Biodiversity in Canada is under threat, with thousands of species at risk of disappearing.
Public engagement is essential to strengthening both global and provincial biodiversity
frameworks. One promising avenue is community science, which not only offers meaningful
environmental experiences for participants and staff, but also actively involves the public in
biodiversity conservation efforts. This study focuses on two under-researched areas: (1) the roles
and motivations of community science staff, and (2) how community science is integrated into
provincial government efforts in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. Treating community
science as a distinct case, the research involved semi-structured interviews with 16 community
science staff and 11 provincial government employees engaged in biodiversity and community
science initiatives. A bottom-up thematic analysis of the interview transcripts revealed key
emerging themes. Findings show that community science staff often juggle multiple
responsibilities simultaneously, frequently facing burnout as they adapt to program demands.
Meanwhile, provincial government staff operate in decentralized systems marked by knowledge
silos and limited interdepartmental communication, often resulting in duplicated efforts. Despite
these challenges, positive initiatives are underway in some provinces to enhance support for and
engagement with community science. The study highlights the need for intentional support
mechanisms such as increased funding, structured frameworks for community science, and the
establishment of communities of practice led by provincial governments. These steps are critical
for staff retention and the longevity of community science programs. The results are relevant to
biodiversity conservation practitioners, environmental non-profits, government agencies, and
community science organizations.
