Citizen Science in the Field: Co-experimentation at Pilot Scale for Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

Natural resource management is a cross-sectoral topic, as reflected by its inclusion in
several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (e.g., SDGs 2, 6, 12, 15). In the
study area on Bangka Island, Indonesia, agriculture is a pillar of local food security and livelihoods,
making restoration of degraded lands also a local issue. The present study aims at restoring degraded
land after tin mining and at restoring the natural soil base rendering it more suitable for agriculture.
We use co-experimentation with citizens as a tool to develop options for re-habilitation at a pilot
scale. The recruitment process in this study was reversed insofar as local citizens were at the origin
of the project idea. Consequently, buy-in was high among local stakeholders. This set to increase
the probability of successfully scaling up e�ective and actionable practices that were developed
during co-experimentation at both local and regional levels. Co-experimentation provided a platform
for exchange between local citizens and scientists. Citizens did not need to learn new skills to
be able to participate in the scientific process and could autonomously evaluate results. We see
involvement of citizens in this type of scientific projects not only as feasible, but as rewarding for all
involved partners and as beneficial for the project outcomes. In light of the call for partnerships to
achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we can only recommend investing in communication
and relationship building to work together on better solutions to the challenges we face.