2B. Develop a Formal Monitoring Plan Conservation Coaches Network Workshop Presentation

Attribution Product of the Conservation Coaches Network, 2012 These presentations were developed based on materials from Foundations of Success (FOS), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). CCNet strongly recommends that this presentation is given by experts familiar with the adaptive management process presented by the Conservation Measures Partnership’s Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation.Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation You are free to share this presentation and adapt it for your use. Please attribute the work to CCNet or FOS, TNC and WWF. If you significantly alter, transform, or build upon this work, it may be appropriate to remove the CCNet logo.

Adaptive Management Workshop Presentations 1A-1B. Team, Scope, Vision 1B. Conservation Targets 1B. Viability Assessment 2A-1. Strategy Selection 2A-2. Results Chains 2A-3. Goals and Objectives 2B. Monitoring Plan 1C. Threat Rating 1D. Conceptual Models

Plan Your Actions & Monitoring Measures

This Presentation Types of measures and their value How to develop a monitoring plan Challenges related to monitoring and how to overcome them Measures

Basic Terminology Monitoring – The periodic collection and evaluation of data relative to stated project goals and objectives. Note: Many people often also refer to this process as monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Measures (of Success) = Indicators – An indicator is a measurable entity, such as the status of a target, change in a threat, or progress toward an objective. Measures

Status Question: How are Species and Ecosystems Doing? ? Measures

Effectiveness Question: Are Our Actions Leading to Desired Results? ? Measures

Like periodic check-ups of blood pressure or cholesterol Status Questions –How is the biodiversity we care about doing? –How are threats to biodiversity changing? –Is the capacity to improve conservation changing? –Can be used for Early Warning Status Measures Measures

Strategy Effectiveness Questions –Are our conservation actions having their intended impact? –Used for Adaptive Management Strategy Effectiveness Measures Measures

Measures Matter! Often seen as the last step or too challenging or expensive, so neglected But essential to: –Enable adapting, learning, & sharing –Provide transparency and accountability –Secure future funding Measures

This Presentation Types of measures and their value How to develop a monitoring plan Challenges related to monitoring and how to overcome them Measures

Develop Your Monitoring Plan Key Steps 1.Develop one or more indicators for each goal, objective and other information need 2.Prioritize your indicators based on your monitoring budget 3.For priority indicators, select your methods and how you will collect the information 4.Determine who will collect the data and when Measures

1. Develop Indicator(s) for Each Goal & Objective What is necessary: monitoring goals and objectives I I I I I I I Measures

1. Develop Indicator(s) for Each Goal & Objective What is ideal: monitoring key results, even if they don’t have an associated objective I I I I I I I Measures I I

1. Develop Indicator(s) for Each Goal & Objective Indicator: A measurable entity related to a specific information need such as the status of a target, change in a threat, or progress toward an objective Measures

A good indicator should meet the following criteria: Measurable: Able to be recorded and analyzed in quantitative or qualitative terms. Precise: Defined the same way by all people. Consistent: Not changing over time so that it always provides comparable measurements. Sensitive: Changing proportionately in response to actual changes in the condition or item being measured. Measures 1. Develop Indicator(s) for Each Goal & Objective

What Is Meant by “Sensitive”? Measures

Examples of Indicators Goal for Blue-billed Ducks: By mid-2017, the presence (no. of locations documented) and abundance of blue-billed ducks dependent upon the Swan Coastal Plain return to at least 1995 levels. Indicator 1: # of individual blue-billed ducks Indicator 2: GPS locations (distribution) of blue- billed duck occurrences Measures

Example of Status Indicators Target: Lakes KEA: Water quality Goal: Beginning in 2013, water quality in the lakes remains stable or improves. Indicators: –Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) –Nitrates (mg/L) and Phosphates (mg/L) –Transparency (depth of light penetration) Note: These are status indicators because the project team is not taking action to improve water quality. If they were, these would be effectiveness indicators. Measures

Examples of Indicators OBJ. C1: By 2015 and thereafter, no new invasive plant species are detected in the Eucalyptus-Melaleuca woodlands and seasonally flooded wetlands # of new invasive plant species recorded in the Eucalyptus-Melaleuca woodlands and seasonally flooded wetlands Measures

Examples of Indicators Measures OBJ. B: By 2011, there are no more than 10 infractions issued annually against landowners in the Swan Coastal Plain for illegal clearing of vegetation # infractions issued annually against landowners in the Swan Coastal Plain for illegal clearing of vegetation

Examples of Indicators Measures Landowners’ attitudes toward BMPs and conservation protection mechanisms

Develop Your Monitoring Plan Key Steps 1.Develop one or more indicators for each goal, objective and other information need 2.Prioritize your indicators based on your monitoring budget 3.For priority indicators, select your methods and how you will collect the information 4.Determine who will collect the data and when Measures

Develop Your Monitoring Plan Key Steps 1.Develop one or more indicators for each goal, objective and other information need 2.Prioritize your indicators based on your monitoring budget 3.For priority indicators, select your methods and how you will collect the information 4.Determine who will collect the data and when Measures

Selection of Appropriate Methods The selection of the most appropriate monitoring method depends on: The information you need The information you have The skills of the project team Availability of time, money and other resources Method: A specific technique used to collect data to measure an indicator. Measures

