### Study Reveals How Incentives Shape Citizen Science Contributions to Biodiversity Monitoring
A new study led by researchers from the University of Osaka and the National Institute for Environmental Studies explores how different incentives influence user participation in biodiversity monitoring through citizen science apps. The experiment, conducted using Japan’s popular **Biome** app—which allows users to upload wildlife photos for AI-based species identification—revealed that financial and prosocial incentives significantly impact both the quantity and quality of data submitted. The study involved **830 participants** divided into three groups: one receiving **cash rewards**, another triggering **donations to environmental causes**, and a control group with **no incentives**. Results showed that financial rewards increased post volume by **57%**, while donation-based incentives encouraged users to share **rarer species**, highlighting the potential for tailored incentive strategies in conservation efforts.
### Financial vs. Prosocial Incentives: Balancing Data Quantity and Ecological Value
The study’s findings demonstrate a clear trade-off between **data volume** and **ecological uniqueness** based on incentive type. Participants who received **10 yen per post** submitted significantly more observations, making financial rewards ideal for large-scale biodiversity mapping. In contrast, those whose contributions triggered **10-yen donations** did not post more frequently but were more likely to document **less common species**, which are crucial for accurate biodiversity assessments. This suggests that **prosocial incentives** may attract users motivated by environmental impact rather than personal gain. The research, published in *Ecological Economics*, provides valuable insights for policymakers and organizations designing **citizen science programs**, showing how targeted incentives can optimize both participation and data quality for conservation efforts.
### Implications for Conservation and Corporate Sustainability Initiatives
The study underscores the potential of **smartphone-based citizen science** in biodiversity monitoring, especially as mobile technology becomes ubiquitous. Lead author **Shusaku Sasaki** emphasized that **incentive design** plays a critical role in shaping user behavior, offering a blueprint for **environmental campaigns** and **corporate sustainability programs**. For instance, companies could integrate donation-based reward systems into their CSR strategies to encourage rare species reporting, while government initiatives might use financial incentives to boost overall participation. As citizen science continues to grow, these findings could help maximize its impact on global conservation efforts by aligning motivations with ecological needs.
*Source: Sasaki et al. (2025), „Prosocial and Financial Incentives for Biodiversity Conservation: A Field Experiment Using a Smartphone App,”* Ecological Economics. *DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108506*
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://phys.org/news/2025-07-money-donations-nature.html.