1B. Viability Assessment and Goals 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

Conceptualize Viability Assessment

This Presentation What is viability assessment? How to do viability assessment Additional examples of viability assessment Advice for doing viability assessment Viability Assessment

Viability Assessment What is it? Viability Viability (ecological integrity) of a conservation target is the measure to which the target is……. resistant to change in its structure and composition in the face of external stresses and resilient – able to recover upon experiencing occasional severe stress Viability Assessment

Viability assessment helps teams answer important questions: Bog frog What key characteristics define a healthy target? How do we physically measure those characteristics? (indicators) How is our target doing now? What do we want to achieve? ( ultimate, measurable goals) Viability Assessment Viability Assessment What is it?

This Presentation What is viability assessment? How to do viability assessment Additional examples of viability assessment Advice for doing viability assessment Viability Assessment

Adapted from WWF Australia’s WeltlandsWatch Project Viability Assessment Our Example – Swan Coastal Plain Wetlands

Swan Coastal Plain Conservation Targets Seasonally flooded wetlands Eucalyptus-Melaleuca woodlands Fringing shrublands Permanent lakes Blue-billed ducks Viability Assessment

The Basics Viability Assessment

1)Define “key ecological attributes” (KEAs) of your target. KEA: Aspects of a target’s biology or ecology that - If present, define a healthy target - If missing or altered, would lead to the loss or extreme degradation of that target over time. Examples:  Tropical hardwood forest target: size, connectivity among systems, presence of key species  Migratory fish target: population status, access to spawning habitat, quality of spawning habitat The Details Viability Assessment

Consider the following categories : Size: Geographic extent (ecosystem or habitat) Abundance &/or demographics of the population/community (species) Condition: Composition, structure, & biotic interactions Landscape Context: Landscape-scale ecological processes, connectivity The Details 1) Define “key ecological attributes” of your target. Viability Assessment

TargetCategoryKEAIndicator Blue billed ducks Size Population size # adult birds of reproductive age The Details 1) Define “key ecological attributes” of your target. Viability Assessment

The Details 2)Identify an indicator(s) for your KEA TargetCategoryKEAIndicator Blue billed ducks Size Population size # adult birds of reproductive age Viability Assessment

Indicators are measurable aspects of the Key Ecological Attribute that inform us of its status or “health” Indicators Indicators are what you measure Key Attribute: Circulatory systemIndicator: Blood pressure Viability Assessment

The Details 3)Describe what would constitute “good” status of the indicator. Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Blue billed ducks Size Population size # adult birds of reproductive age Viability Assessment

Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Blue billed ducks Size Population size # adult birds of reproductive age Good: Indicator w/in acceptable range of variation; Some intervention required for maintenance Fair: Outside acceptable range of variation; Requires human intervention Threshold line The Details Viability Assessment

The Details What is an “acceptable range of variation?” Viability Assessment

Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Blue billed ducks Size Population size # adult birds of reproductive age Very Good: Ecologically desirable status; Requires little intervention for maintenance Good: Indicator w/in acceptable range of variation; Some intervention required for maintenance Poor: Restoration increasingly difficult; May result in extirpation Fair: Outside acceptable range of variation; Requires human intervention Threshold line The Details Viability Assessment

Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Blue billed ducks Size Population size # adult birds of reproductive age 1000 or more Very Good: Ecologically desirable status; Requires little intervention for maintenance Good: Indicator w/in acceptable range of variation; Some intervention required for maintenance Poor: Restoration increasingly difficult; May result in extirpation Fair: Outside acceptable range of variation; Requires human intervention Threshold line The Details Viability Assessment

Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Blue billed ducks Size Population size # adult birds of reproductive age < or more Very Good: Ecologically desirable status; Requires little intervention for maintenance Good: Indicator w/in acceptable range of variation; Some intervention required for maintenance Poor: Restoration increasingly difficult; May result in extirpation Fair: Outside acceptable range of variation; Requires human intervention Threshold line The Details Viability Assessment

The Details 4) Define the current state and desired future state for your target Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Blue billed ducks Size Population size # adult birds of reproductive age < or more Current Status <1000 (~900) Desired Future Status>1000 Viability Assessment

Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Blue billed ducks Size Population size # adult birds of reproductive age 700 – 999 1,000 – 2,000 Threshold line The Details Viability Assessment

Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Blue billed ducks Size Population size # adult birds of reproductive age < – 999 1,000 – 2,000 > 2,000 Threshold line The Details Viability Assessment

Viability in Miradi Viability Assessment

Preview of Goals From the Viability Assessment… Indicator Ratings TargetCategory Character- istic IndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Blue billed ducks Size Population size # adult birds of reproductive age 700 – 999 1,000 – 2,000 > 2, – 999 Current Status900 Desired Future Status1,500 Goal: By ~2025, there are at least 1,500 adult blue-billed ducks of reproductive age in the Swan Coastal Plain

