Never the same river: an interdisciplinary exploration into the confluence of nature, people and place for river catchment stewardship with citizen science

Abstract

Good freshwater quality is essential to supporting healthy people and ecosystems. Measures to reverse deteriorating water quality in surface waterbodies are set out in Ireland’s River Basin Management Plans, under the EU’s Water Framework Directive, using an integrated catchment management approach that promotes community stakeholder participation in water matters. Combining elements of environmental science, politics, psychology and sociology, this interdisciplinary research project highlights the complex dynamics of addressing poor water quality through environmental governance frameworks using an Irish case study. The study investigates the influence of nature experiences on identity, and how a sense of belonging or attachment to place, community or nature contributes to awareness, pro-environmental behaviours and volunteerism. A combination of theory and praxis uncovers motivations, barriers and intentions of environmental actions as a baseline to inform strategies for recruitment and retention of volunteers. The study analyses quantitative and qualitative data from questionnaire survey responses throughout Ireland, and focuses on the ‘at risk’ Maigue River catchment in County Limerick. Qualitative data from key informant interviews and focus groups provides thematic analytical comparisons between new and established volunteers and stakeholders. Key findings reveal that 1) Experiences in nature are transformative and, for some, they inspire a lifetime commitment to environmental stewardship; 2) There is growing social acceptance and interest in environmentalism, however, misconceptions and conflicting priorities may stymie conservation efforts and the development of a social norm; 3) Nature-based citizen science, built into a progressive, diverse training programme that incorporates social learning, can invite casual or committed environmental volunteerism that mutually benefits the health and wellbeing of volunteers and the environment, and optimises volunteer programme success; 4) Awareness-building and volunteer recruitment campaigns should be tempered with messages of hope that it is possible to make a difference. Communitydriven, collaborative initiatives are essential to help achieve effective catchment management. Nature-based citizen science and volunteerism provide a platform for public involvement that fosters connections to nature and a sense of ownership over local and community ecosystems that can ultimately benefit the health, wellbeing and resilience of people, communities and the environment.