Community-based Monitoring Programs Research Articles

Addressing Heavy Metal Pollution in Nigeria: Evaluating Policies, Assessing Impacts, and Enhancing Remediation Strategies

Heavy metal pollution is a significant environmental concern in Nigeria, posing risks to ecological integrity and public health. This study aims to evaluate the existing policies and regulations addressing heavy metal pollution, assess their effectiveness, and propose recommendations for improvement. The analysis reveals that while Nigeria has established a robust legislative framework, challenges in implementation, enforcement, and funding persist. The impact of reducing heavy metal pollution is influenced by resource constraints, limited capacity, and the need for stronger collaboration between regulatory bodies and industries. Community involvement and education play a crucial role in managing heavy metal pollution, emphasizing the importance of awareness, sustainable practices, and local engagement. Remediation strategies, such as bioremediation and phytoremediation, offer potential solutions. However, gaps in knowledge and research exist, calling for long-term monitoring, ecological impact assessments, and comprehensive health risk assessments. To enhance the effectiveness of current policies, periodic reviews, increased funding, and community-based monitoring programs are recommended. By addressing these gaps and implementing the proposed recommendations, Nigeria can make significant strides towards mitigating heavy metal pollution and achieving environmental sustainability.

Evaluation of a community-based pharmacy resident-led continuous glucose monitoring program within a family medicine clinic

BackgroundPharmacist-driven continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is associated with reduced hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and achievement of daily glycemic goals. Community-based pharmacists are well-positioned to improve CGM uptake among patients with diabetes due to their accessibility and expertise. However, little data exists evaluating the outcomes of CGM services led by a community-based pharmacist. ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of a community-based pharmacy resident-driven CGM service on HbA1c, revenue, and patient satisfaction. Practice DescriptionIndependent community pharmacy sharing a clinical services agreement with a primary care clinic for Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Community-based Pharmacy Residents to provide patient care under general supervision of the physician. Practice innovationPatients were offered CGM services if they were 18+ years with an HbA1c > 7.0% and had insurance coverage for CGM. Enrolled patients engaged in three months of pharmacist-led appointments for CGM application, data interpretation, diabetes education, and lifestyle management. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 99211, 95250, or 95251 were billed based on each encounter. HbA1c values were collected at program enrollment and conclusion. Patients completed a satisfaction survey at program conclusion. Evaluation methodsDemographics and billed CPT codes were collected from the electronic health record. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. ResultsEighteen patients were included. A mean reduction of 1.2% occurred in HbA1c (n = 12; 9.7%−8.5%). Forty CPT codes were billed, generating $3671.40 of revenue. Satisfaction surveys were collected for 50% of participants (n = 9). Most were satisfied with the CGM service and its individual components (n = 8, 89%). Most were willing to continue using CGM devices and receive diabetes education from a pharmacist (n = 8, 89%). ConclusionA community-based pharmacist-led CGM service demonstrated a reduction in HbA1c and generated revenue for the clinic. Patients reported satisfaction and willingness to continue the service.

An assessment of microplastics in fecal samples from polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in Canada's North

We assessed the potential for plastic ingestion in polar bears ( Ursus maritimus (Phipps (1774))) using fecal analysis. Two method studies ensured our protocols could effectively recover and identify plastics in feces. First, microplastics (film, foam, or fragments) were intentionally introduced into a model organic matrix. Recovery rates (mean ± standard deviation) averaged 95.8 ± 14.7% ( n = 18) and were significantly affected by microplastic morphology but not digestion status. Second, microplastic fragments of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene were intentionally introduced to polar bear feces. Recovery rates averaged 79.3 ± 21.6% ( n = 8) and Raman microscopy successfully identified all three polymers in 87.5% of samples. The main study then investigated the presence of microplastics in hunter-collected polar bear feces in the Canadian Arctic. Feces from the colons of hunted bears ( n = 15) and field scat ( n = 15) were collected through collaboration with Inuit communities. Polypropylene, polyethylene, and/or polyethylene terephthalate were detected in the feces of eight bears. Concentrations of microplastics in feces were, on average, less than 1 particle/g dry weight feces and at or near detection limits. Overall, this work suggests microplastic ingestion by Canadian polar bears may be low and demonstrates the utility of fecal sampling for community-based monitoring programs.

