Many citizen science initiatives depend heavily on a small number of committed individuals (Wiggins & Crowston, 2011; Shirk et al., 2012). While this can provide strong leadership, it also creates vulnerability if responsibilities are not shared.

Practitioners may find it useful to reflect on how continuity is supported, including through shared responsibilities, documentation, mentoring, or succession planning. These practices help ensure that projects can persist even when key individuals step back or circumstances change (Wigboldus et al., 2016).

In this sense, sustaining influence depends not only on external engagement, but also on internal stability and adaptability.

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