What is Good Monitoring?

Environmental Evaluator’s NetworkOttawa, September 2010

Presentation Outline

1. What is monitoring?2. Why monitor?3. What’s the question?4. How much monitoring? 5. What’s the answer?6. What is good monitoring?

What is Monitoring?“… the collection and analysis of

repeated observations or measurements to evaluate changes

in condition and progress toward meeting a management objective”

 Elzinga 2001

Why Monitor?Why Monitor?1. Accountability for park condition: Legislated

need to report on EI condition – What is the state of Ivvavik NP, and how is it changing?

2. Accountability for investments in management actions to improve EI – outputs/outcomes

3. Impact Assessments – EA follow-up monitoring4. Contributions to Science Knowledge:

1. Interpreting long term ecological trends in relation to processes and drivers

2. assessing model predictions for ecological change in Arctic national parks

The Monitoring QuestionA clear and concise statement of the desired outcome for the project, or the threshold for assessing change in condition, and the criteria for measuring success through monitoring

1. Set in advance as part of project design2. Condition Monitoring – linked to EI measure thresholds3. Effectiveness Monitoring – setting targets to assess

whether or not the management action effective4. May differ with time (short, medium and long term goals)

Condition MonitoringCondition MonitoringQuestions and ThresholdsQuestions and Thresholds

Clear Monitoring Question EI Thresholds

From: Kejimkujik NP State of the Park Report 2010 – Technical Compendium

Effectiveness MonitoringEffectiveness MonitoringOutputs and OutcomesOutputs and Outcomes

Outputs: Did we carry out the prescribed actions as outlined in the project plan?

Outcomes: Did the prescribed actions demonstrate an increase in ecological integrity?

Effectiveness MonitoringSetting Management Targets

Long Term Goal – 5% of La Mauricie Forest is Mature White Pine

Time

Level of ‘EI’

White pine seedlings/saplings density – no treatment

White pine seedlings/saplings density – with treatment

Year 5 Year 15

5 year goal

EI ‘improvement’ EI ‘improvement’

15 year goal

Date of treatment

How Much Monitoring Do I Need?

A

- post monitoring only- no controls, or reference- no replication

burn

T T

nomonitoring

burn

time

- pre- and post- monitoring- no control or reference- no replication

burn

T T

- pre- & post- monitoring- control & treatment- no replication

burn

T

C

T

C

- pre- & post- monitoring- control & treatment- minimum replication

burn

T

C

T

C

T

C

T

C

T

C

T

C

- pre- & post- monitoring- control & treatment- randomised replication

burn

TC

T C

T C

T C

T C

T C

T C

T C

TC

TC

TC

TC

TC

TC

TC

T C

B D E FC

Number of Management Treatment Units0 many

Increasing Costs and Resources

Increasing Confidence in Results

Elzinga 2001

Communicate!

Forest 44 High moose density - regeneration affected. Habitat loss from forestry. High percentage non-native mammals

Barrens 35 Woodland caribou decline. Increasing human use. Increasing non-native species

Wetland 11 Damage from snowmobiles. Woodland caribou declines.

Freshwater 8.8 Healthy fish and invertebrate populations.Atlantic salmon, brook trout concerns

Seacoast 0.2 Recovering from historic grazing, trampling and human use. Seabird populations healthy

Marine 1 Over-exploitation of fish species, pollution, garbage

Condition and Trend

RationaleIndicator: Ecosystem

Type

Percentage of Park Area

What is Good Monitoring?What is Good Monitoring?The AuditThe Audit

1. Peer-reviewed protocols – the ‘bus’ test2. Reliable data management system - ICE3. Clear monitoring questions/thresholds4. Clear management targets5. Study design and resources reflect risk6. Results clearly and simply presented in

plain language communication products (SOPR)

What is Good Monitoring?What is Good Monitoring?EI Monitoring Program EI Monitoring Program

ChallengeChallenge• USEFUL: provides clear messages about the state of

park EI and the effectiveness of park management activities, in relation to park management objectives

• COMPREHENSIVE: includes indicators from all major park ecosystems and management needs, using scientifically robust methods that are effectively synthesized and communicated

• SUSTAINABLE: is achievable in the long term in both financial and human resources; implementable in the context of park technical and scientific capacities

In a Nutshell

Good monitoring provides a clear answer to a well stated management question using

resources that reflect the management risk or project investment.