Toolkits
The OTTERS consortium developed a co-creation toolkit based on the results of the activities to help others scale citizen science (CS). Three pilot countries were selected based on their experience with CS projects.
This toolkit outlines the application of RiVe methodology; an analysis approach to quantify the ecological conditions of riparian forests. It is based on a rigorous scientific approach combined with the active involvement of trained citizen volunteers. Following the 10 ECSA principles of Citizen Science, RiVe promotes the systematic collection of ecological data, also through the contributions of participants with varying levels of expertise. This offers an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of riparian ecosystems.
The present guidelines provide practical support for qualified professionals including naturalists, biologists, and environmental scientists working in public or private organizations and associations who are interested in creating consistent Citizen Science projects focused on riparian vegetation. Thanks to collaboration between the Osservatorio Citizen Science and the Italian National Biodiversity Network (NNB), these projects are supported by a shared technological infrastructure for data storage, analysis, and data sharing, ensuring consistency and interoperability with other environmental monitoring initiatives.
Building upon insights from the OTTERS Co-Creation sessions and the first series of Toolkits, which guided stakeholders in organizing co-creation sessions, this Final OTTERS Citizen Science (CS) Toolkit represents the collective efforts and shared expertise. It integrates the outcomes of these sessions and provides tailored messages and visual resources for the most represented stakeholder groups, ensuring targeted and impactful engagement for their major water-related challenges.
The Final Toolkit seeks to inspire action across generations, cultivate a deeper connection to water ecosystems, and drive social innovation for meaningful change. It serves as a practical resource for raising awareness on the importance of water-related challenges, water stewardship and launching community-driven campaigns that transform perceptions, mobilize citizens, and set a long-term commitment to water stewardship.
This toolkit is designed for stakeholders across various sectors, including educators, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders. Through structured guidance and adaptable strategies, it provides the steps needed to implement engaging, action-oriented CS initiatives that promote sustainability and collective responsibility.
This toolkit serves as a guide for educators to measure freshwater quality. It developed by the American University of Armenia (AUA), in the frame of the EU-funded OTTERS project with the active engagement of AUA students.
This toolkit aims to provide school teachers and educators with guidelines on how to integrate citizen science elements as project-based learning in their curricula, including background ecological knowledge of the Lake Sevan ecosystem, the current challenges it faces and step-by-step instructions on measuring and reporting water quality parameters.
The toolkit is available in two languages: English and Armenian.
River plastic pollution and household waste in Armenia, are a significant environmental concern.
Disposing of wastewater in the Sevan Lake and rivers can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health.
To address several environmental and health concerns, the European Commission (EC) and the Armenian Government implemented a range of policies and recommendations on plastics.
CS can help address different problems and involve various tasks such as data collection, analysis, and reporting, often in collaboration with professional scientists.
This co-creation toolkit enable any interested stakeholders to organise a session and afterward, a campaign that will change hearts and minds by integrating citizen science components that engage citizens, empower younger and older generations to take action to resolve the issue of river and lake pollution.
The Mediterranean Sea is considered one of the areas most polluted by plastic. The waste that cannot be collected or properly managed eventually leaks into the environment and is carried to the seas by rivers. 80% of marine litter comes from land-based sources. On average, 626 million ‘floating items’ are discharged into European seas every year.
Plastic pollution is causing severe environmental damage. The abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear entangles marine wildlife and at the same time, exposure to microplastics and chemicals found in plastics can lead to serious human health issues. To reverse this trend, actions are required at a societal level. Amongst these, we remind: altering consumer habits, developing new methods to decrease plastic manufacturing, and boosting recycling rates.
CS is a collaborative effort where members of the general public voluntarily contribute to scientific research. This co-creation toolkit enable any interested stakeholders to organise a session and afterward, a campaign that will change people’s Hearts and Minds in terms of water stewardship.
Excessive seaweed accumulation on European beaches is a growing concern due to its environmental, health, and economic impact. The decomposing seaweed releases hydrogen sulphide gas, which is potentially lethal to fish and can cause eye irritation and respiratory problems in humans.
Portuguese beaches, particularly in the Algarve region, are grappling with an influx of seaweed and litter, which poses environmental and aesthetic challenges.
Addressing the root causes of excessive seaweed accumulation requires comprehensive approaches, including the minimization of fertilizers’ use in cropping through sustainable agricultural practices, the use of nature-based solutions for urban wastewater treatment, and international cooperation against pollution at a watershed level.
CS can help address different problems and involve various tasks such as data collection, analysis, and reporting, often in collaboration with professional scientists. This co-creation toolkit enable any interested stakeholders to organise a session and afterward, a campaign that will change people’s Hearts and Minds in terms of clean beaches.
