Ecuador: Citizen scientists safeguarding communities around the ‘throat of fire’ volcano

A new report highlights the success of a volunteer group set up to safeguard communities around the ‘Throat of Fire’ Tungurahua volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes, reports Red Orbit. The results of the research demonstrated that living safely in these dangerous areas can depend on effective communication and collaboration between volcanologists, risk managers and vulnerable communities. There is a hope that the research could help similar community engagement in volcanic and other disaster risk reduction projects around the world.

“Community based monitoring has the potential to reduce risk by providing useful data, fostering collaboration between scientists and communities, and providing a way in which citizens are empowered to take actions to preserve lives and livelihoods,” according to the new report based on a University of East Anglia research.