Two decades of community-based conservation yield valuable insights into marine turtle nesting ecology

AbstractFor the Western Indian Ocean region, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding marine turtle nesting on the continental coast of East Africa. Here we present results from a long-term (2000–2020) community-based monitoring programme in and around Watamu Marine National Park, Kenya, covering 30 km of coastline (c. 6% of the national total). Conservation actions effectively protected nesting turtles and resulted in a near-total cessation of illegal egg harvesting in Watamu Marine National Park. Collected data indicate this is an important marine turtle nesting index site in Kenya and the wider region. Green turtle Chelonia mydas nests were most common (95%), followed by olive ridley turtles Lepidochelys olivacea (4%), with occasional nests of hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata and leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea. Clutches per season increased significantly over the 20-year monitoring period for green turtles (50%) and showed a positive trend for olive ridley turtles. Watamu remains an area at risk from human pressures such as coastal development. Clutch distribution along the Watamu Marine National Park beach has shifted over time, probably because of coastal development and disturbance. Illegal take of adults and eggs continues in areas north and south of the Watamu Marine National Park, possibly slowing rates of recovery. Clutches deemed at risk were moved to a safe location within the National Park, and hatching success was high. Continued conservation efforts, including wider engagement with stakeholders to reduce human pressures, are needed to ensure the perpetuation of this nesting site.

Implementing a community-based pro-Active Monitoring Program to boost active, healthy, and meaningful ageing

Long Live the Elderly! (LLE) is a Community-based Pro-Active Monitoring Program that aims to support community dwelling older adults by strengthening their formal and informal network so they can live a healthy, active and meaningful old age in their own environment. LLE was launched in Antwerp in October 2021.
 Belgium shows the highest percentage in Europe of people aged over 80 living in LTCF’s. Although most older Belgians indicate they prefer to live in their own house as long as possible, they face multiple barriers to home care. Often the lack of someone able to interact with the care system increases social isolation, in which case negative events associated with old age can lead to profound and even tragic changes in their lives.
 The LLE methodology consists in actively contacting the target group by phone and home visit. By contacting ALL elderly over 80 in the target area, the most vulnerable and isolated are also reached. Based on the assessment of their bio-psycho-social frailty a phone monitoring frequency is established. In cooperation with existing care and welfare actors, Individualized Care Plans are implemented where required. All Program activities are fully supported by a dedicated software that provides daily tasks to each operator and makes all the operator’s input available for controls and fine-tuning Individualized Care Plans.
 To combat loneliness and social isolation, LLE is strongly committed to community building involving neighbours, volunteers and all existing facilities in the target area. To create caring neighbourhoods the most important partners are the older adults themselves. They are not only the beneficiaries of the Program but first of all help to build it in their own environment by creating informal networks that support their more vulnerable peers. Regardless of individual vulnerability, participating in LLE restores dignity, meaning and sense of belonging to an often marginalised and underestimated population group.
 In Antwerp, after a preparatory period that focused on reaching an agreement with the City authorities, promulgating the Program, training the operators and finding partners, the operational phase started in March 2022 targeting about 5000 over-80s. By September 30th a team of 6 part-time community workers and 2 part-time local coordinators had contacted 1679 elderly willing to participate in the Program. It was the result of 5700 phone calls and almost 2000 home visits. We’ve established contacts with more than 70 local care and welfare professionals and services that have welcomed the Program and are willing to cooperate.
 The LLE methodology has been used in Italy for 15 years and has proven to be effective. Timely detection of care needs, improved referral to professional care and stronger network support result in a decrease of unnecessary hospital admissions and of unwanted rest home admissions. Through networking with professional services, LLE also addresses the challenge of the separation between social care and health care. In the long term, LLE aims not only to improve the quality of life of elderly people and communities, but also to advise policies for necessary changes in elderly care.