Very Good: Ecologically desirable status; Requires little intervention for maintenance Good: Indicator w/in acceptable range of variation; Some intervention required for maintenance Poor: Restoration increasingly difficult; May result in extirpation Fair: Outside acceptable range of variation; Requires human intervention TargetCategoryKEA Seasonally flooded wetlands Condition Community architecture Another Example Viability Assessment

Very Good: Ecologically desirable status; Requires little intervention for maintenance Good: Indicator w/in acceptable range of variation; Some intervention required for maintenance Poor: Restoration increasingly difficult; May result in extirpation Fair: Outside acceptable range of variation; Requires human intervention TargetCategoryKEAIndicator Seasonally flooded wetlands Condition Community architecture Native plant species richness Another Example Viability Assessment

Very Good: Ecologically desirable status; Requires little intervention for maintenance Good: Indicator w/in acceptable range of variation; Some intervention required for maintenance Poor: Restoration increasingly difficult; May result in extirpation Fair: Outside acceptable range of variation; Requires human intervention Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Seasonally flooded wetlands Condition Community architecture Native plant species richness Mostly native vegetat- ion Native vegetat- ion only Another Example Viability Assessment

Very Good: Ecologically desirable status; Requires little intervention for maintenance Good: Indicator w/in acceptable range of variation; Some intervention required for maintenance Poor: Restoration increasingly difficult; May result in extirpation Fair: Outside acceptable range of variation; Requires human intervention Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Seasonally flooded wetlands Condition Community architecture Native plant species richness Predom- inantly invasive exotics Some invasives Mostly native vegetat- ion Native vegetat- ion only Another Example Viability Assessment

Very Good: Ecologically desirable status; Requires little intervention for maintenance Good: Indicator w/in acceptable range of variation; Some intervention required for maintenance Poor: Restoration increasingly difficult; May result in extirpation Fair: Outside acceptable range of variation; Requires human intervention Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Seasonally flooded wetlands Condition Community architecture Native plant species richness Predom- inantly invasive exotics Some invasives Mostly native vegetat- ion Native vegetat- ion only Current Status Some invasives Desired Future Status Mostly native Another Example Viability Assessment

Very Good: Ecologically desirable status; Requires little intervention for maintenance Good: Indicator w/in acceptable range of variation; Some intervention required for maintenance Poor: Restoration increasingly difficult; May result in extirpation Fair: Outside acceptable range of variation; Requires human intervention Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Seasonally flooded wetlands Condition Community architecture Native plant species richness Predom- inantly invasive exotics Some invasives Mostly native vegetat- ion Native vegetat- ion only Current Status Some invasives Desired Future Status Mostly native By ~2030, the seasonally flooded wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain are composed of at least 95% native species. Another Example Viability Assessment

This Presentation What is viability assessment? How to do viability assessment Additional examples of viability assessment Advice for doing viability assessment Viability Assessment

Focal Target Category Key Attribute Mangrove Forest Size Habitat Size KEA for Mangrove Forest Viability Assessment

Focal Target Category Key Attribute Indicator Mangrove Forest Size Habitat Size % of original forest Indicator for Mangrove Forest Viability Assessment

Indicator Ratings Bold=Current Italics=Desired Focal Target Category Key Attribute IndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Mangrove Forest Size Habitat Size % of original forest Viability Ratings for Mangrove Forest Viability Assessment

Indicator Ratings Bold=Current Italics=Desired Focal Target Category Key Attribute IndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Mangrove Forest Size Habitat Size % of original forest < > 75 Viability Ratings for Mangrove Forest Viability Assessment

Focal Target Category Key Attribute IndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Coral Reef Condition Species Composition Viability Ratings for Coral Reef Viability Assessment

Focal Target Category Key Attribute IndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Coral Reef Condition Species Composition # of Crown of thorns per transect Viability Ratings for Coral Reef Note that in this case the indicator is a threat to the target. That is OK, but always state the KEA is positive terms – as an attribute of the target. Viability Assessment

Indicator Ratings Focal Target Category Key Attribute IndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Coral Reef Condition Species Composition # of Crown of thorns per transect SomeNone Viability Ratings for Coral Reef Viability Assessment

Indicator Ratings Focal Target Category Key Attribute IndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Coral Reef Condition Species Composition # of Crown of thorns per transect SomeNone Current StatusSome Desired Future StatusNone Viability Ratings for Coral Reef Viability Assessment

Indicator Ratings Focal Target Category Key Attribute IndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Coral Reef Condition Species Composition # of Crown of thorns per transect Current Status2 Desired Future Status0 Viability Ratings for Coral Reef Viability Assessment

From Viability Assessment in Indonesian Village Indicator Ratings Bold=Current Italics=Desired Focal Target CategoryKey AttributeIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Catches from the Sea Catches from the Sea identified as a focal target for fish caught for local consumption and sale Key attribute & indicator selected Fisherman observe that catch is much less than they remember in recent times Current status considered not viable (Fair) X Population size Fish catch per day Size Viability Assessment

