Indicators and Standards in Environmental Management
Identifying Indicators & Standards
Jeff Marion, Unit Leader/Scientist
Virginia Tech Field Unit, USGS, Patuxent WRC
jmarion@vt.edu, 540-231-6603
Selecting Indicators & Standards
Presentation Objectives:
Presentation Objectives:
1. Define indicators and describe their role, review
1. Define indicators and describe their role, review
criteria for their selection, and illustrate with trail
criteria for their selection, and illustrate with trail
impact examples.
impact examples.
2. Define indicator standards and describe their role,
2. Define indicator standards and describe their role,
describe alternative types of standards, and illustrate
describe alternative types of standards, and illustrate
with trail and campsite examples.
with trail and campsite examples.
LAC & VERP Planning
LAC & VERP Planning
And Management
And Management
Decision Making
Decision Making
Frameworks
Frameworks
What Are Indicators?
What are indicators and why do we use them?
What are indicators and why do we use them?
Indicators are measurable physical, ecological, or social
Indicators are measurable physical, ecological, or social
variables used to track trends in conditions caused by
variables used to track trends in conditions caused by
human activity so that progress toward goals / desired
human activity so that progress toward goals / desired
conditions can be assessed.
conditions can be assessed.
Indicators provide a means for restricting information
Indicators provide a means for restricting information
collection and analysis to the most essential elements
collection and analysis to the most essential elements
needed to answer management questions.
needed to answer management questions.
Indicator Selection: A Process
Begin by defining monitoring questions:
Begin by defining monitoring questions:
“Are visitors experiencing an environment where the
“Are visitors experiencing an environment where the
evidence of human activity is
evidence of human activity is
substantially
substantially
unnoticeable
unnoticeable
?”
?”
“Are trails in good usable condition?” or, “Are the
“Are trails in good usable condition?” or, “Are the
number and length of visitor-created trails
number and length of visitor-created trails
increasing?”
increasing?”
Indicator Selection: Sources of Indicators
Employ one or more of the following sources:
Employ one or more of the following sources:
Consult Scientific Literature:
Consult Scientific Literature:
There is a large and
There is a large and
growing body of applicable literature.
growing body of applicable literature.
Conduct Scientific Research:
Conduct Scientific Research:
Conduct site-specific
Conduct site-specific
research or inventories where necessary to address
research or inventories where necessary to address
information gaps.
information gaps.
Consult the Public:
Consult the Public:
Involve stakeholders.
Involve stakeholders.
Apply Management Judgment:
Apply Management Judgment:
Consult with experienced
Consult with experienced
managers, both local and distant.
managers, both local and distant.
Indicator Selection: Screening Questions
Does the indicator tell you what you want to know? Is it
ecologically or experientially meaningful?
Is the indicator independent of environmental variation?
Can the indicator be measured reliably?
Is the indicator responsive to manage -
ment action within a reasonable time
frame?
Indicator Selection: Screening Questions
Does the indicator act as an early warning, alerting you to
deteriorating conditions before unacceptable change
occurs?
Can the indicator be measured with
minimal impact to the resource or the
visitor’s experience?
Can the indicator provide information
worth the time and cost required?
Indicator Selection: Screening Criteria
Trail Indicators
Selected from a review of the scientific and
management literature.
LAC/VERP frameworks typically include a small
number of indicators, far fewer than those shown in
the following lists.
Indicator assessment/monitoring methods need to be
considered during the indicator selection process.
Forms of Trail Impacts
Informal trails (number,
length, condition)
Trail widening
Soil erosion
Trail muddiness
Trail Indicators
Monitoring approaches must be considered in selecting
Monitoring approaches must be considered in selecting
indicators and setting standards. Two common types:
indicators and setting standards. Two common types:
Problem Assessment:
Problem Assessment:
Assess location and lineal
Assess location and lineal
extent of all occurrences of pre-defined tread
extent of all occurrences of pre-defined tread
impacts (e.g., eroded or muddy sections).
impacts (e.g., eroded or muddy sections).
