Participatory monitoring involves local people in monitoring natural resources in their communities. It has gained popularity in recent years as a method of collecting ecological data while engaging people in conservation and increasing their awareness of ecological issues.

Effective monitoring is key to the successful conservation of natural resources. Traditionally monitoring in countries with high biodiversity and low internal capacity has been conducted by external experts. Participatory monitoring can be more efficient than externally driven monitoring and, by increasing local people’s involvement in conservation activities, encourages responsible resource use.

A participatory monitoring programme was set up to monitor the Pre-Caspian saiga population in Kalmykia, Russia. The programme is run by a Kalmyk organization, the Centre for Wild Animals of the Republic of Kalmykia (CWA) with support from international experts through the Saiga Conservation Alliance (SCA). Monitors opportunistically record saiga sightings while working on the steppe. The programme’s two objectives are to collect robust data on the saiga population for use in management decisions and to improve attitudes towards saiga and their conservation amongst steppe inhabitants.

') and Saigachy reserve (N 45° 00' E 58° 00'); Vozrozhdenie (N 45° 03' E 59° 03'), Pre-Aral Sea (N 43° 02' E 60° 05') and Muinak (N 43° 46' E 59° 01')