Citizen science initiatives rarely scale in isolation. Their development is typically shaped by a broader ecosystem of relationships involving communities, institutions, organisations, and support networks (Fraisl et al., 2022).

These ecosystems provide different forms of support, including knowledge exchange, infrastructure, legitimacy, funding opportunities, and long-term continuity. Reflecting on how projects relate to wider support ecosystems may help practitioners identify opportunities, dependencies, and areas for strengthening over time.

Ecosystems are dynamic. Relationships shift, priorities change, and new actors emerge. Understanding how a project fits within this wider landscape can help identify opportunities for collaboration while recognising dependencies and gaps.

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