Enhancing demographic diversity of scientist-community collaborations improves wildlife monitoring in Madagascar

Community-based monitoring (CBM)– programs that integrate community members and their values into biodiversity and/or natural resource monitoring– is an effective tool for conservation. Wide inequities exist in CBM collaboration, and monitoring abilities may vary between collaborators of different backgrounds. Therefore exploring the demographic composition of CBM collaborators, and how demographics shape individual monitoring efficacy, can help improve both diversity in CBM representation and program outcomes. Yet, few studies have focused on CBM collaborator demographics, especially in low-income countries. We implemented a CBM project co-designed by protected area managers and local community members in the geographically, biologically, and culturally diverse Southern Madagascar. The project involved 27 scientists and 83 community members who collectively generated 69,429 observations of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles across two years (2917 surveys). Using linear regressions and mixed-effects models, we examined how collaborators' demographics (gender, age, and level of formal education) and their prior amount of biological monitoring experience impacted their efficacy, measured as the number of observed species. For both scientists and community members, monitoring teams with women, despite being underrepresented, on average observed more species than male-only teams. Among community members, age and level of formal education had smaller positive effects on efficacy. Our results suggest that CBM projects should actively engage a broad array of community members, including those with marginalized identities, to provide diverse perspectives. Inclusive initiatives offer both tangible (lower project costs) and intangible (community engagement, education, and enhanced collaboration) benefits for local communities and conservation managers alike.

Connecting Community-Based Monitoring to environmental governance in the Arctic: A systematic scoping review of the literature

Arctic Community-Based Monitoring (CBM) programs occur within complex governance landscapes. Indigenous rightsholders are increasingly significant political actors and where environmental and political injustices related to climate change and resource development motivate monitoring. We draw on a systematic scoping literature review to examine the current state of the literature on Arctic CBM and environmental governance. Relevant articles (n=27) were identified through inclusion/exclusion criteria (i.e., English language, peer reviewed, published between 1991 and 2021, based on primary research) and analyzed using a data extraction questionnaire. We find that there is a growing focus on the relationship between Arctic CBM and governance at a variety of scales and in a range of environmental systems. Importantly, Indigenous peoples play a significant role within this literature in that most included articles discussed Indigenous Knowledge. However, less than half of the articles discussed Indigenous peoples as rightsholders with significant governance roles. Based on our findings we recommend future studies engage critical analysis of the influence of the, often unequal, governance and politics in the Arctic 1) on environmental decision-making, 2) the politics of knowledge, and 3) the use of digital technologies in the collection, storage, and mobilization of CBM data.

Ensuring continuity and impact in Arctic monitoring: a solution-orientated model for community-based environmental research

Community-based monitoring (CBM) is increasingly cited as a means of collecting valuable baseline data that can contribute to our understanding of environmental change whilst supporting Indigenous governance and self-determination in research. However, current environmental CBM models have specific limitations that impact program effectiveness and the progression of research stages beyond data collection. Here, we highlight key aspects that limit the progression of Arctic CBM programs which include funding constraints, organisational structures, and operational processes. Exemplars from collaborative environmental research conducted in the acutely climate change impacted Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), Canada, are used to identify co-developed solutions to address these challenges. These learnings from experience-based collaborations feed into a new solution-orientated model of environmental community-based research (CBR) that emphasises continuity between and community ownership in all research stages to enable a more complete research workflow. Clear recommendations are provided to develop a more coherent approach to achieving this model, which can be adapted to guide the development of successful environmental CBR programs in different research and place-based contexts.

