Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation - Afforestation, Reforestation and Forest Restoration in Arid and Semi-arid Tropics - page 220

Schedules are tactical time-tables drawn for specific group of activities; or for
guiding specific personnel under specific local conditions. Schedules may not show
a regular pattern across places or times, since these are not repetitive or periodic.
These are a one-time solution for sequencing and timing of activities.
Communicating calendars and schedules can be at times a challenging task in
itself. These must be presented in writing and explained orally. Continuous monitor-
ing should be carried out to ensure that these are adhered to. It is not enough just to
explain the timings, it is also important to explain the whys and the hows, so that the
person concerned gets a correct perspective and correct contextual understanding of
the activities and can use his discretion under certain circumstances.

9.2 Monitoring, Evaluation and Review

Monitoring and evaluation helps demonstrate public and internal accountability in
terms of impacts and resource efficiency, apart from providing assurance that the
project or programme is on track. Monitoring implies keeping watch on progress,
quality and success of the programme. Evaluation of progress and quality of work
consists in comparing the results with the prescribed standards, milestones, and the
aims and objectives of the programme. Review includes consideration of changes in
strategy, technology, management practices or any other component or subsystem of
the programme.

9.2.1 Collecting Field Data

All monitoring is based upon observation of work in field. Data flows from the field,
and after it has been appropriately compiled, analysed, and studied, conclusions are
drawn. Constant inspection of work in field is therefore the keystone of monitoring.
Some of the inspections should be planned out in advanced, whereas others should
be carried out suddenly and at random. A comprehensive schedule of inspections at
different levels of management should be drawn up, and meticulously followed.
Inspections should always be thorough and comprehensive. A checklist of in-
spection points should be kept ready during inspections. Almost all the items of
work should be seen and checked visually, if not with measuring instruments. Walk-
throughs of different kinds may be designed for inspecting a plantation, but the one of
random-walk is best. Diagonal and border walk-throughs are also good strategies. In
rugged terrain inspections can be long and tiring, and hence should be planned with
patience and leisure, and not hurriedly. Clothes worn, the type of shoes, and physical
fitness and attitude of the inspector, all have important bearing upon the quality of
inspection. In remote areas drinking water and lunch-pack should be carried along.
While inspecting individual plantations will not involve the question of sampling,
inspecting a whole afforestation programme area should follow a suitable sampling
strategy. A programme of such inspections should span at least a fortnight.