Rangeland Ecosystem Analysis and Monitoring Handbook

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Rangeland Ecosystem Analysis and Monitoring
Handbook

• Revision for the Pacific Northwest Region

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Why revise the handbook?

• Update obsolete terminology and concepts
• Promote standardized,
• efficient procedures

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Why revise the handbook?

• Seek cost- effectiveness

• Develop realistic framework for inventory and
  monitoring given limited resources

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Why revise the handbook?

• In the past few years new tools have become
  available
• NRIS Terra database and range protocols
• Personal data recorders
• Landscape assessment tools

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Handbook themes

• Consolidate activities
• Emphasis on monitoring
• Inventory included but largely referred to other
  handbooks (existing vegetation and terrestrial
  ecological unit inventory)

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Handbook themes

• Take advantage of technology GPS, PDRs
• Implement new databases and protocols (NRIS
  Terra)

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• The Importance of Scale

Multiple scales of space and
time Allotment vs. Landscape Status vs. Trend
HUC 6
HUC 4
HUC 5
HUC6
HUC5
HUC4
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FRCC in a range context

• Incorporate landscape assessment (FRCC)
• --Fire regime condition class (FRCC) is a
  measure of how the current landscape has departed
  from reference (historic) conditions
• --FRCC has many landscape implications in
  addition to fire ecology

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FRCC in a range context

• --How the mix of seral stages differs from
  historic
• --Can have implications for resources such as
  wildlife (sage grouse)
• --The role of uncharacteristic conditions
  (e.g., invasives) is critical

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Monitoring

• Monitoring organized in three chapters
• 20. Range status
• 30. Range utilization
• 40. Range change over time (trend)

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Monitoring Themes

• Multiple scales
• Level of intensity
• Upland vs. riparian

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Monitoring at Multiple Scales

• Methods appropriate for each scale
• --Extensive versus intensive

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Monitoring Themes

• Increasing sampling intensity
• change (rooted nested frequency)
• status (cover frequency)
• assessment using PFC
• should be most of your work

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Organization of Monitoring
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Organization of Monitoring
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Organization of Monitoring
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Outline of handbook

• Zero Code Direction
• 10 Code Planning
• 20 code Range Status and
  Inventory
• 30 code Monitoring Utilization
• 40 code Monitoring Trend

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Zero code Direction

• Objectives
• Responsibilities
• Training and Implementation
• Glossary

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Zero code Direction

• Training and Implementation
• --Realistic goals
• --Annual three-day training
• --Accountability
• --Efficiency through partnerships

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10 Code Planning

• Referred to
• FSM 2290 Planning Direction

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20 Code Range Analysis

• Range condition now,
• not over time
• Snapshot
• Use of GIS and Remote Sensing

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20 Code Range Status

• Scope
• Ecological setting
• Scale and intensity
• -- Fine to mid
• -- Extensive to intensive
• -- Broad scale

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20 Code Range Analysis

• Range Inventory
• Data management
• Standardized data
• Migrating legacy data

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20 Code Range Analysis

• Archiving
• NRIS Terra database
• Personal Data Recorders (PDRs)

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30 Code Utilization Monitoring

• Focused at Allotment Scale
• Proper Use Determinations
• Guidance on Proper Use Criteria

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40 Code Trend Monitoring

• Monitoring Change Over Time (Trend)
• Multiple Scales
• Photo Points

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40 Code Trend Monitoring

• Trend Change in an attribute observed over time
• In a range context, described as meeting,
  moving toward, or not meeting

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• 40 Code Monitoring at Multiple Scales

Multiple scales of space and
time Allotment vs. Landscape Snapshot vs.
Continuous
HUC 6
HUC 4
HUC 5
HUC6
HUC5
HUC4
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40 Code Trend Monitoring

• Rooted Nested Frequency Recommended
• Transition from older methods (Parker 3-Step)

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40 Code Trend Monitoring

• Benchmarks
• Trend Evaluation and Data Analysis

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Range Analysis and Monitoring Handbook

• Where do we go from here?

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Range Analysis and Monitoring Handbook

• Rollout workshop held in April 2006
• Final review and edit
• May-August 2006
• Signed by Regional Forester September 2006

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Range Analysis and Monitoring Handbook

• 18-Month Direction (Expires in March 2008)
• At that time can be revised and finalized
• Interim document to make way for National
  direction