e x p e r i e n c e y o u r a m e r i c a rare plant and exemplary community monitoring fred...

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Rare Plant and Rare Plant and Exemplary Exemplary Community Community MonitoringMonitoringFred Dieffenbach, Environmental Fred Dieffenbach, Environmental Monitoring CoordinatorMonitoring Coordinator

National Park ServiceNational Park ServiceU.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Department of the Interior

Northeast Temperate NetworkNortheast Temperate Network


OutlineOutline

History, Perspective and the History, Perspective and the FutureFuture

2007 Program Review2007 Program Review New ProtocolNew Protocol New Database and Decision New Database and Decision

Support System (DSS)Support System (DSS) Field ImplementationField Implementation


ScheduleScheduleMorningMorning

8:00 – 8:158:00 – 8:15 IntroductionsIntroductions 8:15 – 8:358:15 – 8:35 Workshop ObjectivesWorkshop Objectives 8:35 – 9:058:35 – 9:05 Changes for 2009Changes for 2009 9:05 – 9:309:05 – 9:30 History, Perspective and the FutureHistory, Perspective and the Future 9:30 – 9:509:30 – 9:50 2007 Program Review2007 Program Review 9:50 – 10:109:50 – 10:10 BreakBreak 10:10 – 10:3010:10 – 10:30 New ProtocolNew Protocol 10:30 – 11:3010:30 – 11:30 New Database and Decision Support New Database and Decision Support

System (DSS)System (DSS) 11:30 – 12:0011:30 – 12:00 Introduction to Field ImplementationIntroduction to Field Implementation 12:00 – 1:0012:00 – 1:00 LunchLunch


ScheduleSchedule

AfternoonAfternoon 1:00 – 3:301:00 – 3:30 Field ImplementationField Implementation

Step through new field formStep through new field form Monitoring packetsMonitoring packets

3:30 – 3:30 – Open DiscussionOpen Discussion


Workshop ObjectivesWorkshop Objectives




BackgroundBackground PerspectivePerspective UnderstandingUnderstanding

Workshop ObjectivesWorkshop Objectives


History, Perspective and History, Perspective and the Futurethe Future




History, Perspective and the History, Perspective and the FutureFuture 14 inventories14 inventories

Maine – 1998Maine – 1998 New Hampshire – 1991New Hampshire – 1991 Vermont – 1991Vermont – 1991 Massachusetts – 2000Massachusetts – 2000 Connecticut – 1992Connecticut – 1992 New York – 2000New York – 2000 New Jersey – 2000New Jersey – 2000 Pennsylvania – 1990Pennsylvania – 1990 Maryland – 2000Maryland – 2000 West Virginia – 1997West Virginia – 1997 Virginia – 1994Virginia – 1994 North Carolina and Tennessee – 1993North Carolina and Tennessee – 1993 Georgia -- 2000Georgia -- 2000



Site Summary

148295

449531523

0 200 400 600

N

N

Sites

Species

Sites w/ Species

Sites w/CommunitiesSites Visited



Occurrence Summary

1148

393

1759

0 500 1000 1500 2000

N

N

Occurrences

OccurrencesVisited

TotalOccurrenceVisits



Global, Sub-National & Sub-Group Rarity(523 Total Species)

4 1848

96

348

174 179

118

12 21 5 2 4 20

0

100

200

300

400

CriticallyImperiled

Imperiled Vulnerable ApparentlySecure

Secure

Global (514 Ranked Species)Sub-National (485 Ranked Species*)Taxonomic Sub-Group (30 Ranked Species)



Occurrences

8 57

278346

1032

404

594 558

8722 9 4 33 43

0100200300400500600700800900

10001100

CriticallyImperiled

Imperiled Vulnerable ApparentlySecure

Secure

GlobalSub-NationalTaxonomic Sub-Group



Legal Status of Species in Program

61

75

6

71

0

25

50

75

100

Endangered Threatened Rare

Federal State



Visitation and Reporting History

0

100

200

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Year

N

Sites VisitedOccurrences VisitedReports Submitted


History, Perspective and the History, Perspective and the FutureFutureFutureFuture Acquire better spatial dataAcquire better spatial data Develop a “site level” monitoring effortDevelop a “site level” monitoring effort Improve occurrence documentation and monitoringImprove occurrence documentation and monitoring Photo-monitoringPhoto-monitoring Add new sites, occurrences and speciesAdd new sites, occurrences and species


