Citizen scientists stepping up to protect Scotland’s rivers

At the heart of the agreement is Buglife’s Guardians of our Rivers project, which trains volunteers to monitor freshwater invertebrates — tiny creatures that act as sensitive indicators of river health. The project has grown rapidly into a powerful national resource, with:

✅ Nearly 60 groups and over 800 people trained across Scotland;
✅ 4,477 total engagements to date;
✅ 1,024 surveys entered on the Cartographer citizen science platform;
✅ A growing network of volunteer regional trainers extending the project’s reach;
✅ A waiting list of groups eager to join — demonstrating the extraordinary appetite for community involvement.

The MoU creates a formal, quality-assured pathway for this volunteer-generated data to reach SEPA’s river monitoring teams. In return, SEPA will share information about its own monitoring network, enabling Buglife and volunteers to complement existing statutory monitoring.

Small creatures, big impact

Freshwater invertebrates, from mayflies and stoneflies to water beetles and freshwater shrimps, are among the most reliable indicators of river health. Changes in these invertebrates, and many others, can signal pollution, habitat degradation, or the effects of climate change long before other signs become visible.
By harnessing the observations of trained community volunteers across Scotland, Guardians of our Rivers generates a breadth of monitoring data that would be impossible for statutory agencies to collect alone – and the programme shows no sign of slowing down, with new groups still queuing up to take part.

A model for the future

The agreement reflects a broader shift toward collaborative, evidence-led environmental protection, in which communities play a formal and valued role alongside statutory bodies. The MoU sets out clear commitments from both organisations: Buglife will provide confirmed, quality-assured results; SEPA will consider those results and report back on any actions taken in response.

With the UK facing serious pressures on its freshwater ecosystems, this partnership offers a replicable model for how conservation charities, regulators, and communities can work together to protect the natural environment.

How can you get involved? 

If you or your community would like to receive training to start monitoring riverflies in your local watercourse, please contact Guardians of our Rivers: Next Steps Conservation Officers Caroline Howarth at [email protected] and Elaine Rainey at [email protected].

Similarly if your existing group of River Guardians are interested in receiving extended training or you are an individual who might be interested in becoming a regional trainer please do get in touch.