ARS | Publication request: ECOSYSTEM MONITORING FOR WATERSHED AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION

Submitted to: National Military Fish and Wildlife Association Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 1, 2002
Publication Date: April 2, 2002

Technical Abstract: We will present a simple, quantitative system for monitoring key ecosystem attributes: soil and site stability, hydrologic function and biotic integrity. These attributes are fundamental to achieving most conservation, restoration and both wildlife and livestock management objectives. The basic measurements included in this system were designed to generate both basic indicators of ecosystem function and indicators relevant to wildlife conservation. The system can be flexibly applied at multiple scales at different levels of monitoring intensity, depending on objectives and resource availability. Optional measurements are included to address specific issues, such as soil compaction. The system was designed in cooperation with resource management professionals from the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, the Department of Defense, BLM, NRCS, The Nature Conservancy and INIFAP (Mexico).