The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy is a proud supporter of is a proud supporter of the 2003 World Parks the 2003 World Parks Congress Congress conserveonline.org conserveonline.org Measuring What Matters: Measuring What Matters: The Nature Conservancy’s Approach The Nature Conservancy’s Approach to Ecological Integrity Measurement to Ecological Integrity Measurement Jeffre Jeffre y y Parris Parris
30
Embed
Measuring What Matters: The Nature Conservancy’s Approach to Ecological Integrity Measurement
Measuring What Matters: The Nature Conservancy’s Approach to Ecological Integrity Measurement. Jeffrey Parrish. Elements of Eval-uation. Elements of Eval-uation. Context Where are we now?. Context Where are we now?. Planning Where do we want to be?. Planning Where do we want to be?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
The Nature ConservancyThe Nature Conservancyis a proud supporter ofis a proud supporter ofthe 2003 World Parks the 2003 World Parks
Measuring What Matters:Measuring What Matters: The Nature Conservancy’s Approach The Nature Conservancy’s Approach to Ecological Integrity Measurementto Ecological Integrity Measurement
Jeffrey Jeffrey ParrisParris
hh
Take home messagesTake home messages
OutcomesWhat did we achieve?
OutputsWhat were the results?
ProcessHow do we go about it?
InputsWhat do we need?
Planning Where do we want to be?
ContextWhere are we now?
ElementsElementsof Eval-of Eval-uationuation
1.1. Ecological Integrity is an under-addressed, yet Ecological Integrity is an under-addressed, yet CRITICAL, aspect of PA management effectiveness. CRITICAL, aspect of PA management effectiveness.
2.2. Recommendations from WPC should emphasize EI Recommendations from WPC should emphasize EI measurement.measurement.
3.3. TNC, among others, offers a framework and tools for TNC, among others, offers a framework and tools for EI measurement. EI measurement.
WCPA Assessment FrameworkWCPA Assessment FrameworkOutcomesOutcomesWhat did What did we we achieve?achieve?
OutputsWhat were the results?
ProcessHow do we go about it?
InputsWhat do we need?
Planning Where do we want to be?
ContextWhere are we now?
ElementsElementsof Eval-of Eval-uationuation
The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy
The Mission of the Nature The Mission of the Nature ConservancyConservancy
is to conserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent
the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they
need to survive
• global organization• 50-year history of conservation results• science-based• partner-oriented• consistent, proven framework for mission
success
The Nature Conservancy’s The Nature Conservancy’s Conservation ApproachConservation Approach
Take Action
Develop Strategies
Set Priorities Ecoregional
Assessments
Measure Success
The Nature Conservancy’s The Nature Conservancy’s Conservation ApproachConservation Approach
Take Action
Develop Develop StrategiesStrategies
5-S Framework5-S Framework
Set Priorities Ecoregional
Assessments
Measure Measure SuccessSuccess
5-S Framework5-S Framework
Integrated Approach to Planning Integrated Approach to Planning and Monitoring: and Monitoring: The 5-S The 5-S
FrameworkFramework
SystemsSystems StresseStressess
SourcesSources StrategiStrategieses
Success Success MeasuresMeasures
Emphasis on Outcome Emphasis on Outcome MeasuresMeasures
1 Vernal pool grasslands Good Fair Good Good2 Lower Floodplain Poor Poor Poor Poor3 Upper Floodplain: Chinook Salmon Fair Fair Fair Fair4 Upper Watershed Poor Fair Fair Fair5 Ione Chaparral Good Good Very Good Good6 Blue Oak Woodland Poor Good Poor Fair7 - - - -
Conservation Area Biodiversity Health Rank Fair
Excel-based “5-S
Workbook”
An answer:An answer: TNC’s framework and TNC’s framework and tools for improved integrity tools for improved integrity assessmentassessment
Site Conservation / Measures of Conservation Success WorkbookClick the "Go To Overview" button to the left for an introduction.
Please enter the name of the Site and the Systems / Conservation Targets below.The buttons below and to the left will take you to the designated worksheets.