2007 Program Review2007 Program Review




2007 Program Review2007 Program Review Clearly state the existing program’s goals and objectivesClearly state the existing program’s goals and objectives Evaluate whether the program’s methods and procedures Evaluate whether the program’s methods and procedures

are sufficient to meet program goals and objectivesare sufficient to meet program goals and objectives Evaluate current process and criteria for regularly reviewing Evaluate current process and criteria for regularly reviewing

monitoring prioritiesmonitoring priorities Evaluate the current program’s ability to coordinate with Evaluate the current program’s ability to coordinate with

relevant organizations relevant organizations Evaluate the process, schedule and criteria for periodic Evaluate the process, schedule and criteria for periodic

program review (after-action review) aimed at evaluating program review (after-action review) aimed at evaluating existing programmatic procedures, including:existing programmatic procedures, including: data collection;data collection; reporting and data integration;reporting and data integration; volunteer recruitment, training and retention;volunteer recruitment, training and retention; and, program managementand, program management

Make recommendations for improvements as appropriateMake recommendations for improvements as appropriate



ApproachApproach

““In addition to reviewing the program’s data, ATC will In addition to reviewing the program’s data, ATC will consult with key staff from the managing partners involved consult with key staff from the managing partners involved in the program, as well as with other stakeholders and in the program, as well as with other stakeholders and experts including but not limited to members of the A.T. experts including but not limited to members of the A.T. MEGA-Transect vegetation working group, Trail club MEGA-Transect vegetation working group, Trail club representatives and staff from the State Natural Heritage representatives and staff from the State Natural Heritage Programs, as appropriate. The review results will be shared Programs, as appropriate. The review results will be shared with all stakeholders as frequently as practicable and with all stakeholders as frequently as practicable and appropriate. The ATC will convene an independent group appropriate. The ATC will convene an independent group of experts that will review and finalize the of experts that will review and finalize the recommendations generated by each phase of this recommendations generated by each phase of this project.”project.”



Reviewers:Reviewers: Caroline Dufour – Evaluation Project Manager (ATC)Caroline Dufour – Evaluation Project Manager (ATC) Geraldine Tierney – (SUNY)Geraldine Tierney – (SUNY) David Field – (MATC)David Field – (MATC) Robert Pickett – (PATC)Robert Pickett – (PATC) Chris Mattrick – (White Mountain National Forest)Chris Mattrick – (White Mountain National Forest) Diane Pavek – (NPS)Diane Pavek – (NPS) Nora Murdock – (NPS APHN)Nora Murdock – (NPS APHN) Ted Elliman – (Consultant/IPANE Volunteer Coordinator)Ted Elliman – (Consultant/IPANE Volunteer Coordinator) Wendy Cass – (NPS SHEN)Wendy Cass – (NPS SHEN) Carolyn Wells – (USFWS)Carolyn Wells – (USFWS)


2007 Program Review2007 Program ReviewProgram GoalsProgram Goals Contribute to the protection of rare, threatened and Contribute to the protection of rare, threatened and

endangered species and communities on Appalachian endangered species and communities on Appalachian National Scenic Trail corridor landsNational Scenic Trail corridor lands

Improve natural resources management and stewardship Improve natural resources management and stewardship capacity by providing essential information in a timely capacity by providing essential information in a timely fashion to land managers and decision-makersfashion to land managers and decision-makers

Develop an appreciation for rare plants and animals in the Develop an appreciation for rare plants and animals in the A.T. community through volunteer involvementA.T. community through volunteer involvement

Raise public awareness of the A.T. as a protected refuge Raise public awareness of the A.T. as a protected refuge for significant biodiversityfor significant biodiversity


2007 Program Review2007 Program ReviewProgram ObjectivesProgram Objectives Identify trends such as decline, stability or increase in Identify trends such as decline, stability or increase in

populations or occurrences of priority RTE speciespopulations or occurrences of priority RTE species Identify and track threats to priority element occurrences Identify and track threats to priority element occurrences

of RTE species, populations and rare communities, of RTE species, populations and rare communities, anthropogenic or otherwise, and react as is appropriate anthropogenic or otherwise, and react as is appropriate and possible with available resourcesand possible with available resources

Prevent damage to RTE species element occurrences by Prevent damage to RTE species element occurrences by A.T.-related recreational use or maintenance by using and A.T.-related recreational use or maintenance by using and distributing element occurrences information in all distributing element occurrences information in all planning and implementation of operations and planning and implementation of operations and maintenance by relevant organizations and individualsmaintenance by relevant organizations and individuals

Actively protect priority RTE species on ATPO lands; Actively protect priority RTE species on ATPO lands; provide information and encourage the protection of RTE provide information and encourage the protection of RTE species on lands owned by other agenciesspecies on lands owned by other agencies

