Tamar Saltmarsh Monitoring Program: citizen science monitoring of the tidal treasures of the Tamar River estuary, Tasmania, Australia

ABSTRACT

The Tamar Saltmarsh Monitoring Program is a citizen science program started in 2016 as part of a State-wide effort to better map, monitor and manage Tasmanian saltmarsh ecosystems. Now in its third year (2018), the Program has facilitated the involvement of community volunteers in surveying and documenting the natural values of the Tamar River estuary saltmarshes, along with the human impacts they face. In addition to collecting valuable ecological data, the surveys have raised the profile of these ecosystems among the local community and identified key areas for improved management. Many survey volunteers had previously never stepped foot in a saltmarsh and, through their involvement in the program, have built knowledge, awareness and deeper connections with their local environment. The Tamar Saltmarsh Monitoring Program provides a salient case study to illustrate both the process and potential for the wider adoption of citizen science saltmarsh monitoring in Australia.

KEYWORDS:

• Community engagement
• wetlands
• natural resource management
• human impacts
• biodiversity

Acknowledgements

We would like to gratefully acknowledge the extensive time and enthusiasm invested in the Tamar Saltmarsh Monitoring Program by our dedicated volunteers. The data presented in this paper are the result of their interest and efforts, and this paper would not be possible without them. We thank each and every one of the volunteers for their valuable and significant contribution to our improved understanding and management of the Tamar River estuary saltmarshes. We also want to extend thanks to landholders who have kindly allowed us permission to access saltmarsh sites through their property, and to Conservation Volunteers Australia, for their support of the monitoring program. Funding was provided by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. Part of the research was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. Thanks to Eric Woehler (BirdLife Tasmania) and Jamie Kirkpatrick (University of Tasmania) for their helpful comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Megan Dykman has worked as a facilitator at NRM North since 2015, the role involving working closely with the community, smallholders and other stakeholders to facilitate their involvement in natural resource management activities. Megan coordinates the Tamar Saltmarsh Monitoring Program with the help of citizen scientists and is involved in water quality monitoring in the Tamar River estuary.

Vishnu Prahalad has worked on saltmarsh ecology and management in Tasmania since 2008, closely collaborating with a range of government and non-government agencies and local groups. His publications include ‘A Field Guide to the Plants of Tasmanian Saltmarsh Wetlands’, atlases for saltmarshes for all three regions of Tasmania, the ‘Saltmarsh Matters’ citizen science app and several other science communication materials.

ORCID

Vishnu Prahalad http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3547-616X