Methodology for Double Loop Action Research - more4nature D3.1

The more4nature project endeavours to catalyse transformative change in conservation efforts regarding zero pollution, biodiversity protection and deforestation prevention, by strengthening the role of citizens and communities in environmental compliance assurance (ECA) monitoring and enforcement via Citizen Science (CS) and Citizen Generated Data (CGD), and in environmental compliance promotion via citizen & community-led actions. To achieve this, the more4nature project works with a large number of existing CS initiatives which are interested in increasing and institutionalizing contributions to ECA. To stimulate transformative change in current ECA practice, the project will assist 40 cases with a process of social learning and socio-technical experimentation, combined with provision of algorithms, models, and interoperable systems to public authorities, to encourage the intended validation and uptake of citizen observations for ECA. This report presents the conceptual framework for transformative change towards collaborative ECA envisioned by the more4nature project, and the project’s methodology for Double Loop Action Research that will guide the more4nature case contacts and stakeholders through a staged learning process. It elaborates the methodology used to stimulate transformative change and empower civil society actors in 20 Pioneer and 20 Follower Cases. This report is intended as a reference document for the partners of the more4nature consortium, capturing: the rationale and theoretical grounding of the more4nature Conceptual Framework guiding the work in the more4nature project at large and in the cases in particular; how the Double Loop Action Research methodology will be applied to the Pioneer Cases and the Follower Cases to ensure effective progress in the cases, facilitate interactions between the cases and WPs, and safeguard the application of guiding principles and ethics requirements; and the initial version of the generic more4nature case compendium, a structured ‘Notebook’ on the more4nature shared online workspace, that serves as primary tool for implementation of the methodology in the Pioneer Cases.