Point Sampling:
Point Sampling:
Assess tread conditions through
Assess tread conditions through
individual measures of indicators at sampling
individual measures of indicators at sampling
points.
points.
Trail Assessment Survey Types
PA - Problem Assessment, PS - Point Sampling
Common Trail Indicators
Soil Erosion
Cross Sectional Area (sq ft)
PS
Maximum Incision (in)
PS
Excessive Erosion (# ft/mi, lineal ft, % of trail length)
PA
PA - Problem Assessment, PS - Point Sampling
Common Trail Indicators
Tread Muddiness
Muddiness (% of tread width)
PS
Excessive Muddiness
(# ft/mi, lineal ft, % of trail length)
PA
Tread Width
Tread Width (ft)
PS
Excessive Width (# ft/mi, lineal ft, % of trail length)
PA
PA - Problem Assessment, PS - Point Sampling
Common Trail Indicators
Multiple Treads
Multiple Treads (# at sample points)
PS
Multiple Treads (# ft/mi, lineal ft, %)
PA
Visitor-Created Trails
Informal Trails (#, #/mi, lineal extent, % of formal trail miles)
Other concerns related to informal trails: density, proximity to
sensitive resources, and condition
What Are Indicator Standards?
What are indicator standards and why do we use them?
What are indicator standards and why do we use them?
Indicator Standards
Indicator Standards
- Measurable statements that define
- Measurable statements that define
minimally acceptable conditions.
minimally acceptable conditions.
Standards narrow the focus of management from
Standards narrow the focus of management from
broad, qualitative statements of management intent to
broad, qualitative statements of management intent to
specific statements of desired conditions that provide
specific statements of desired conditions that provide
a basis for decision making.
a basis for decision making.
What Are Indicator Standards?
Standards reflect desired conditions. Standards:
Are specific and achievable.
Describe ends (desired resource and social conditions)
rather than means (management actions).
Standards are established for setting attributes that
reflect degree of naturalness or that influence experience
quality.
Setting attributes must be subject to management
control. For example, a standard could be written for
encounter rates but not for solitude or satisfaction,
which are direct attributes of the experience.
What Are Indicator Standards?
Standards quantitatively specify a limit on the amount
of change that will be tolerated.
Standards define the compromise between
resource/visitor experience protection and access to
recreational opportunities, i.e., they represent an
explicit trade-off between two conflicting goals.
Standards are statements of minimally acceptable
conditions (thresholds of acceptability). They define
the point past which conditions
become
unacceptable,
they do not define desired or unacceptable conditions.
Characteristics of Good Standards
Quantitative:
Quantitative:
Measurable.
Measurable.
Time or Space-Bounded:
Time or Space-Bounded:
Expressed as “x”/day or
Expressed as “x”/day or
“y”/unit area.
“y”/unit area.
Expressed as a probability:
Expressed as a probability:
Allows flexibility when
Allows flexibility when
needed for random or peak-use events.
needed for random or peak-use events.
Impact-Oriented:
Impact-Oriented:
Focus on impacts, not on
Focus on impacts, not on
management actions (e.g., conditions, not # of
management actions (e.g., conditions, not # of
visitors)
visitors)
Realistic:
Realistic:
Focus on attainable conditions.
Focus on attainable conditions.
Interpreting Standards
Standards are absolute limits, not just warnings.
Violation of standards should not be tolerated.
Tolerances can be written into standards in the form of
probabilities. e.g., <10 encounters/day on 90% of the
summer use season days. Such standards allow for
more crowded conditions during a few peak use
weekends.
When a standard is exceeded managers should
implement actions to avoid compromising resource or
experience conditions further.
Interpreting Standards
Standards are value-based management decisions.
Setting standards ultimately involves inherently
subjective and value-based management decisions.
It is desirable that standards be developed through a
collaborative process with input from stakeholders.
