Information gathering is more efficient and effective when directly linked with a community vision . The measurements should show if the community's goals are actually being reached. A practical and attainable vision works, even if the goals don't seem very earth shaking. On the other hand the vision should not be trivial either. People caught up in the process of researching something of interest to their own lives quickly learn the critical issues and become real advocates for environmental sustainability.
Research is a process of learning.
Everyone involved has the opportunity to share what they know and learn from each other and from the resource being investigated. The volunteer research team will soon be very interested in the information, and become more so as they gather information themselves. The success of volunteer research depends on its applicability to the community, but part of the feeling of value comes from participating in real science that is of use to the nation and even the world. When data from school projects is valuable to the national or international effort to solve environmental projects, the programme is much more vital. Research information from the community level can be a key element in national policy decisions and macroeconomic planning.