Tools and Methods for Land Health Monitoring ......• Calculate areas, design weights for data...
Transcript of Tools and Methods for Land Health Monitoring ......• Calculate areas, design weights for data...
Implementing AIM-based Monitoring for Natural Resource
Management
Jason W. Karl1
Sarah E. McCord1
Emily Kachergis2
Jeffrey Herrick1
1USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range 2BLM National Operations Center
Implementing AIM-based Monitoring for Natural Resource
Management
Implementing AIM-based Monitoring
• Successful monitoring programs have – Clearly-defined objectives
– Planning
– Organized execution
– Iteration/revision
• AIM Principles – Facilitate use of data to answer original questions
– Promote ability to reuse monitoring data
Monitoring Process Implementation Model
• Effective monitoring programs don’t just happen
– A planned or structured approach to implementation helps
• This is the implementation model that we use for AIM projects
– Adapted from well-used sources (e.g., Elzinga et al., Herrck et al. 2005).
– Structured, but flexible and iterative
General Approach First Year: Develop Monitoring Program
First Year: Design Monitoring Program
First Year: Implement Monitoring Program
Every Year: Maintain Program
Every 1-10 Years: Repeat Long-term Monitoring
Background
Design
Implement
Maintain
Repeat/Use
Design & implementation steps are iterative Documentation of the process is crucial
Developing a Monitoring Program
Step 1: Develop management objectives, select additional ecosystem attributes and indicators to monitor
Step 2: Set the study area and reporting units, develop monitoring objectives
Step 3: Select criteria for stratifying the study area into similar land areas (if required)
Conceptual Models for Monitoring Design
From Miller et al. (2010)
Design the Monitoring Program
Step 4: Select supplemental methods; estimate sample sizes, set sampling frequency, develop implementation rules
Step 5: Collect/evaluate pilot data for sampling sufficiency and evaluating strata
Step 6: Apply stratification to study area, select statistically-valid sampling locations
Step 7: Develop QA/QC procedures and data management plans
Stratification
Develop stratification criteria
• Conceptual focus
• Factors affecting variability of indicators
• May include other units for ensuring adequate sampling
• Often many potential criteria
• Iterative process to arrive at final criteria
Apply stratification
• Technical focus
• Translate the criteria into a set of units for sample design
• Calculate areas, design weights for data analysis
• Stratification layers often imperfect
Two separate steps!
Supplemental methods
• Core indicators not intended to answer every question
• Supplemental methods added when needed
Active Layer Depth NPR-A
Supplemental Height Info, Sagebrush Shape Sage Grouse HAF
Example - White River Field Office
• Sample Design – Project area – grew from
portion to include entire FO area
– Strata – land potential basis, grouped range sites (no EcoSite info)
– Approach – spatially-balanced point selection
– Iteration – sample sufficiency after year 1. Additional areas/samples added each year.
Implement the Monitoring Program
Step 8: Establish monitoring locations, collect baseline data, perform QA/QC
Step 9: Evaluate baseline data, refine monitoring design and objectives as necessary
Data QA/QC Responsibilities
Level Responsibility Task Frequency
Field Field lead/crew Calibration Proper technique Data completeness Data organization
Ongoing
Field/District Office Monitoring project coordinator
Monitoring design Training crews Data review Data management
Beginning of season Ongoing
State Office State monitoring lead
Data review/ standardization
End of season
NOC NOC database staff Monitoring Resources Provide training Data review/standardization
Ongoing Beginning of Season End of Season
Monitoring Data QA/QC
Baseline data evaluation
• Exploratory data analysis – Outliers, weird values
• Calculate estimates for reporting units – Necessary sample
design info
– Point weights
• Sample sufficiency – Enough sample points?
http://shiny.landscapetoolbox.org/SampleSize
Maintain the Monitoring Program
Step 10: Document management/disturbance; record short-term monitoring data (as needed)
Management/ Disturbance Use Monitoring
Developing a Monitoring Program
Step 11: Repeat monitoring at predetermined frequency, perform data QA/QC
Step 12: Analyze, interpret, report, and USE monitoring results in adaptive management
Floodplain connectivity Bank stability
Macroinvertebrate MMI scores Invasive macroinvertebrates
Floodplain connectivity Bank stability
Applying Monitoring Data
• Creating estimates for the right reporting units
• Linking monitoring data to land management objectives
• Developing thresholds for management actions
Putting it all together
Don’t be put off by the technical aspects of monitoring program design. • Focus on concepts • Use resources,
people, tools available to help
• Plan on the process being iterative
Sources for more info
• The Landscape Toolbox (http://www.landscapetoolbox.org)
• Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savannah Ecosystems (2015)
• BLM Technical Note 445
– Taylor et al. 2014. AIM-Monitoring: a component of the BLM Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Strategy.