Adaptive monitoring for multi-scale land management: Lessons learned from the Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) principles

Authors: KACHERGIS, EMILY - Bureau Of Land Management; MILLER, SCOTT - Bureau Of Land Management; McCord, Sarah; DICKARD, MELISSA - Bureau Of Land Management; SAVAGE, SHANNON - Bureau Of Land Management; REYNOLDS, LINDSAY - Bureau Of Land Management; LEPAK, NIKA - Bureau Of Land Management; DIETRICH, CHRIS - Bureau Of Land Management; GREEN, ADAM - Bureau Of Land Management; NEFUS, ALETA - Bureau Of Land Management; PRENTICE, KAREN - Bureau Of Land Management

Submitted to: Rangelands
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/27/2021
Publication Date: 3/1/2022
Citation: Kachergis, E., Miller, S.W., McCord, S.E., Dickard, M., Savage, S., Reynolds, L.V., Lepak, N., Dietrich, C., Green, A., Nefus, A., Prentice, K. 2022. Adaptive monitoring for multi-scale land management: Lessons learned from the Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) principles. Rangelands. 44(10):50-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rala.2021.08.006.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rala.2021.08.006

Interpretive Summary: The AIM principles provide a framework for monitoring programs to meet multi-scale information needs for land management amidst the changing landscapes of rangeland ecosystems and the context of policy requirements. We conclude that the principles are sound, and worthy of consideration for design and adaptation of other rangeland monitoring efforts . The AIM principles have become the standard rangeland ecosystem monitoring approach within the BLM. While some principles must be strictly followed for effectiveness (standardization, data management), there is also a need for flexibility in some principles given appropriate rationale and documentation. Land managers also need additional datasets beyond rangeland condition for specific decisions, and AIM principles are useful for developing these datasets.

Technical Abstract: The Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy recommends five principles for building multi-scale monitoring programs: standardized methods and indicators; data management; appropriate sample designs; remote sensing integration; and structured implementation. These principles guide monitoring across public lands. We find that the AIM principles are sound and worthy of consideration for design and adaptation of rangeland monitoring programs worldwide. A sixth principle, standard workflows and analysis frameworks for using data, connects data to land management decision-making and empowers land managers. The AIM principles suggest opportunities for the rangeland management community to co-produce shared knowledge about rangeland health for adaptive management.