EcoMonitor System is an environmental monitoring system based on citizen science, IoT sensors, and AI models for the sustainable management of natural resources. EcoMonitor System is designed to empower rural communities to monitor their environment, facilitating the identification and mitigation of environmental threats. Combining real-time data, IoT sensors, digital forms, and an intuitive interface, the platform allows users to monitor the quality of essential resources and detect significant changes in the ecosystem.

Community-Based Monitoring (CBM) is a methodological approach that allows local communities to actively participate in the collection of environmental data, the analysis of that information, and the decision-making regarding the management of their natural resources. It is based on the direct participation of community members, which fosters empowerment and environmental awareness while generating reliable and useful data for the local management of soils, water, and biodiversity.

Bottom-Up Action is a participatory and adaptive methodology designed to support community-based environmental monitoring. It unfolds in four interconnected phases that guide communities from local engagement to autonomous management. The process begins with understanding the Territory, where local knowledge is valued through participatory diagnosis, community mapping, and leadership training. This lays the foundation for Participatory Decision-Making, in which community members engage in the co-design of tools, prototype validation, and inclusive consultations to shape strategies collectively.

Next comes Capacity-Building, focused on providing continuous training, promoting feedback mechanisms, and facilitating knowledge exchange between communities to strengthen their technical and organizational capabilities. Finally, the methodology culminates in Community Empowerment, where communities assume independent management through a sustainability plan, self-management structures, and the establishment of external alliances with NGOs and government entities.

This approach combines citizen science and digital technology, enabling communities to make informed decisions and foster long-term environmental stewardship.

Challenges

Rural areas face critical environmental challenges due to land degradation, water scarcity, and climate change pressures. These problems have a direct impact on socio-productivity and the small-scale economy, affecting the stability of the agricultural sector and limiting rural development. This increases the need for a tool that continuously monitors and generates early warnings of changes in environmental quality. EcoMonitor System is being implemented in response to these needs, helping users to make decisions based on accurate data and creating synergies with local governance.