TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY ………………………………………………………………………………… 1.0 INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………………… 2.0 MONITORING IN AN ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT CONTEXT………………… 3.0 CHALLENGES IN CREATING REGIONAL CONSERVATION PLAN MONITORING PROGRAMS ………………………………………………………… 7 3.1 Addressing both covered species and ecosystem integrity …………………. 3.2 Coordinating and integrating monitoring from local to ecoregional scales … 7 3.3 Acknowledging a high degree of uncertainty …………………………………. 3.4 Phasing-in monitoring program development ……………………………..… 3.5 Accommodating staged development of a reserve system network …………. 9 4.0 STEPWISE APPROACH TO CREATING A MONITORING PROGRAM …….. 10 4.1 Step 1. Identify the goals and objectives of the regional conservation plan … 4.2 Step 2. Identify the scope of monitoring program …………………………… 4.3 Step 3. Compile information relevant to monitoring program design ………. 4.4 Step 4. Strategically divide the system and set priorities …………………….. 4.5 Step 5. Develop simple management-oriented conceptual models …………… 4.6 Step 6. Determine what to monitor and identify critical uncertainties ……. 4.7 Step 7. Determine strategy for implementing monitoring ……………………. 4.8 Step 8. Develop data quality assurance, data management, analysis, and reporting strategies ……………………………………………………………… 4.9 Step 9. Complete the adaptive management loop by ensuring effective feedback to decision-making …………………………………………………… 5.0 ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DESIGNING THE MONITORING PROGRAM ………………………………………………………………………………..41 6.0 CONCLUSIONS ………………………………………………………………………… 42 7.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS …………………………………………………………… 42 8.0 ACRONYMS …………………………………………………………………………. 9.0 GLOSSARY …………………………………………………………………………….. 44 APPENDIX A. Suggested components of natural community assemblage conceptual models ……………………………………………………………………………….. 49 APPENDIX B. Suggested components of landscape-level conceptual models ……….…. 50 APPENDIX C. A strategy for linking monitoring of NCCP/HCP covered species with ecosystem monitoring ………………………………………………………………… APPENDIX D. Habitat monitoring as a surrogate for species monitoring …………….. v APPENDIX E. Characteristics of good monitoring variables …………………………… 54 APPENDIX F. Species-level monitoring variables ……………………………………….. 55 APPENDIX G. Natural community assemblage monitoring variables ………………… 56 APPENDIX H. Landscape-level monitoring variables ……………………………..…… APPENDIX I. Sampling design approaches that are receiving increased attention …….. APPENDIX J. Quality assurance plan ……………………………………………………. 60 REFERENCES ……………………………………………..………………………………. 61 LIST OF BOXES Box 1. Comparison of two covered species requiring different levels of initial focus in an NCCP/HCP monitoring program …………………………………………………. Box 2. Dividing system into natural community assemblages …………………………. Box 3. Typical landscape-level issues that involve multiple natural community assemblages or otherwise require special attention ………………………………. Box 4. Suggested components of covered species conceptual models …………………… Box 5. Conservation strategy and management...