Biomass accrual benefits of community-based marine protected areas outweigh their operational costs

The costs and benefits of customary top-down Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been studied at length. But the costs and benefits of community-based MPAs –an increasingly common tool in conservation and fisheries management– remain understudied. Here, we quantify the operational costs of maintaining community-based MPA monitoring programs in nine small-scale fishing communities in Mexico. We then compare these costs to the potential extractive use value of invertebrate and fish biomass contained in the reserves. We find that the annual monitoring costs (median: 1,130 MXN/ha; range: 23-3,561 MXN/ha) represent between 0.3% and 55% of the extractive use value of the biomass contained in the reserves (median: 21.31 thousand MXN/ha; 5.22 - 49/12 thousand MXN/ha). These results suggest that the direct monetary benefits of community-based marine conservation can outweigh the costs of monitoring programs, providing further support for these types of management schemes. While further research should explore other mechanisms that would allow fishers to leverage the non-extractive use value of reserves (e.g., tourism) or the non-use value (i.e. existence value of biodiversity) to sustainably finance their conservation efforts, a stop-gap measure to ensuring long-term monitoring costs are covered might include limited extractive use of resources contained in the reserves.

Towards more inclusive and solution orientated community-based environmental monitoring

Rapid climate-driven environmental change continues to threaten front-line communities that rely on Arctic landscapes to sustain their way of life. Community-Based Monitoring (CBM) can increase our knowledge of environmental change and understanding of human-environment interactions occurring across the Arctic. However, the depth of CBM research outcomes have been limited by an imbalance in contributions from external researchers and community members. A detailed literature analysis revealed that the number of studies documenting CBM approaches in Inuit Nunangat (Inuit homeland in Canada) have increased over the last decade. We identify that bottom-up guiding protocols including the National Inuit Strategy on Research, has increased community engagement in Arctic research processes and equitable outcomes. However, these increases have been concentrated on wildlife-based research where consistent funding streams and pre-existing alignment with community priorities exist. To explore the potential for guiding principles to be more successfully incorporated into impactful CBM, we present a co-developed environmental CBM case study aiming to document and aid understanding of climate-driven landscape change near Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Canada since 2018. A foundation of early dialogue and collaborative partnerships between community members and external researchers formed the basis of a community-based climate monitoring program driven by community research priorities. A succession of funded CBM projects at Tuktoyaktuk demonstrated that longer term and resilient climate monitoring can bring together Scientific and Indigenous knowledge systems. Progressing beyond an emphasis on data collection is vital to sustain monitoring efforts, capacity sharing and co-dissemination processes to ensure research is communicated back in a way that is understandable, relevant, and usable to address community priorities. The need for successful CBM is often at odds with current research funding structures, which risks a fragmented mosaic of early-stage initiatives focused on understanding environmental problems rather than sustained and progressive research development towards cooperative solutions.

Pendampingan Community Based Surveilance Sebagai Upaya Pengendalian Tuberkulosis Paru di Kelurahan Bandengan

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Indonesia is among the three countries with the highest estimated incidence of TB, after India and China. Tuberculosis deaths in HIV-negative populations reach 44 per 100,000 population (WHO, 2019). Bandengan village now has 8 cases, the second highest in the Doukh Health Center's service area. In addition to the high number of new cases, public participation in programs to combat and prevent pulmonary tuberculosis is also low. Many philanthropic efforts have been put into place to help solve this problem, including Trained and formed community-based health worker monitoring teams and educated in early detection and prevention of pulmonary tuberculosis. Indicators of success for this community service included increasing residents' knowledge, skills, and independence in community-based monitoring programs, forming community-based monitoring teams in villages, and increasing community awareness and role in pulmonary tuberculosis prevention. will be the activity was held on Tuesday 24th January 2023 with her 20 participants. Partners play a central role in this activity as this service is a community empowerment activity and partners are the main actors/actors. The proposal team will act as a facilitator and companion until the partners are deemed competent and independent to continue community-based surveillance (CBS) activities to combat pulmonary tuberculosis in Bandengan village.

Citizen Science and Natural Resource Management: A Social Network Analysis of Two Community-Based Water Monitoring Programs

In natural resource management contexts, citizen science programs often involve a diversity of actors collaborating in broad social networks. However, the characteristics and functioning of these networks has received limited attention. In this article, we demonstrate the benefits of applying social network research to citizen science practice. Through a mixed methods approach, we compare data sharing and collaboration networks of two community-based water monitoring programs in Australia. The quantitative component revealed that despite similarities in actor diversity and activities, both programs have created divergent network structures (centralized vs decentralized) corresponding to their scale of influence in environmental decision-making (regional vs local impacts). The qualitative component showed how individuals navigated their relationships and managed key tensions inherent to network functioning. This study provides new insights on the role of social networks in citizen science and concludes by recommending program leaders adopt a “networking mindset” to maximize their sphere of influence.

Rare earth element bioaccumulation and cerium anomalies in biota from the Eastern Canadian subarctic (Nunavik)

Recent increases in the demand for rare earth elements (REE) have contributed to various countries' interest in exploration of their REE deposits, including within Canada. Current limited knowledge of REE distribution in undisturbed subarctic environments and their bioaccumulation within northern species is addressed through a collaborative community-based environmental monitoring program in Nunavik (Quebec, Canada). This study provides background REE values (lanthanides + yttrium) and investigates REE anomalies (i.e., deviations from standard pattern) across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems in an area where a REE mining project is in development. Results are characteristic of a biodilution of REE, with the highest mean total REE concentrations (ΣREE) reported in sediments (102 nmol/g) and low trophic level organisms (i.e., biofilm, macroalgae, macroinvertebrates, common mussels, and reindeer lichens; 101–102 nmol/g), and the lowest mean concentrations in higher-level consumers (i.e., goose, ptarmigan, char, whitefish, cod, sculpin and seal; 10−2 - 101 nmol/g). The animal tissues are of importance to northern villages and analyses demonstrate a species-specific bioaccumulation of REE, with mean concentrations up to 40 times greater in liver compared to muscle, with bones and kidneys presenting intermediate concentrations and the lowest in blubber. Further, a tissue-specific fractionation was presented, with significant light REE (LREE) enrichment compared to heavy REE (HREE) in consumer livers (LREE/HREE ≅ 101) and the most pronounced negative cerium (Ce) anomalies (<0.80) in liver and bones of fish species. These fractionation patterns, along with novel negative relationships presented between fish size (length, mass) and Ce anomalies suggest metabolic, ecological, and/or environmental influences on REE bioaccumulation and distribution within biota. Background concentration data will be useful in the establishment of REE guidelines; and the trends discussed support the use of Ce anomalies as biomarkers for REE processing in animal species, which requires further investigation to better understand their controlling factors.

The promise and pitfalls of community-based monitoring with a focus on Canadian examples

Community-based monitoring (CBM) is a widely used form of scientific data collection in which local community members directly participate in ecosystem research and also help the process by sharing traditional ecological knowledge and local understanding of land and resources. This paper presents a review of the challenges and opportunities associated with CBM projects in Canada and internationally. While Canadian cases are the primary focus, international examples are drawn on to provide additional context. Based on our review of 121 documents and publications, we found that CBM helps fill science research gaps by providing access to continuous data sets on the ecosystems being studied. CBM also increases the credibility of the data among users, as the community itself takes part in the environmental monitoring process. CBM supports cross-cultural learning and the co-production of knowledge by using traditional ecological knowledge with science, thereby enabling researchers, scientists and community members to learn from one another. Our review suggests that although there are multiple successes, CBM faces several challenges that constrain its progress including funding shortages, lack of support for local stewardship, and inadequate training for local users in the operation of equipment and data collection methods. Data sharing and rights on the use of data are also constraining to the long-term success of CBM programs.

Leveraging Citizen Science and Low-Cost Sensors to Characterize Air Pollution Exposure of Disadvantaged Communities in Southern California.

