Affiliations 

  • 1 Research Centre for Sustainability Science & Governance (SGK), Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 2 Research Centre for Sustainability Science & Governance (SGK), Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Centre for Research and Instrumentation Management (CRIM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University, No.5, Jalan Universiti, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: khaiernlee@ukm.edu.my
  • 3 Research Centre for Sustainability Science & Governance (SGK), Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University, No.5, Jalan Universiti, Selangor, Malaysia
J Environ Manage, 2021 Jul 01;289:112491.
PMID: 33813302 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112491

Abstract

Community-based monitoring is increasingly recognised as one solution to sustainable environmental management. However, the development of community-based monitoring has led to confusion or misconceptions regarding other similar initiatives. Through a review of the characteristics and synthesising criteria of effective community-based monitoring, this article addresses how to distinguish community-based monitoring from other forms of community engagement research. A review of relevant community-based monitoring literature identifies the characteristics of and knowledge gaps in procedures and governance structures. Additionally, evidence of common benefits, challenges and lessons learned for successful community-based monitoring are deliberated. As an outcome of the review, the article synthesises a set of community-based monitoring criteria as follows: (1) efficacy of initiatives, (2) technicality aspects, (3) feedback mechanisms and (4) sustainability. These synthesised criteria will be instrumental in designing customised community-based monitoring initiatives for environmental sustainability.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.