Practices to Decrease Parachute Science in Remote Sensing: A Case Study from South Africa

"Parachute science" is when research is conducted in foreign countries without engaging local people and institutions. It is a colonial practice that most often occurs when researchers from high income countries work in low and middle income countries. Remote sensing field campaigns in low and middle income countries are particularly vulnerable to parachute science. This paper reviews BioSCape, a remote sensing field campaign in South Africa, and its efforts to mitigate parachute science. We discuss strategies for equitable collaboration, trust-building, and knowledge-sharing, highlighting successes and areas for improvement that we hope can guide future campaigns towards greater inclusivity and equity.