Assessing exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) across disadvantaged communities is understudied, and the air monitoring network is inadequate. We leveraged emerging low-cost sensors (PurpleAir) and engaged community residents to develop a community-based monitoring program across disadvantaged communities (high proportions of low-income and minority populations) in Southern California. We recruited 22 households from 8 communities to measure residential outdoor PM2.5 concentrations from June 2021 to December 2021. We identified the spatial and temporal patterns of PM2.5 measurements as well as the relationship between the total PM2.5 measurements and diesel PM emissions. We found that communities with a higher percentage of Hispanic and African American population and higher rates of unemployment, poverty, and housing burden were exposed to higher PM2.5 concentrations. The average PM2.5 concentrations in winter (25.8 µg/m3) were much higher compared with the summer concentrations (12.4 µg/m3). We also identified valuable hour-of-day and day-of-week patterns among disadvantaged communities. Our results suggest that the built environment can be targeted to reduce the exposure disparity. Integrating low-cost sensors into a citizen-science-based air monitoring program has promising applications to resolve monitoring disparity and capture “hotspots” to inform emission control and urban planning policies, thus improving exposure assessment and promoting environmental justice.

Mining and Sustainability in the Circumpolar North: The Role of Government in Advancing Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is recognized as important to fostering sustainable natural resource development in the Circumpolar North. Governments are playing an increasingly active role in promoting and shaping CSR initiatives, often in collaboration with Indigenous communities and industry. This paper explores the role of CSR in mining for improving socio-economic and environmental management practice. The article argues that government instituted regulations can lead to the development and implementation of CSR practices by mining companies. To examine the relationship between government requirements and CSR, we use two Northern case studies: Cameco Corporation’s uranium mining operations located in Saskatchewan, Canada and Northern Iron’s iron mining operation located in Troms and Finnmark county, Norway. Through an in-depth review of scholarly literature, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews, our findings suggest that the role of the state in the initiation and implementation of CSR is of much greater importance than is currently acknowledged in the literature. In the case of Cameco, the Mine Surface Lease Agreements agreed to by the corporation and the provincial government provided motivation for the development and implementation of their world-renowned CSR practices, resulting in a community-based environmental monitoring program and benefits for both the company and surrounding communities. With Northern Iron’s operations in Kirkenes, working hour requirements instituted by the Norwegian Government allowed for significantly higher levels of local employment. Our findings suggest a greater role exists for government to facilitate the adoption of CSR policies, contributing in turn to improved socio-economic and environmental outcomes for Northern communities.

Hunting sustainability within two eastern Amazon Extractive Reserves

SummarySubsistence hunting provides an important food source for rural populations in tropical forests but can lead to wildlife depletion. Management of wildlife resources depends on assessments of hunting sustainability. We assessed the sustainability of subsistence hunting in two Amazonian Extractive Reserves. We examined hunting data from a community-based monitoring programme conducted in 30 communities during 63 consecutive months to address temporal trends in hunting yields in terms of catch per unit of effort of all game species and the six most hunted species. We also assessed the prey profiles across different communities. Game species composition did not differ between monitored communities, and the most hunted species were Tayassu pecari, large cracids, Cuniculus paca, Mazama spp., Tapirus terrestris and Pecari tajacu. Catch per unit of effort was stable for all game species and each of the most hunted species, indicating that hunting was generally sustainable. These findings reflect the exceptionally low human population density and continuous forest cover of the study landscape, and long-term hunting sustainability and local protein acquisition will depend on maintaining these social and environmental settings. The results also show that large Sustainable Use Protected Areas can help foster sustainable game management and should thus be included in public policies.

A longitudinal community-based ototoxicity monitoring programme and treatment effects for drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment, Western Cape.

BackgroundSouth Africa has a high burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB) and until recently, ototoxic aminoglycosides were predominant in treatment regimens. Community-based ototoxicity monitoring programmes (OMPs) have been implemented for early detection of hearing loss and increased patient access.ObjectivesA longitudinal study was conducted to describe the service delivery characteristics of a community-based OMP for DRTB patients facilitated by CHWs as well as observed ototoxic hearing loss in this population.MethodA descriptive retrospective record review of longitudinal ototoxicity monitoring of 194 DRTB patients undergoing treatment at community-based clinics in the city of Cape Town between 2013 and 2017.ResultsFollow-up rates between consecutive monitoring assessments reached as high as 80.6% for patients assessed by CHWs. Few patients (14.2% – 32.6%) were assessed with the regularity (≥ 6 assessments) and frequency required for effective ototoxicity monitoring, with assessments conducted, on average, every 53.4–64.3 days. Following DRTB treatment, 51.5% of patients presented with a significant ototoxic shift meeting one or more of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) criteria. Deterioration in hearing thresholds was bilateral and most pronounced at high frequencies (4 kHz – 8 kHz). The presence of pre-existing hearing loss, human immunodeficiency virus co-infection and a history of noise exposure were significant predictors of ototoxicity in patients.ConclusionDRTB treatment with kanamycin resulted in significant deterioration of hearing longitudinally, predominantly at high frequencies. With ongoing training and supportive supervision, CHWs can facilitate community-based ototoxicity monitoring of DRTB patients. Current protocols and guidelines may require reassessment for appropriate community-based ototoxicity monitoring.