From Viability Assessment in Indonesian Village Indicator Ratings Bold=Current Italics=Desired Focal Target CategoryKey AttributeIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good Catches from the Sea strings of fish Population size Fish catch per day (# of strings of fish over min size) Size Interviews indicate current harvest < 30 strings of fish over minimum catch size Ten years ago, harvest yielded up to 200 strings of fish over minimum catch size > 100 considered Very Good considered Good > 100 strings of fish strings of fish <10 strings of fish Viability Assessment

This Presentation What is viability assessment? How to do viability assessment Additional examples of viability assessment Advice for doing viability assessment Viability Assessment

CONDITION SIZE LANDSCAPE CONTEXT CONDITION SIZE LANDSCAPE CONTEXT Target A Viability Target B Viability Target C Viability Target D Viability Biodiversity Health or Landscape Functionality Overall “Picture” of Project Viability Viability Assessment

Key Words for This Process “Representative & Encompass” Indicators → Key Attributes → Conservation Targets → Biodiversity at Site Viability Assessment

Tips for Selecting KEAs Pick factors that are critical for long-term viability – characteristics that, if degraded, would seriously jeopardize the target’s ability to persist for 100+ years When in doubt, pick characteristics that are likely to be affected by human activities Look for a few really key ecological attributes… versus many desirable or descriptive characteristics Key ecological attributes are what’s important… Viability Assessment

Tips for Selecting Indicators Look for indicators that: Strongly relate to the status of the key ecological attribute Are efficient & affordable to measure Can reasonably define what constitutes “Good” Desirable indicators... Might provide an early warning to serious stresses Might assess two or more key ecological attributes e.g. Presence of young cypress in a floodplain forest as an indicator for both hydrological regime & reproduction of dominant species Viability Assessment

Be Prepared to Accept Uncertainty!! The main purpose of viability assessment is capturing the current state of knowledge Don’t worry about information gaps Don’t focus on filling out all indicator ratings! Viability assessment is an iterative process with successive approximations. You can return during later planning stages to add more detail (if necessary) Viability Assessment

TargetCategoryKEAIndicator grassland - Type X Landscape Context fire regime fire frequency 1st Pass Table Grassland target identified Fire regime = Key Attribute (Landscape Context) Fire frequency = Indicator Dense woody cover suggests not enough fire Be Prepared to Accept Uncertainty!! Viability Assessment

Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good grassland - Type X Landscape Context fire regime fire frequency not enough fire 1st Pass Table Grassland focal target identified Fire regime = Key Attribute (Landscape Context) Fire frequency = Indicator Dense woody cover suggests not enough fire Current status deemed not viable - assigned “Fair” Be Prepared to Accept Uncertainty!! Viability Assessment

Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good grassland - Type X Landscape Context fire regime fire frequency not enough fire grassland - Type X Landscape Context fire regime fire frequency > 10 years 5-10 years 2nd Pass Table Phone call to local grassland expert indicates natural fire frequency of 5-10 years Be Prepared to Accept Uncertainty!! Viability Assessment

Indicator Ratings TargetCategoryKEAIndicatorPoorFairGood Very Good grassland - Type X Landscape Context fire regime fire frequency not enough fire grassland - Type X Landscape Context fire regime fire frequency > 10 years 5-10 years grassland - Type X Landscape Context fire regime % grassland w/ 5-10 yr fire return <25%25-50%51-75%>75% 3rd Pass Table % area burned at acceptable frequency is key Be Prepared to Accept Uncertainty!! Viability Assessment

Incomplete is OK! Indicator Ratings Bold=Current Italics=Desired Focal Target CategoryKey AttributeIndicatorPoorFairGoodVery Good grassland - Type X Size Size/extent of characteristic communities / ecosystems aerial extent in acres > 100,000 acres How important is it to fill out all ratings in this case where Current & Desired status is Very Good? Probably Not Important! - Unless grassland area is threatened by large-scale habitat destruction. - In this case, determining the Fair rating might guide efforts to determine how much to save Viability Assessment

Where to get more info… Examples: TNC Conpro database (TNC) - Viability Assessment

This Presentation What is viability assessment? How to do viability assessment Additional examples of viability assessment Advice for doing viability assessment Viability Assessment

Key Ecological Attributes – important characteristics of targets Indicators – what you actually measure “Reduce, reuse, recycle” KEAs if one will work for more than one target Rating is important (especially Good versus Fair) Viability assessment is iterative - if in doubt, just try it... Viability Key Points

Breakout Group Instructions 1.Complete the viability assessment for one of your targets – Identify KEAs – Select indicators – Describe what would constitute “good” status – Determine current and future desired status of the indicator – Complete ratings – Throughout the process, record assumptions and background information Viability Assessment