This Discussion Paper reviews participatory approaches to monitoring environmental change. It draws on published literature, interviews with practitioners, and the practical experiences of a research project on participatory monitoring of sustainable agriculture in Brazil. This project seeks to develop a viable and relevant monitoring process with farmers, farmers unions, and NGOs to help assess the social and environmental impacts of their efforts in developing more sustainable forms of agriculture. ~The term ‘participatory monitoring’ is used to describe a wide range of practices. Here we use it to describe monitoring approaches that develop partnerships of multiple stakeholders for efficient, effective and socially inclusive monitoring. The drive for accountability and the need for more information to improve planning processes have given great impetus to participatory monitoring. This publication provides comprehensive practical examples that can be drawn upon to support or refute the claims regarding Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation.