When genomes meet local knowledge

Biodiversity genomics is changing how researchers understand species, populations, and ecosystems. Genome-wide data can reveal genetic diversity, population structure, inbreeding, gene flow, and signals of adaptation. These insights can help inform conservation, management, and policy. Yet the meaning and usefulness of genomic evidence often depend on the places, species, and people connected to the research.

A new perspective article published in Biological Conservation, Engaging European local communities in biodiversity genomics research: A five-step framework for scientists, addresses this relationship directly. Developed by members of the ERGA community and collaborators, the article proposes a practical framework for engaging European Local Communities in biodiversity genomics projects.

The paper starts from a simple point. People who live in, work with, and care for particular places often hold knowledge that cannot be recovered from sequence data alone. Fishers, farmers, foresters, hunters, birdwatchers, local associations, residents, and other community members may know how species move, where they were once found, when habitats changed, or which management actions are likely to be feasible. This Local Ecological Knowledge can improve sampling design, inform interpretation, and help translate results into decisions that make sense in local contexts.

The authors also recognise that engagement is still uneven in biodiversity genomics. Researchers may lack time, training, incentives, or practical guidance. Communities may be asked to provide samples, access, or observations without being involved in shaping the questions, interpreting the findings, or deciding how results should be shared. Genomics adds further complexity because projects often involve biological materials, genomic sequence data, genetic variant data, locality information, repository deposition, Digital Sequence Information, and possible future reuse.

The proposed framework offers five connected steps for research teams. It begins with identifying relevant communities and building relationships early, before sampling or data collection begins. It then asks researchers to learn and respect local context, communication norms, and knowledge protocols. The third step focuses on co-creating the research process, including shared roles, training, and decision-making where communities wish to take part. The fourth step addresses transparency and mutual benefit, including data management, recognition, communication, and realistic expectations. The final step calls for long-term engagement and knowledge transfer, so that results remain understandable, accessible, and useful after publication.

The article is careful not to present community engagement as a simple add-on. It describes it as work that requires time, resources, humility, and clear agreements. It also recognises that participation may not always be possible or desired. In some cases, communities may decline involvement. In others, Local Ecological Knowledge, genomic results, and ecological observations may point in different directions. The framework encourages researchers to document these forms of evidence side by side, with their limits and uncertainties visible.

The paper also places biodiversity genomics within a changing policy landscape. Genome-wide evidence can contribute to conservation and management questions linked to genetic diversity, sustainable use, invasive species, disease risk, and biodiversity reporting. For these contributions to be useful beyond research settings, findings need to be communicated in ways that public authorities, practitioners, and communities can understand and evaluate.

For ERGA, the article reflects a wider commitment to biodiversity genomics that is open, responsible, and connected to the people and places it seeks to serve. Reference genomes and population genomic data are powerful tools, but their value grows when they are combined with ecological knowledge, clear communication, and respectful collaboration. This framework offers a starting point for research teams, funders, and community partners who want biodiversity genomics to support conservation decisions in a more transparent and locally informed way.

Link to the article