Earthwatch Australia, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) are proud to announce that the MangroveWatch Local Action Plan model has been named a finalist in the 2026 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science.
The finalist recognition celebrates an innovative approach to citizen science that goes beyond collecting environmental data, supporting communities to use science, local knowledge and Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge to identify priorities and take action to protect and restore coastal wetlands.
Funded through the partnership between the Australian Government's Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, the MangroveWatch Local Action Plan (LAP) model was pioneered in the Wet Tropics and has since been replicated across four regions. Today, more than 10,000 volunteers, Traditional Owners, Indigenous Rangers, schools and community groups have contributed to monitoring local mangroves, helping build one of Australia's most significant community-led coastal monitoring networks.
The Local Action Plan model transforms local knowledge, Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge, and citizen science into practical, community-led action. By helping communities identify local priorities and take meaningful action, the model strengthens stewardship and supports the long-term health of Australia's coastal wetlands.
This recognition belongs to the thousands of people who have contributed their time, knowledge and passion to protecting Australia’s coastal wetlands. What we’ve learned through MangroveWatch is that collecting data is only the beginning of mangrove and saltmarsh conservation. The real power of citizen science comes when local knowledge, Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge and scientific evidence are brought together to help communities decide what matters most and turn that knowledge into action.
