This Master’s thesis compares different nature and recreation associations in terms of their activity to organize species observation
activities and collect species data. The aim is to fill gaps in knowledge concerning on which volunteer groups are actively producing
data, and if some of them could be included stronger in biodiversity monitoring and evaluation work. Further, the thesis evaluates
how important the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (FinBIF) is for different nature and recreation associations as a data sharing
channel. The main study material was collected by a qualitative questionnaire that was sent to variety of different nature and
recreation associations. As a result, species enthusiast associations, hunting associations and nature conservation associations were
shown to be the most active in organizing species observation, that is in accordance with earlier studies such as Santaoja (2013).
From other studied groups the Scouts surprisingly showed relatively high interest toward species observation, but they were not
active in data sharing. Evaluating associations willingness to use the FinBIF’s services and devises for observation data sharing,
revealed, that the FinBIF’s channel was not popular among the studied associations, keeping in mind that the study did not examine
FinBIF’s popularity among individual volunteers. In the light of the results, the FinBIF services and the concept of citizen science
should be more actively promoted toward nature and recreation associations, especially to the Scouts who would be potential group
to co-operate with in biodiversity monitoring and evaluation work.
