CIM researcher Jone Molina applied this tool to the Atlantic Islands National Park as part of the Ecoser project, funded by the Pleamar programme of the Biodiversity Foundation
Citizen science has established itself as a key tool for integrating society into the generation of scientific knowledge and environmental conservation. In this context, participatory mapping stands out for its ability to combine local community knowledge with advanced scientific methodologies, enabling a deeper and more collaborative understanding of environmental challenges. In this vein, the Marine Research Centre of the University of Vigo (CIM-UVigo) has demonstrated its commitment to innovation by collaborating on a pioneering participatory mapping project in the Atlantic Islands Maritime-Terrestrial National Park, focusing on the Cíes archipelago.
This initiative, in which Jone Molina, Senior Research Technician from the Sedimentary Basin Analysis Group (XM3), participated, actively involved citizens in the collection and analysis of geographic data to address the park’s environmental challenges and improve its management. In addition to fostering more inclusive and sustainable governance, this study, carried out under the Ecoser project funded by the Pleamar programme of the Biodiversity Foundation, enables citizens to play a leading role in the conservation of such an iconic ecosystem as the Cíes Islands.
Participatory mapping is part of a series of citizen science initiatives promoted by CIM, including innovative projects such as Iberarenum, led by Daniel Rey, a researcher from the Marine and Environmental Geosciences Group and director of CIM, which promotes the study of coastal sands using samples sent by citizens. Another example is Sentinels of the Coast (Coastal Snap), led by Rita González, a researcher from the Geological and Biogeochemical Oceanography Group, which analyses coastal evolution using images shared by the public. In all these activities, CIM provides materials and educational guides developed within the centre, facilitating informed and active participation.
The Marine Research Centre of the University of Vigo carries out these initiatives in alignment with the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to climate action, life below water, and terrestrial ecosystems. Active public participation in these projects not only amplifies the reach of scientific knowledge but also promotes greater awareness and collective responsibility in the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources.
Through these efforts, CIM-UVigo strengthens its commitment to collaborative and interdisciplinary science, consolidating its position as a reference in the protection and sustainable use of marine ecosystems, both in Galicia and beyond, at the national and international levels.
Source: Faro de Vigo