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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #269255
Title: BLM Core Terrestrial Indicators and Methods

Author
item MACKINNON, W. CRAIG - Bureau Of Land Management
item Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff
item TOEVS, GORDON - Bureau Of Land Management
item Karl, Jason
item KARL, MICHAEL - Bureau Of Land Management
item SPURRIER, CAROL - Bureau Of Land Management
item TAYLOR, JASON - Bureau Of Land Management

Submitted to: Government Publication/Report
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/24/2011
Publication Date: 8/22/2011
Citation: Mackinnon, W., Herrick, J.E., Toevs, G.R., Karl, J.W., Karl, M.S., Spurrier, C.S., Taylor, J.J. 2011. BLM Core Terrestrial Indicators and Methods. Technical Note 440. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, National Operations Center, Denver, CO. BLM/OC/ST-11/003+1735. 13 p.

Interpretive Summary: "BLM Core Terrestrial Indicators and Methods" describes a limited set of indicators methods that are recommended for use in monitoring and assessment of vegetation and soil in terrestrial ecosystems on BLM lands. These were selected based on a number of criteria applied through a collaborative process involving nearly 200 scientists, rangeland managers and ecologists from different agencies/institutions. Six core indicators, measured using three methods, are recommended for implementation for all monitoring activities. An additional two contingent methods are used only where necessary based on conditions (e.g. soil erosion or contamination).

Technical Abstract: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) Strategy was initiated, in part, to evaluate current monitoring activities and recommend procedures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these activities. To this end, the AIM Strategy supports an integrated approach to: (1) document the location and abundance of natural resources on public lands; (2) facilitate the description of resource conditions; and (3) identify natural resource trends or changes. This recommendation will be accomplished through the integration of fundamental processes including: (a) development and application of a consistent set of ecosystem indicators (i.e., quantitative core indicators) and consistent measurement methods; (b) development and implementation of a statistically valid sampling framework; (c) application and integration of remote sensing technologies; and (d) implementation of related data acquisition and management plans. The purpose/intent of this report is to provide an introduction to, and describe, the Core Indicators and Methods component of the AIM Strategy. Further, this report provides guidance on how to maintain consistency of effort and resources (i.e., cited materials) for further details on established protocols. This Core Indicators and Methods component identifies a small set of core indicators (i.e., measurements) that, when collected, can be used for many purposes across ecosystem types including rangeland, forest, and riparian areas. This set of core indicators, based on quantitative land cover and vegetation data using standardized measurements, will allow data to be integrated across field, district, and state office boundaries.