PHOTO POINT MONITORING
FOR FENCED REMNANTS
May 2003
King Island Natural Resource Management Group
Contents
 Info sheet 1 - Doing the monitoring
 Info Sheet 2 - Setting up a new site
 A map showing the site
 Photos from site set up
 copies of Site Monitoring Notes
 copy of devolved grant site assessment report
Info sheet 1 - Doing the Monitoring
Introduction
The King Island Natural Resource Management Group (NRM Group) is keen to
encourage and support monitoring of sites that have been fenced under the NHT
fencing projects in recent years.
Ideally this monitoring should be undertaken by the landowners themselves. This is in
recognition of your being in the best position to do this and to encourage monitoring as
a way of checking on the progress of your vegetation.
These guidelines outline the methods for establishment and remeasurement of sites in a
consistent way that will provide useful information.
Why monitor?

to assist in management by checking the vegetation and its health

to confirm the success or otherwise of your fencing

to create a record to allow you to remember and show others the changes in
vegetation quality over time. Many landholders comment that “I wished I’d
taken a photo back then so I could show people the changes.”
Info sheet 1 - Doing the Monitoring
How to monitor
Staff from the King Island Natural Resource Management Group will have set up the
photopoint monitoring site with you.
If you are keen to set up more the details for the methodology are detailed on Info Sheet 2.
Once you have set up the initial site and received this package you just need to conduct
the following steps once every one
to five years:

Take two photos from
the two spots (one
twenty meters inside the
remnant looking out and
one twenty meters
outside looking in.)

Fill in a survey report
(this is a simple cross and
tick form that should
take no more than
twenty minutes to fill in)
The following equipment is
necessary:

This package including a
blank form

pen

a camera

a flora guide
Information Collection (Site Monitoring Notes form)
This method of monitoring the composition of vegetation is easy, quick and relatively
reliable.
Scientific rigour is not required because the data will not be examined statistically,
although consistency between each monitor is necessary for useful results.
This technique is designed to be simple and easy. Some help may be needed in
identifying which species could be used as indicators of change. For help with plant
identification the following are recommended:

King Island Flora: a field guide King Island Natural Resource Management Group Inc,

Guide to the Flowers and Plants of Tasmania Launceston Field Naturalists Club;

Ferns and Allied Plants Duncan and Isaac.
A number of the data fields require percentage of cover to be estimated. They are the
growth patterns that describe the community structure eg fern, shrubs and trees as well
as weeds. The presence or absence for common species and seedlings is also recorded.
From this basic information an impression of how the vegetation is changing in species
composition and diversity over time can be gained.
Analysis
In future, information collected over a period of time can be analysed.
Compare the figures over time, 5 yearly is probably a span of time where significant
change may be apparent.
Ideally the diversity of the native species should increase or be maintained. The diversity
and abundance (cover) of native species should also increase or be maintained while the
diversity of weeds and their cover should decrease or be maintained. The effect of a
fence on grazing may also bring an increase in the diversity and cover of weeds.
Positive changes

An increase in diversity or cover through increased numbers or cover of native
species.

A decrease in diversity or cover through the loss of weed species.

The maintenance of diversity through the increase in natives and the loss of
weeds.
Negative changes

A decrease in diversity through the loss of natives

An increase in diversity through the gain of weed species

The maintenance of diversity through the loss of natives and the gain of weeds.
Management Response
When you observe changes as a result of the monitoring the really important step is to
ask: what, if any, management changes or responses does this need? An example may be
the management of weeds.
Info Sheet 2 – Setting up a New site
Equipment needed:
Camera
Field data proforma
1.6 m. Photo A will be taken from here
back toward the fence.
5.
Attach the tape measure to the star
picket and run it back to the fence,
over the marker peg and 20 m into the
remnant.
6.
Place a second but permanent marked
or painted star picket in the remnant at
the 20 m point so that the top is at 1.41.6 m. Photo B will be taken from here
facing along the tape toward the fence.
Any number of range poles can be
added to the photo view to indicate
distance and height of vegetation.
7.
Do not walk up and down the tape
measure line as this will impact on the
vegetation.
8.
From photo point B, estimate a 10 m
radius from which to collect the species
data as per the field proforma.
9.
Position a placard with site number and
date in the view (unless you can
remember the details by the time the
photos are developed!)
Map (1:25 000) or a GIS map
Site Placard
Metal labels (mark with pen)
Metal mallet/post driver
Ballpoint pen
Re sealable plastic bags for plant collection
Steel or aluminium posts (painted bright colour
for relocating)
Steel wire
Tape measure 20m or 50 m.
Info sheet 2 – Setting up a New Site
Photo points
Photo points are set points from which a
photograph is taken in a set direction at regular
time intervals (eg every two years). They are a
faithful record of changes over time.
Photographs provide the advantage of recording
changes in variables that were not measured
formally and they illustrate the impact of
changes that have been measured. This is a
powerful tool for convincing others that
significant change has or has not occurred.
Taking the photo

Ensure the growth of vegetation does
not prevent important subjects from
being seen in a future photograph.

Ideally use a camera lens of the same
specification each time the site is
photographed.

Focus on the same point each time
(sighter peg).

Shutter speed should be between 125
or 250

The film type and speed should be
consistent.

The camera must be in the same
position

The date and time of day should be as
close as possible to previous
photographs. Choose a time in the
middle of the day to avoid sun glare.

Take the photograph.
Photopoints allow you to easily, efficiently and
cost effectively monitor change
Establishment
1.
Select a site that you believe is
representative of the general situation,
or a site in which you are particularly
interested in seeing the change. Ensure
the change you are interested in can be
photographed.
2.
Place a marked or painted peg just
inside the fence line, to remain
permanently.
3.
Fix a permanent (metal) tag to the peg
indicating the site identification
number and/or name. Record the
location on the map and on the field
proforma.
4.
Measure 20 m perpendicular (at right
angles) to the fence out into the
paddock and put a temporary star
picket in place so that the top is at 1.4-
Note: digital cameras should ideally be set to the
same manual settings each time rather than auto
settings.
Relocating the quadrat
As the plot is to be revisited it needs to be easily
relocated. Remember that vegetation does grow
and in twenty years pegs of even a metre tall may
be difficult to relocate. Provide future measurers
every chance of relocating them. Regardless of
apparent visibility the main marker post of a plot
should be able to be relocated using a compass
and tape from a major, obvious and immovable
feature (the peg which is the permanent fence
marker). Sketch the layout of all of the photo
point plots to scale and indicate all angles and
distances to other useful landscape features as
well as the easting and northing map point
Site Layout
See diagram earlier
Information Collected
Information printed in large letters on the site
placard:

Site Number

Date

Time
Additional information to be collected on the
site proforma:

Easting/Northing (provided by
KINRMG)

Site Location: description of site
location/layout

Vegetation type.

Site description: species and comments
recorded at the site.