Public involvement and/or participation is preferred
but managers have been delegated the authority and
responsibility for making final decisions.
Setting Standards: Role of Science
Science can characterize the range of indicator conditions to
allow evaluation of draft standards. Indicator data may
also be examined to look for “thresholds”:
e.g., level of vegetation disturbance beyond which
annual recovery cannot occur.
Standards can be
informed
by science but cannot be
derived
from science.
Standards are evaluative, they must consider resource
impacts in the context of the recreational “costs” of not
exceeding them.
Types of Standards
Maximum Condition
Maximum Condition
- Specifies maximum acceptable
- Specifies maximum acceptable
indicator value at a single site.
indicator value at a single site.
e.g., trail width < 10 in
e.g., trail width < 10 in
Aggregate Condition
Aggregate Condition
- Specifies maximum acceptable
- Specifies maximum acceptable
aggregate indicator value for a group of sites.
aggregate indicator value for a group of sites.
e.g., Sum of informal trail lengths in travel zone x < 3.5 mi
e.g., Sum of informal trail lengths in travel zone x < 3.5 mi
Rate of Change
Rate of Change
- Specifies maximum acceptable rate of
- Specifies maximum acceptable rate of
change between monitoring cycles. e.g., increase in
change between monitoring cycles. e.g., increase in
trail incision < 0.25 in/yr
trail incision < 0.25 in/yr
Examples of Standards: Trails
Potential Indicators
Potential Indicators
Examples of Standards
Examples of Standards
Informal trails/unit area
Informal trails/unit area
<2500 ft/5 acres
<2500 ft/5 acres
Increase in informal trail lengths
Increase in informal trail lengths
< 100%
< 100%
Trail width
Trail width
<4 ft
<4 ft
Trail width >3 ft
Trail width >3 ft
<500 ft/mi
<500 ft/mi
Soil erosion
Soil erosion
<2 ft
<2 ft
Soil erosion > 2 ft
Soil erosion > 2 ft
<300 ft/mi
<300 ft/mi
Trail muddiness
Trail muddiness
<5% of trail length
<5% of trail length
Note:
Note:
Standards are generally set and vary by zones.
Standards are generally set and vary by zones.
Examples of Standards: Campsites
Potential Indicators
Potential Indicators
Examples of Standards
Examples of Standards
Campsites/unit area
Campsites/unit area
<12 sites/5 acres
<12 sites/5 acres
Campsite size/site
Campsite size/site
<1800 ft
<1800 ft
2
2
Campsite size/unit area
Campsite size/unit area
<8000 ft
<8000 ft
2
2
/5 acres
/5 acres
Increase in campsite size
Increase in campsite size
< 100%
< 100%
Soil exposure/site
Soil exposure/site
<1200 ft
<1200 ft
2
2
/campsite
/campsite
Soil exposure/unit area
Soil exposure/unit area
<6000 ft
<6000 ft
2
2
/5 acres
/5 acres
Tree damage
Tree damage
<10 damaged trees/site
<10 damaged trees/site
Fire sites
Fire sites
<3/site
<3/site
Note:
Note:
Standards are generally set and vary by zones.
Standards are generally set and vary by zones.
Conclusions
Scientific literature and research can help identify
alternative resource indicators and provide objective
measurement methods
Scientific surveys can describe the distribution of
values for each indicator – illustrating outcomes of
alternative standards.
Science cannot be used to identify indicator standards.
Standards are evaluative, they represent tradeoffs
between competing management objectives.
Exploring the concept of indicators and standards in environmental management, this content delves into their definition, selection process, sources, and importance. Indicators are crucial variables used to track changes caused by human activities, aiding in assessing progress towards desired conditions. The selection of indicators involves defining monitoring questions and utilizing various sources such as scientific literature, research, stakeholder consultation, and management judgment. This information is essential for effective planning and decision-making in environmental conservation and management.
