and endangered state-listed species. Using participant observation, interviews, and focus groups, we examined the engagement of municipal officials and private landowners in VPMAP. Important outcomes of municipal and landowner engagement included mobilization of town support for proactive planning, improved awareness and understanding of vernal pools, and increased interactions between program coordinators, municipal officials, and private landowners. Challenges to municipal and landowner engagement included an inconsistency in expectations between coordinators and municipal officials and a lack of time and sufficient information for follow-up with landowners participating in VPMAP. Our study highlights the importance of developing relationships among coordinators, municipal officials, and private landowners in facilitating positive outcomes for all stakeholders and for effective resource management. We suggest an expanded citizen science model that focuses on improving two-way communication among project coordinators, municipal officials, and local citizens and places communication with private landowners on par with volunteer citizen scientist recruitment and field training. Lessons learned from this research can inform the design and implementation of citizen science projects on private land.
Vernal Pool 测绘与评估计划（VPMAP）于 2007 年启动，旨在创建一个 vernal pool 数据库，作为促进新的州 vernal pool 法规地方合规的规划工具。在美国东北部，vernal pool 是季节性湿地，为许多两栖动物和无脊椎动物提供了关键的繁殖栖息地，并为一些稀有和濒危的州立物种提供了重要的休息和觅食栖息地。我们采用参与者观察、访谈和焦点小组的方法，研究了市政官员和私人土地所有者参与 VPMAP 的情况。市政和土地所有者参与的重要成果包括动员城镇支持积极规划，提高对 vernal pool 的认识和理解，以及增加项目协调员、市政官员和私人土地所有者之间的互动。市政和土地所有者参与面临的挑战包括协调员和市政官员之间的期望不一致，以及协调员没有足够的时间和信息来跟进参与 VPMAP 的土地所有者。我们的研究强调了在促进所有利益相关者的积极成果和有效资源管理方面，在协调员、市政官员和私人土地所有者之间建立关系的重要性。我们建议采用一种扩展的公民科学模式，重点是改善项目协调员、市政官员和当地公民之间的双向沟通，并将与私人土地所有者的沟通与志愿者公民科学家招募和实地培训放在同等重要的位置。从这项研究中吸取的经验教训可以为在私人土地上开展公民科学项目的设计和实施提供信息。