Vaccination for Justice-Involved Youth.

Justice-involved youth are at increased risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, and structural barriers may limit their access to vaccination. We implemented a COVID-19 vaccination initiative for justice-involved youth residing at the county juvenile detention center and enrolled in local community-based monitoring programs. Our overarching goal was to increase COVID-19 vaccine access and uptake for justice-involved youth in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Our efforts incorporated: a virtual forum with youth, guardians, and community partners; one-on-one outreach to guardians; motivational interviewing with youth; and coordination with organizational leaders. We collaborated with a multidisciplinary medical team to offer individualized education and counseling to parents and youth expressing vaccine hesitancy. We developed a logistical framework to ensure complete COVID-19 vaccination series for all youth, including centralized tracking and implementation of multiple community-based vaccine clinics. Through our initiative, 31 justice-involved youth have received at least 1 dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 50 doses have been administered as a result of this initiative. This work has reaffirmed hypothesized barriers to vaccine access among justice-involved youth, including limited parental involvement, inadequate transportation, vaccine misinformation, and distrust rooted in histories of medical mistreatment of communities of color. Best practices for promoting equitable vaccination efforts among vulnerable subgroups include partnering closely with diverse community members; offering individualized, strengths-based counseling on vaccine safety, efficacy, and importance; and demonstrating provider trustworthiness by recognizing histories of oppression.

Community-Based Conservation and Management of Chelonians in the Amazon

Chelonians represent an important resource in the Amazon, either as a source of protein at the base of the food chain of aquatic and transition ecosystems, or in the dispersion of seeds of plants from floodplains and flooded forests. The consumption and predatory exploitation of their meat and eggs by local populations has been, and still is, one of the main threats to these animals. Community-based conservation projects allied to official protection programs have been restoring populations of chelonians of the genus Podocnemis throughout the Amazon since 1974. In this study, we analyzed the historical time series of protection data of Podocnemis expansa, P. unifilis, P. sextuberculata and P. erythrocephala in areas protected by the government and communities in the Amazonas state and northwest of Pará state. Between 1974 and 2019, 230,444 nests and 21,350,201 hatchlings of P. expansa, 170,076 nests and 3,229,821 hatchlings of P. unifilis, 647,715 nests and 6,410,092 hatchlings of P. sextuberculata and 24,617 nests and 168,856 hatchlings of P. erythrocephala were protected. Community protection schemes emerged in 1990, and covered 80.7% of the areas and produced 64.2% of P. unifilis hatchlings and 44.6% of P. sextuberculata hatchlings. The areas with the highest production of P. expansa remain under government protection (57.4%). Using the time series of production of nests and hatchlings per beach, logistic growth curves were estimated, and the values of r and K were compared between the two protection systems (government and community). Beaches controlled by the government showed higher support capacity in the production of nests (1,910.7 ± 1,035) and hatchlings (211,513 ± 93,031) of P. expansa and P. sextuberculata (81,160 ± 34,924 hatchlings). However, the communities were more efficient in protecting nests (r = 0.102 ± 0.2315) and hatchlings (r = 0.282 ± 0.166) of P. unifilis. Community-based protection and monitoring programs are an important component that should be incorporated by the government’s environmental agencies for the management and conservation of turtles in the Amazon.