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Presentation Transcript
Identifying Indicators & Standards Jeff Marion, Unit Leader/Scientist Virginia Tech Field Unit, USGS, Patuxent WRC jmarion@vt.edu, 540-231-6603
Selecting Indicators & Standards Presentation Objectives: 1. Define indicators and describe their role, review criteria for their selection, and illustrate with trail impact examples. 2. Define indicator standards and describe their role, describe alternative types of standards, and illustrate with trail and campsite examples.
LAC & VERP Planning And Management Decision Making Frameworks Establish Prescriptive Management Objectives Choose Biophysical and Social Indicators of Change Formulate Standards Monitor Conditions Compare Conditions to Standards Standards Not Exceeded Standards Exceeded Evaluate and Identify Causal Factors Select Appropriate Management Action Implement Management Action
What Are Indicators? What are indicators and why do we use them? Indicators are measurable physical, ecological, or social variables used to track trends in conditions caused by human activity so that progress toward goals / desired conditions can be assessed. Indicators provide a means for restricting information collection and analysis to the most essential elements needed to answer management questions.
Indicator Selection: A Process Begin by defining monitoring questions: Are visitors experiencing an environment where the evidence of human activity is substantially unnoticeable? Are trails in good usable condition? or, Are the number and length of visitor-created trails increasing?
Indicator Selection: Sources of Indicators Employ one or more of the following sources: Consult Scientific Literature:There is a large and growing body of applicable literature. Conduct Scientific Research: Conduct site-specific research or inventories where necessary to address information gaps. Consult the Public: Involve stakeholders. Apply Management Judgment: Consult with experienced managers, both local and distant.
Indicator Selection: Screening Questions Does the indicator tell you what you want to know? Is it ecologically or experientially meaningful? Is the indicator independent of environmental variation? Can the indicator be measured reliably? Is the indicator responsive to manage - ment action within a reasonable time frame?
Indicator Selection: Screening Questions Does the indicator act as an early warning, alerting you to deteriorating conditions before unacceptable change occurs? Can the indicator be measured with minimal impact to the resource or the visitor s experience? Can the indicator provide information worth the time and cost required?
Indicator Selection: Screening Criteria Primary Criteria Specific Objective Reliable and repeatable Related to visitor use Secondary Criteria Easy to train for monitoring Cost-effective Minimal variability Responds over a range of conditions Large sampling window Availability of baseline data Sensitive Resilient Low-impact Significant (Source: VERP Handbook, 1997)
Trail Indicators Selected from a review of the scientific and management literature. LAC/VERP frameworks typically include a small number of indicators, far fewer than those shown in the following lists. Indicator assessment/monitoring methods need to be considered during the indicator selection process.
Forms of Trail Impacts Informal trails (number, length, condition) Trail widening Soil erosion Trail muddiness
Trail Indicators Monitoring approaches must be considered in selecting indicators and setting standards. Two common types: Problem Assessment: Assess location and lineal extent of all occurrences of pre-defined tread impacts (e.g., eroded or muddy sections). Point Sampling: Assess tread conditions through individual measures of indicators at sampling points.
Trail Assessment Survey Types Problem Assessment Point Sampling
Common Trail Indicators Soil Erosion Cross Sectional Area (sq ft) PS Maximum Incision (in) PS Excessive Erosion (# ft/mi, lineal ft, % of trail length) PA I3 I1 I2 I4 I5 I6 T6 T4 T1 T2 T3 T5 PA - Problem Assessment, PS - Point Sampling
Common Trail Indicators Tread Muddiness Muddiness (% of tread width) PS Excessive Muddiness (# ft/mi, lineal ft, % of trail length) PA Tread Width Tread Width (ft) PS Excessive Width (# ft/mi, lineal ft, % of trail length) PA PA - Problem Assessment, PS - Point Sampling
Common Trail Indicators Multiple Treads Multiple Treads (# at sample points) PS Multiple Treads (# ft/mi, lineal ft, %) PA Visitor-Created Trails Informal Trails (#, #/mi, lineal extent, % of formal trail miles) Other concerns related to informal trails: density, proximity to sensitive resources, and condition PA - Problem Assessment, PS - Point Sampling
What Are Indicator Standards? What are indicator standards and why do we use them? Indicator Standards - Measurable statements that define minimally acceptable conditions. Standards narrow the focus of management from broad, qualitative statements of management intent to specific statements of desired conditions that provide a basis for decision making.