Examples of Monitoring Methods To obtain quantitative data – Tracking project records – Formal survey To obtain qualitative data: – Key informant interview – Focus group discussion – Direct observation – Social (participatory) mapping Measures

5. Select your methods and how you will collect the information A good method should meet the following criteria: Accurate: Gives minimal or no error Reliable: Results obtained using the method are consistently repeatable Cost-effective: Not overly expensive for the data the method yields or for the resources the project has Feasible: Project team has people who can use the method, as well as the material and financial resources to use the method Appropriate: Appropriate to the environmental, cultural, and political context of the project Measures

Examples of Monitoring Methods I I I I I I I OBJ. C1: By 2015 and thereafter, no new invasive plant species are detected in the Eucalyptus-Melaleuca woodlands and seasonally flooded wetlands # of new invasive plant species recorded in the Eucalyptus-Melaleuca woodlands and seasonally flooded wetlands I I OBJ. B: By 2011, there are no more than 10 infractions issued annually against landowners in the Swan Coastal Plain for illegal clearing of vegetation # infractions issued annually against landowners in the Swan Coastal Plain for illegal clearing of vegetation Method: conduct vegetation surveys Method: track law enforcement records Measures

Examples of Monitoring Methods I I I I I I I I I Landowners’ attitudes toward BMPs and conservation protection mechanisms Method: key informant interviews or focus group Measures

Examples of Monitoring Methods By 2012 all 12 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have at least one sustainable mechanism that is generating income, representing at least 20% of their total annual budget By 2017 all 12 MPAs reach a management effectiveness minimum score of “Good” … % of MPA budget that comes from self generating sources of income Management effectiveness assessment score Method: track project records Method: formal survey Measures

Develop Your Monitoring Plan Key Steps 1.Identify your audiences 2.Identify your information needs 3.Develop one or more indicators for each information need 4.Select your monitoring approach 5.Select your methods and how you will collect the information 6.Determine who will collect data and when Measures

Example of a Monitoring Plan What (Indicator)How (Methods) WhenWhoComments Goal: By mid-2017, the presence (no. of locations documented) and abundance of blue-billed ducks dependent upon the Swan Coastal Plain return to at least 1995 levels. Monitoring Approach: time series # of individual blue-billed ducks Bird transectsEvery 2 years in July. Univ. of Western Australia (UWA – Sherri S.) WWF plans to analyze relevant data from UWA & not do any monitoring itself on blue-billed ducks GPS locations of blue-billed duck occurrences Spatial maps of bird transect data Every 2 years in July. Univ. of Western Australia (UWA – Sherri S.) WWF plans to analyze relevant data from UWA & not do any monitoring itself on blue-billed ducks. Measures

Example of a Monitoring Plan What (Indicator) How (Methods) WhenWhoComments Objective: By 2015 and thereafter, no new invasive plant species are detected in the Eucalyptus-Melaleuca woodlands and seasonally flooded wetlands. Monitoring Approach: time series # of new invasive plant species recorded in the Eucalyptus-Melaleuca woodlands and seasonally flooded wetlands Vegetation surveys – transects Every 2 years, in Sept, beginning in 2009 Andrew K. (WWF) To be conducted at the end of the wet season for accuracy and consistency Measures

Monitoring Plan in Miradi Measures

To Address Our Original Questions Are we doing the right things? We design strategies based on a conceptual model, prioritize threats and use result chains Are we doing them well? We monitor objectives Are we achieving an impact? We monitor goals Measures

This Presentation Types of measures and their value How to develop a monitoring plan Common issues and recommendations Measures

Issue: Monitoring is perceived as too complex, time-consuming and expensive –Keep it as simple as possible –Focus on essential monitoring – prioritize indicators –Dedicate 5-10% of budget –If possible, use data collected by others –Invite someone with experience to peer review monitoring plan Common Issues & Recommendations Measures

Issue: Need to keep monitoring costs down –When possible, incorporate monitoring into existing work –Consider less frequent monitoring visits rather than no monitoring –Consider low-cost, qualitative options rather than no monitoring –Engage local people & volunteers in monitoring efforts Measures Common Issues & Recommendations

Issue: What is the appropriate level of investment between taking action, assessing status, measuring effectiveness? –No easy answers. Consider: Presence of known, serious threats Level of understanding of targets, threats, and their linkage Degree of certainty in strategy effectiveness Risks of action – ecological, economic, reputational, etc. Available resources Common Issues & Recommendations Measures

Issue: Completing the adaptive management cycle –Establish explicit mechanism for analyzing monitoring data, communicating results, and adapting & learning –Keep it as simple as possible –Even once per year, a review is helpful Common Issues & Recommendations Measures

Though often seen as last step or too challenging, Measures Matter! (transparency, accountability, adaptive learning) Strategy effectiveness measures (conservation actions having intended impact?) vs. status measures (how is biodiversity doing?) You develop measures as you develop your plan (KEA’s, threats objectives, viability goals) Prioritize measures based on a realistic budget Key Points Measures

Breakout Instructions – Monitoring Plan Use your results chains and your action plan: 1.For a goal associated with your results chain, develop at least one indicator. Apply criteria. 2.Select a monitoring approach. 3.Identify the monitoring method that your team proposes to use. Apply criteria. Record this information in Miradi. 4.Determine and record when you will collect the data, who will collect it, and where they will collect it. Include any additional comments needed. 5.Repeat the process for the objectives associated with your results chain. Measures