Counting the books while the library burns: why conservation monitoring programs need a plan for action

Abstract

Conservation monitoring programs are critical for identifying many elements of species ecology and for detecting changes in populations. However, without articulating how monitoring information will trigger relevant conservation actions, programs that monitor species until they become extinct are at odds with the primary goal of conservation: avoiding biodiversity loss. Here, we outline cases in which species were monitored until they suffered local, regional, or global extinction in the absence of a preplanned intervention program, and contend that conservation monitoring programs should be embedded within a management plan and characterized by vital attributes to ensure their effectiveness. These attributes include: (1) explicit articulation of how monitoring information will inform conservation actions, (2) transparent specification of trigger points within monitoring programs at which strategic interventions will be implemented, and (3) rigorous quantification of the ability to achieve early detection of change.

Best Practice Framework and Principles for Monitoring the Effect of Coastal Development on Marine Mammals

“…In light of these challenges, however, it is nevertheless important to ensure that acceptable/unacceptable changes and associated trigger points are clearly defined to inform pre-planned intervention measures. As Lindenmayer et al (2013) emphasize, changes in indicators should be rigorously assessed as early as possible to avoid a population decline remaining undetected due to ineffective monitoring or slow and/or limited intervention. For example, survey effort may be required over multiple years to detect declines in populations, however, declines may occur well before sufficient power is ever attained Tyne et al, 2016).…”

“…Unfortunately, rigorous and robust monitoring is rarely done and poorly-designed monitoring can lead to flawed recommendations. Lindenmayer et al (2013) stress that monitoring programs should be designed for "rigorous quantification" to ensure the optimal ability to detect changes as early as possible. This approach involves systematic assessment of indicators and measures against thresholds or trigger points that are accompanied by pre-planned interventions and actions that are clearly articulated and integrated into project monitoring and planning.…”

Continental-level biodiversity collapse

“…This has led to threatened or endangered species being passively monitored until they have gone regionally or globally extinct. These problems characterize threatened and endangered speciesmonitoring programs in many places around the world (16). Notably, trigger points for management action are absent from the recovery plans of virtually all of the Australia's threatened mammals (16).…”

“…These problems characterize threatened and endangered speciesmonitoring programs in many places around the world (16). Notably, trigger points for management action are absent from the recovery plans of virtually all of the Australia's threatened mammals (16). Moreover, there is currently a lack of accountability and blurring of responsibility, in that no agency or individual in Australia has ever been held culpable for any extinction event.…”

Placing invasive species management in a spatiotemporal context

“…However, care must be taken because if intervention is delayed too long there can be poor outcomes for the species (Lindenmayer et al 2013). This trade-off exists for the optimal solutions presented in this study, and in fact, an optimization that includes a temporal model component is required to solve this trade-off.…”