Location: Range Management Research
Title: A framework for establishing data-informed benchmarksAuthor
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SCHALLNER, JEREMY - New Mexico State University |
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Heller, Alexandra |
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McCord, Sarah |
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EDWARDS, BRANDON - New Mexico State University |
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Webb, Nicholas |
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PRICE, LAUREN - Bureau Of Land Management |
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RICHINS, ALLYSON - Bureau Of Land Management |
Submitted to: Society for Range Management
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2024 Publication Date: 2/1/2024 Citation: Schallner, J.W., Heller, A., McCord, S.E., Edwards, B.E., Webb, N.P., Price, L.J., Richins, A.E. 2024. A framework for establishing data-informed benchmarks. Society for Range Management. Abstract. Interpretive Summary: Land managers and conservation planners rely on inventory and monitoring data to inform decision making. The establishment of standardized monitoring, through national ecological monitoring programs (e.g., Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring, Natural Resources Conservation Service – National Resources Inventory) have expanded the amount of data available for use at multiple scales of decision making and for many purposes. Data-informed decision making processes often rely on quantitative benchmarks to interpret monitoring data. Benchmarks are indicator values that describe desired conditions that, when exceeded, trigger management activities, additional data collection, or potentially indicate management success. However, quantitative benchmarks are not readily available for many indicators and decision contexts. In this presentation we describe how workshops can be structured to facilitate the establishment of benchmarks using monitoring data and input from local and expert knowledge. The workshop consists of three parts, a pre-workshop phase, the workshop itself, and post-workshop efforts. The pre-workshop stage includes identifying key components to ensure workshop success, such as defining the purpose of the benchmarks, connecting indicators to the purpose, and information and data gathering among others. The workshop allows key partners to come together, create a unifying goal, and work through discussions about the indicators and their expected value ranges for desired conditions to establish benchmarks. The post-workshop stage consists of a post-assessment or peer-review and local stewardship of continuing efforts as needed. We demonstrate how this workshop framework supports co-production of benchmarks with local and expert knowledge of ecosystems using examples from workshops conducted with the BLM in New Mexico. The workshop framework is broadly applicable to supporting use of data to inform land management decisions. Technical Abstract: Land managers and conservation planners rely on inventory and monitoring data to inform decision making. The establishment of standardized monitoring, through national ecological monitoring programs (e.g., Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring, Natural Resources Conservation Service – National Resources Inventory) have expanded the amount of data available for use at multiple scales of decision making and for many purposes. Data-informed decision making processes often rely on quantitative benchmarks to interpret monitoring data. Benchmarks are indicator values that describe desired conditions that, when exceeded, trigger management activities, additional data collection, or potentially indicate management success. However, quantitative benchmarks are not readily available for many indicators and decision contexts. A repeatable workflow is needed to support land managers in establishing benchmarks. We developed a workshop framework to facilitate the establishment of benchmarks using monitoring data and input from local and expert knowledge. The workshop framework consists of three parts, a pre-workshop phase, the workshop itself, and post-workshop efforts. The pre-workshop stage includes identifying key components to ensure workshop success, such as defining the purpose of the benchmarks, connecting indicators to the purpose, and information and data gathering among others. The workshop allows key partners to come together, create a unifying goal, and work through discussions about the indicators and their expected value ranges for desired conditions to establish benchmarks. The post-workshop stage consists of a post-assessment or peer-review and local stewardship of continuing efforts as needed. We demonstrate how this workshop framework supports co-production of benchmarks with local and expert knowledge of ecosystems using examples from workshops conducted with the BLM in New Mexico. The workshop framework is broadly applicable to supporting data-informed decision making. |