Biological Recording is at the heart of ecological desk-based studies and much of it is generated be an army of volunteers that Pateman et al. (2026) note is “predominantly white, well-educated, older and more affluent”. Underrepresented groups miss out not only on enhanced wellbeing but also gaining critical knowledge and skills that could help them gain ecological employment.

This paper reports on a study examining interventions to increase equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) to encourage engagement of underrepresented groups. Seven species-focussed conservation charities (e.g., Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Butterfly Conservation) took part alongside the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. Representatives from each organisation presented initiatives carried out to increase inclusivity followed by group discussions to identify barriers, challenges and gaps in understanding. Case studies are used to demonstrate how EDI has been embedded at an institutional level, such as Butterfly Conservation’s Youth Panel to increase representation of younger people (n.b., currently 1% of supporters and <1% of volunteers are aged 24 or under).

Results revealed that most tangible successes came from community-based projects, especially where they were tied to other activities that enabled people to try out surveying. Study gaps include incomplete demographic information – the authors question how you gather such data while respecting privacy and not overburdening or deterring participants. This findings of this study are highly transferable and provides food for thought, making it essential reading for all organisations wanting to tackle EDI.

Reference: Pateman, R.M., Fox, R., Dickinson, H., Haysom, K.A., Hughes, J., Kelly, L., Leech, E.I., Lowe, M., Merry, K., Murphy, R.D., Newton, N., Pocock, M.J.O., Venugopal, P., Webster, N. and Weston, S. (2026) Citizen Science: Theory and Practice 11 (1): 1, pp 1-13. DOI: https://doi. org/10.5334/cstp.894