35 – Essential principles to guide monitoring of threatened biodiversity^433fit-for-purpose monitoring program involves following several steps and making
some key decisions to ensure that adequate and informative data are collected.
Examples of this decision-making process are provided in Chapters 16–20.
The first step in designing a fit-for-purpose monitoring program for threatened
biodiversity is defining the intended outcomes of the species conservation
program, including management actions to achieve this, and articulating clear
monitoring objectives that outline the purpose for monitoring (Chapter 16). Setting
of these overarching conservation goals and monitoring objectives is a
fundamental process involving Principle 1 (engage people) and Principle 2
(integrate monitoring with management). Setting goals and objectives then
informs and shapes which questions need to be answered in the monitoring
program. Conceptual models (as mentioned in Principle 2) further help articulate
monitoring questions by highlighting uncertainty in the system and describing
possible relationships between threats, environmental factors and management
actions that inf luence the survival and persistence of a species or ecological
community (Lindenmayer and Likens 2009).
The second step is to match the monitoring design and methods to the
monitoring question and species’ biology (or attributes of the ecological
community). The design of monitoring programs for threatened species is usually
more challenging than for non-threatened taxa, because, for example, species rarity
engenders a suite of sampling and detection challenges (see Chapters 16–24). In
tailoring the monitoring program, there are many design and methodological
features to consider. For example, the monitoring design should be informed by the
type and quantity of data required, the variability in data and in the system (e.g.
spatial coverage, irruptive species), and the probability of detection (Block et al.
2001; Clarke et al. 2003; Martin et al. 2007). Methodological considerations include
which survey techniques will be required, the level of skill, training, timing and
duration of data collection and the availability of new technology. Both aspects of
design and methodology need to consider cost, ethics, longevity and feasibility of
the monitoring program.
Alongside developing a species-specific design and methodology, monitoring
programs need to consider the threats, management actions and biological factors
relevant to a species decline and or recovery (e.g. associated species, habitat). Such
questions will be identified in the conceptual model as areas of uncertainty, with
links to intended outcomes. Monitoring and subsequent evaluation of management
actions is important to determine the effectiveness or level of impact that an action
has on species recovery, thereby justifying a particular course of action and
investment (e.g. Chapter 17). Data on threatening processes (e.g. fire, predation)
may already be collected by other monitoring programs, but it is important to
consider what information is required for the targeted threatened species
monitoring program and if the other programs are collecting adequate data to
fulfil these requirements.