Capacity building as a pathway to indigenous participation in tropical birding and citizen science

Introduction Citizen science presents a critical pathway for advancing biodiversity monitoring and conservation globally, yet local and indigenous engagement remains limited in many developing countries. Methods This study evaluates the impact of targeted capacity building on indigenous participation in birding and citizen science in Nigeria, integrating formal training workshops and informal bird club networks to foster skill transfer and social learning. Using eBird and Nigerian Bird Atlas Project data from 2000–2024, we quantitatively compare checklist submission rates and qualitatively assess motivations and barriers through participant questionnaires. Results Results reveal that capacity building initiatives substantially increased indigenous contributions and lowered entry barriers, with marked improvements in technical proficiency and sustained engagement. Discussion These findings demonstrate that community-driven training and inclusive outreach could be pivotal for broadening participation and advancing locally anchored citizen science, providing a scalable framework for biodiversity monitoring in similar contexts.