Evaluate the effectiveness of management actions; Evaluate the effectiveness of management actions; implement adaptive managementimplement adaptive management


2007 Program Review2007 Program ReviewResultsResults 96 recommendations96 recommendations 7 categories7 categories

Program (2)Program (2) Monitoring priorities (12)Monitoring priorities (12) Coordination with relevant organizations (14)Coordination with relevant organizations (14) Data collection, reporting, management & sharing (36)Data collection, reporting, management & sharing (36) Management priorities (8)Management priorities (8) Volunteer management (20)Volunteer management (20) Implementation (4)Implementation (4)

ATPO / NETN debated and prioritized recommendationsATPO / NETN debated and prioritized recommendations 20 to be implemented ASAP, others over time20 to be implemented ASAP, others over time



Recommendations37

24

117 8

1 15

20

10

20

30

40

100% 75% 50% 25% Neutral

N

Agree Disagree


Programmatic ReviewProgrammatic Review

FindingsFindings Develop a written protocolDevelop a written protocol Design and develop a new databaseDesign and develop a new database Improve volunteer supportImprove volunteer support

TrainingTraining Supplemental materialsSupplemental materials

Prioritize monitoringPrioritize monitoring


New ProtocolNew Protocol




New ProtocolNew ProtocolTo To “… develop a protocol, including detailed “… develop a protocol, including detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs), for citizen standard operating procedures (SOPs), for citizen scientist monitoring of natural heritage elements scientist monitoring of natural heritage elements along the Appalachian Trail. This protocol will along the Appalachian Trail. This protocol will build upon the existing natural heritage build upon the existing natural heritage monitoring program, and draw upon the monitoring program, and draw upon the conclusions and recommendations of the January conclusions and recommendations of the January 2008 Program evaluation ……. ESF staff will 2008 Program evaluation ……. ESF staff will attempt to enlist members of the AT MEGA-attempt to enlist members of the AT MEGA-Transect Citizen Science Workgroup to provide Transect Citizen Science Workgroup to provide pier review of the draft protocol, thereby pier review of the draft protocol, thereby ensuring that the protocol conforms with ensuring that the protocol conforms with expectations for citizen scientist monitoring …”expectations for citizen scientist monitoring …”



ObjectivesObjectives Determine long-term trends and variability for Determine long-term trends and variability for

selected rare plant occurrences selected rare plant occurrences NumberNumber Life-stage distributionLife-stage distribution

Determine long-term trends and variability in Determine long-term trends and variability in spatial extentspatial extent

Identify threats to rare plant occurrencesIdentify threats to rare plant occurrences



ProductsProducts 3 Drafts3 Drafts Protocol narrativeProtocol narrative Protocol synopsis for volunteersProtocol synopsis for volunteers 3 SOP’s3 SOP’s 2 responses to comments2 responses to comments New field formNew field form


Database and Database and Decision Support Decision Support SystemSystem




Database and Decision Support Database and Decision Support SystemSystemDatabase \ˈdā-tə-ˌbās, ˈda- also ˈdä-\ : a usually large

collection of data organized especially for rapid search and retrieval (as by a computer)

Merriam-Webster Online

A database is a structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system. The structure is achieved by organizing the data according to a database model. The model in most common use today is the relational model. Other models such as the hierarchical model and the network model use a more explicit representation of relationships.

Wikipedia


Database and Decision Support Database and Decision Support SystemSystem

Tread

NatDiv

Rare Plant and Exemplary Community


Database and Decision Support Database and Decision Support SystemSystemApproachApproach Redesign db to conform with NPS standardsRedesign db to conform with NPS standards Consolidate existing information when possibleConsolidate existing information when possible Provide access to on-line resourcesProvide access to on-line resources Develop standardized reporting routinesDevelop standardized reporting routines Create multiple pathways to critical informationCreate multiple pathways to critical information Integrated QAQC systemIntegrated QAQC system Develop decision support systemDevelop decision support system

Occurrence prioritizationOccurrence prioritization Site prioritizationSite prioritization

Improved data entryImproved data entry



Click


Field ImplementationField Implementation





What’s NewWhat’s New New system is not radically different than oldNew system is not radically different than old Relies on:Relies on:

Establish value rangesEstablish value ranges Defined selection criteriaDefined selection criteria

Independent of past observer and Independent of past observer and observationsobservations

Ancillary data:Ancillary data: Invasive speciesInvasive species Common speciesCommon species ““Site” characteristicsSite” characteristics


Northeast Temperate NetworkNortheast Temperate Network54 Elm Street, Woodstock, VT 0509154 Elm Street, Woodstock, VT 05091

http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/netn/http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/netn/802-457-3368802-457-3368


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