Monitoring and Evaluation - Project Planning and Management for Ecological Restoration - page 206

site matures and develops additional habitat features through the natural processes of that vege-
tation community. One of the most significant activities during the habitat management period
is monitoring. Projects done by nongovernmental and environmental organizations should make
specific plans for conducting periodic monitoring. Monitoring is needed only until objectives or
success criteria are met. Thereafter, “monitoring” becomes research for some purpose other than
completing an ecological restoration project.
Because monitoring can pose a significant resource obligation over an extended time period,
it is important during the planning and design stages of restoration to understand monitoring re-
quirements and the methods to properly obligate resources and to identify equipment and supply
needs. Having this information at the planning stage will properly inform the project stakeholders
how the monitoring phase will be funded and executed.
The Elements of a Successful Monitoring Program
The level of experience of those taking the measurements, whether paid or volunteer, may con-
vince you to alter the monitoring methods or sampling techniques. Usually, once the sampling
regime and other questions have been resolved, monitoring consists of very simple measurements.
These measurements can be done by volunteers, and they provide extremely valuable data that
can be used in analyzing a project. Some techniques, however, may preclude the use of volun-
teers. Knowing these conditions will help you refine the monitoring plan so that you can make the
best use of your resources.
Consistency Is Key
Consistency is paramount when conducting monitoring in which the data collected is intended
to be statistically treated. Statistical tests have several assumptions, and these must be met to have
valid conclusions. During the planning phase of the monitoring program, coordinate with experts
to receive the guidance needed to ensure that the data are collected in a reliable and repeatable
manner.
“Consistent” refers not only to the repeatability of the data collection method but also to when
the data are collected. Sampling intervals need to be established, and the duration of sampling
periods fixed. A significant factor in ensuring the consistency of data collection is to make the
sampling techniques easily understood and transferable to others. Whether professional personnel
or volunteers are involved, people come and go from a project. This reality needs to be considered
from the start in developing the monitoring plans (fig. 13-2).
Relying on Volunteers to Assist in the Monitoring Activities
The limitations of volunteers fall into two primary categories: the first and most significant is
consistency, and the second is performance. Will you have the same person doing the same task
throughout the sampling period? If the sampling period is only for a few events, this may not be