MONITORING PROTOCOLS
What Are Monitoring Protocols?
Monitoring is information gathering for the purposes of making management decisions. Part of an adaptive approach to managing ever-changing ecosystems is having good information to modify your management. Vegetation monitoring may tell you how well a habitat improvement project meets the needs of wildlife while a long-term census tells you how well the wildlife are responding. Both of these methods, plus repeat photography, may tell you how well livestock and wildlife goals are working together. A good monitoring program, however simple or intense, will ensure that decisions are made with the best available information.
Why is it Valuable?
A monitoring program takes time and effort, but it pays big dividends by quickly indicating what is working for your property and what is not. The ability to quickly discontinue a wasteful program or eliminate a project that is not meeting goals will save a lot of money in the long-term.Good information is also a great way to communicate, providing support in demonstrating success to management and staff, or presenting evidence to local agencies or communities about a property and its management.
Monitoring and Information Management Includes:
Vegetation and habitat monitoring
Repeat Photography
Livestock herd and reproductive health
Wildlife populations and diversity
Financial and economic indicators – record keeping and irrigation systems.