What Are Indicator Standards? Standards reflect desired conditions. Standards: Are specific and achievable. Describe ends (desired resource and social conditions) rather than means (management actions). Standards are established for setting attributes that reflect degree of naturalness or that influence experience quality. Setting attributes must be subject to management control. For example, a standard could be written for encounter rates but not for solitude or satisfaction, which are direct attributes of the experience.
What Are Indicator Standards? Standards quantitatively specify a limit on the amount of change that will be tolerated. Standards define the compromise between resource/visitor experience protection and access to recreational opportunities, i.e., they represent an explicit trade-off between two conflicting goals. Standards are statements of minimally acceptable conditions (thresholds of acceptability). They define the point past which conditions become unacceptable, they do not define desired or unacceptable conditions.
Characteristics of Good Standards Quantitative: Measurable. Time or Space-Bounded: Expressed as x /day or y /unit area. Expressed as a probability: Allows flexibility when needed for random or peak-use events. Impact-Oriented: Focus on impacts, not on management actions (e.g., conditions, not # of visitors) Realistic: Focus on attainable conditions.
Interpreting Standards Standards are absolute limits, not just warnings. Violation of standards should not be tolerated. Tolerances can be written into standards in the form of probabilities. e.g., <10 encounters/day on 90% of the summer use season days. Such standards allow for more crowded conditions during a few peak use weekends. When a standard is exceeded managers should implement actions to avoid compromising resource or experience conditions further.
Interpreting Standards Standards are value-based management decisions. Setting standards ultimately involves inherently subjective and value-based management decisions. It is desirable that standards be developed through a collaborative process with input from stakeholders. Public involvement and/or participation is preferred but managers have been delegated the authority and responsibility for making final decisions.
Setting Standards: Role of Science Science can characterize the range of indicator conditions to allow evaluation of draft standards. Indicator data may also be examined to look for thresholds : e.g., level of vegetation disturbance beyond which annual recovery cannot occur. Standards can be informed by science but cannot be derived from science. Standards are evaluative, they must consider resource impacts in the context of the recreational costs of not exceeding them.
Types of Standards Maximum Condition - Specifies maximum acceptable indicator value at a single site. e.g., trail width < 10 in Aggregate Condition - Specifies maximum acceptable aggregate indicator value for a group of sites. e.g., Sum of informal trail lengths in travel zone x < 3.5 mi Rate of Change - Specifies maximum acceptable rate of change between monitoring cycles. e.g., increase in trail incision < 0.25 in/yr
Examples of Standards: Trails Potential Indicators Informal trails/unit area Increase in informal trail lengths < 100% Trail width Trail width >3 ft Soil erosion Soil erosion > 2 ft Trail muddiness Note: Standards are generally set and vary by zones. Examples of Standards <2500 ft/5 acres <4 ft <500 ft/mi <2 ft <300 ft/mi <5% of trail length
Examples of Standards: Campsites Potential Indicators Campsites/unit area Campsite size/site Campsite size/unit area Increase in campsite size Soil exposure/site Soil exposure/unit area Tree damage Fire sites Note: Standards are generally set and vary by zones. Examples of Standards <12 sites/5 acres <1800 ft2 <8000 ft2/5 acres < 100% <1200 ft2/campsite <6000 ft2/5 acres <10 damaged trees/site <3/site
Conclusions Scientific literature and research can help identify alternative resource indicators and provide objective measurement methods Scientific surveys can describe the distribution of values for each indicator illustrating outcomes of alternative standards. Science cannot be used to identify indicator standards. Standards are evaluative, they represent tradeoffs between competing management objectives.
