Conservation efforts require information on our environment and anyone who visits Banyan Tree can contribute through observation. This process is known as citizen science: the active involvement in scientific research by people from diverse walks of life, different ages, experience and skills. Public participation on scientific projects is an important data collection component as it can provide many surveys from a much larger geographic area over longer periods of time.

Data collection has been designed to be fun, easy to implement with minimal training, but still remain scientifically robust and consistent. The program has several components depending on the level of interest and ability of the participant. The goal of the Banyan Tree Marine Monitoring Program is to educate and collect data that detect broad scale changes in reefs and iconic species at local, regional and global scales.

Surveys in the Maldives focus on threatened sharks and turtles, indicators of reef health (e.g. colourful butterflyfishes) or indicators of fishing pressure (e.g. groupers). Our program empowers people to help understand and contribute to the conservation of coral reefs.