Go To #1Go To #2
Go To #3
Go To #4
Go To #5
Go To #6
Go To #7
Go To #8
Go To Threats Summary
Go To Capacity Scorecard
Go To Score Tables
TargetsDirectory
Scaling for Your Computer's Monitor
Based on broad piloting & Based on broad piloting & engagement...engagement... Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica Corales del Rosario, Colombia Longleaf, Texas, USA Santa Cruz Island, California, USA Serra do Divisor, Brazil Condor Bioreserve, Ecuador Pacaya Samiria, Peru Lake Wales Ridge, Florida, USA Pohnopei, Micronesia Sequoia, California, USA Punta Curinanco, Chile Neversink, New York, USA Cockpit Country, Jamaica
The answer:The answer: framework and tools framework and tools for improved integrity assessmentfor improved integrity assessment
Identify Key Ecological Attributes for Focal
BiodiversityIdentify Indicator(s) for Key Attributes
Rate Indicator Status
Integrate Indicator Ratings to Determine Status of:
• Key Ecological Attributes• Specific Elements of Biodiversity• Integrity of Entire Protected Area of Landscape
5. Integrate Ratings to Determine Integrity
4. Rate Indicator Status
3. Identify Indicator(s)
1. Identify Focal Biodiversity
2. Identify Key Attributes
Select a limited number of elements of biodiversity that
• Will be the focus of
Conservation Planning and Action
• Will represent all biodiversity at the site (including marine, aquatic, and terrestrial, biodiversity)
Poor:Poor: Restoration Restoration increasingly increasingly difficult; May difficult; May
result in result in extirpationextirpation
Fair:Fair:Outside Outside
acceptable range acceptable range of variation; of variation;
Requires human Requires human interventionintervention
Good:Good:Indicator w/in Indicator w/in
acceptable range acceptable range of variation; of variation;
Some Some intervention intervention required for required for maintenancemaintenance
Very Good:Very Good: Ecologically Ecologically
desirable desirable status; status;
Requires little Requires little intervention intervention
for for maintenancemaintenance
2. Identify Key Attributes
4. Rate Indicator Status
5. Integrate Ratings to Determine Integrity
3. Identify Indicator(s)
1. Identify Focal Biodiversity
Ecological Integrity Assessment Worksheet Cosumnes River Reserve
Focal Biodiver-
sityCategory
Key Ecological Attribute
Indicator Poor Fair Good Very Good
Upper Floodplain: Chinook Salmon
Landscape Context ????
Magnitude and Timing of
Fall Flows
No connectivity between the
Delta and spawning habitat
???? ????
Periods of flow > 200 cfs during migration season and >25 days
of durationUpper
Floodplain: Chinook Salmon
ConditionHabitat structure
(spawning)
Substrate Composition
of Riffles???? fines 10-50%; gravel
and cobble 50-90%
Approx. 80% gravel and 20%
cobble, some fine sediment
????
Indicator Ratings
When data are lacking…When data are lacking…
Compare to reference systems or placesCompare to reference systems or places Use expertsUse experts Treat as iterative, treat as hypothesisTreat as iterative, treat as hypothesis Develop criteria for at least on key attributeDevelop criteria for at least on key attribute Focus on “Fair” & “Good” – conserved, or not.Focus on “Fair” & “Good” – conserved, or not. Use gaps to drive research prioritiesUse gaps to drive research priorities
One or more key attributes are rated FairFair (outside its acceptable range of variation)
FairFair
One or more key attributes are rated PoorPoor (difficult to restore)
PoorPoor
GoodGood Majority of key attributes are rated GoodGood (within their acceptable ranges of variation)
Very Very GoodGood
Majority of key attributes are rated Very GoodVery Good
Biod
iver
sity
Ele
men
ts’
Ecol
ogic
al In
tegr
ity
is
Rate
d If:
2. Identify Key Attributes
4. Rate Indicator Status
5. Integrate Ratings to Determine Integrity
3. Identify Indicator(s)
1. Identify Focal Biodiversity
Rating Overall Ecological Integrity for Rating Overall Ecological Integrity for Biodiversity Elements & for Ecological Integrity of Biodiversity Elements & for Ecological Integrity of a Park or Landscapea Park or Landscape
Overall Target Viability and Project Biodiversity Health summary -
Cosumnes River Reserve, California
2. Identify Key Attributes
4. Rate Indicator Status
5. Integrate Ratings to Determine Integrity
3. Identify Indicator(s)
1. Identify Focal Biodiversity
++ ++ ==
Integrity measures influence Integrity measures influence priorities & are essential for priorities & are essential for adaptive managementadaptive management
• Improves threats assessmentsImproves threats assessments• Prioritizes conservation investmentsPrioritizes conservation investments• Bounds what activities inside and outside PA’s are Bounds what activities inside and outside PA’s are
acceptable: defines “sustainable”acceptable: defines “sustainable”• Informs monitoring programsInforms monitoring programs• Documents success and continued challenges Documents success and continued challenges
in Protected Area management in Protected Area management
Case studies in measuring Case studies in measuring ecological integrityecological integrity
• Silvia Benítez, Ecuador: Condor Bioreserve
• Long Yongcheng, China: Laojunshan, Yunnan Province
• Nestor Windevoxhel, Guatemala: Central America
• Fiona Leverington, Australia: Queensland National Park System
• Gilles Seutin, Canada: Banff and Fathom Five Reserve, Canada
SummarySummary
• Ecological Integrity Measures are essential for determining ultimate outcomes in biodiversity parks
• Tool are available from TNC for scientifically credible and consistent measurement
• Measure Key Ecological Attributes & their status relative to natural/acceptable ranges of variation
• Biodiversity is conserved when all key attributes are within acceptable ranges
• Use ecological integrity results to drive investments in action, monitoring, stakeholder awareness and research
Key ThemesKey Themes
• Importance of Ecological Integrity Measurement for Protected Area Management
• Advances in tool development to facilitate measuring ecological outcomes
• Challenges of limited data and resources• Experiences in measuring ecological
integrity and using results for adaptive management.
HousekeepingHousekeeping
•Revised Agenda•Materials Available•Change of Rooms in the Afternoon …