1B-Viability Assessment - The Open Standards for the Practice of

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Conservation Coaches Network
Workshop Presentation
1B. Viability Assessment
and Goals
Adaptive Management Workshop
Presentations
1A-1B. Team, Scope, Vision
1B. Conservation Targets
1B. Viability Assessment
2A-1. Strategy Selection
2A-2. Results Chains
2A-3. Goals and Objectives
1C. Threat Rating
1D. Conceptual Models
2B. Monitoring
Plan
Conceptualize
Viability
Assessment
This Presentation
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Viability
Assessment
What is viability assessment?
How to do viability assessment
Additional examples of viability assessment
Advice for doing viability assessment
Viability Assessment
What is it?
Viability
Assessment
Viability (ecological integrity) of a conservation
target is the measure to which the target is…….
resistant to change in its structure and composition in the
face of external stresses and
resilient – able to
recover upon
experiencing occasional
severe stress
Viability Assessment
What is it?
Viability
Assessment
Viability assessment helps teams
answer important questions:
•
What key characteristics define a
healthy target?
•
How do we physically measure
those characteristics? (indicators)
•
How is our target doing now?
•
What do we want to achieve?
(ultimate, measurable goals)
Bog frog
Bog frog
This Presentation
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Viability
Assessment
What is viability assessment?
How to do viability assessment
Additional examples of viability assessment
Advice for doing viability assessment
Our Example –
Viability
Swan Coastal Plain Wetlands Assessment
Adapted from WWF Australia’s WeltlandsWatch Project
Swan Coastal Plain
Conservation
Targets
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•
•
Seasonally flooded wetlands
Eucalyptus-Melaleuca woodlands
Fringing shrublands
Permanent lakes
Blue-billed ducks
Viability
Assessment
The Basics
Viability
Assessment
1. Define key characteristics (“key ecological
attributes” or KEAs) of your target.
2. Identify indicator(s) for each KEA
3. Describe what would constitute “good” status
4. Define the current status and desired future
status for your target
5. Complete the rating scale for each indicator,
using the categories of
or
.
The Details
Viability
Assessment
1) Define “key ecological attributes” (KEAs) of
your target.
KEA: Aspects of a target’s biology or ecology that
- If present, define a healthy target
- If missing or altered, would lead to the loss or
extreme degradation of that target over time.
Examples:
 Tropical hardwood forest target: size, connectivity among systems,
presence of key species
 Migratory fish target: population status, access to spawning
habitat, quality of spawning habitat
The Details
Viability
Assessment
1) Define “key ecological attributes” of your
target.
Consider the following categories:
Size:
•Geographic extent (ecosystem or habitat)
•Abundance &/or demographics of the
population/community (species)
Condition:
•Composition, structure, & biotic interactions
Landscape Context:
•Landscape-scale ecological processes,
connectivity
The Details
Viability
Assessment
1) Define “key ecological attributes” of your
target.
Target
Blue billed
ducks
Category
Size
KEA
Indicator
Population
size
# adult
birds of
reproductive
age
The Details
Viability
Assessment
2) Identify an indicator(s) for your KEA
Target
Blue billed
ducks
Category
Size
KEA
Indicator
Population
size
# adult
birds of
reproductive
age
Indicators
Viability
Assessment
Indicators are measurable aspects of the Key Ecological
Attribute that inform us of its status or “health”
Key Attribute: Circulatory system
Indicator: Blood pressure
Indicators are what you measure
Viability
Assessment
The Details
3) Describe what would constitute “good”
status of the indicator.
Indicator Ratings
Target
Blue billed
ducks
Category
Size
KEA
Indicator
Population
size
# adult
birds of
reproductive
age
Poor
Fair
Good
Very
Good
Viability
Assessment
The Details
Fair:
Outside acceptable
range of variation;
Requires human
intervention
Good:
Indicator w/in
acceptable range of
variation; Some
intervention required
for maintenance
Indicator Ratings
Target
Blue billed
ducks
Category
Size
KEA
Indicator
Population
size
# adult
birds of
reproductive
age
Poor
Fair
Threshold
line
Good
Very
Good
The Details
Viability
Assessment
What is an “acceptable range of variation?”
Viability
Assessment
The Details
Poor:
Restoration
increasingly difficult;
May result in
extirpation
Fair:
Outside acceptable
range of variation;
Requires human
intervention
Good:
Indicator w/in
acceptable range of
variation; Some
intervention required
for maintenance
Very Good:
Ecologically desirable
status; Requires little
intervention for
maintenance
Indicator Ratings
Target
Blue billed
ducks
Category
Size
KEA
Indicator
Population
size
# adult
birds of
reproductive
age
Poor
Fair
Threshold
line
Good
Very
Good
Viability
Assessment
The Details
Poor:
Restoration
increasingly difficult;
May result in
extirpation
Fair:
Outside acceptable
range of variation;
Requires human
intervention
Good:
Indicator w/in
acceptable range of
variation; Some
intervention required
for maintenance
Very Good:
Ecologically desirable
status; Requires little
intervention for
maintenance
Indicator Ratings
Target
Blue billed
ducks
Category
Size
KEA
Indicator
Population
size
# adult
birds of
reproductive
age
Poor
Fair
Good
1000 or
more
Threshold
line
Very
Good
Viability
Assessment
The Details
Poor:
Restoration
increasingly difficult;
May result in
extirpation
Fair:
Outside acceptable
range of variation;
Requires human
intervention
Good:
Indicator w/in
acceptable range of
variation; Some
intervention required
for maintenance
Very Good:
Ecologically desirable
status; Requires little
intervention for
maintenance
Indicator Ratings
Target
Blue billed
ducks
Category
Size
KEA
Indicator
Population
size
# adult
birds of
reproductive
age
Poor
Fair
Good
<1000
1000 or
more
Threshold
line
Very
Good
Viability
Assessment
The Details
4) Define the current state and desired future
state for your target
Indicator Ratings
Target
Blue billed
ducks
Category
Size
KEA
Indicator
Population
size
Fair
Good
# adult
birds of
reproductive
age
<1000
1000 or
more
Current Status
<1000
(~900)
Desired Future Status
Poor
>1000
Very
Good
Viability
Assessment
The Details
5) Complete the rating scale for each indicator,
using the categories of
or
. This is usually done after the workshop.
Indicator Ratings
Target
Blue billed
ducks
Category
Size
KEA
Indicator
Population
size
# adult
birds of
reproductive
age
Poor
Fair
Good
700 –
999
1,000 –
2,000
Threshold
line
Very
Good
Viability
Assessment
The Details
5) Complete the rating scale for each indicator,
using the categories of
or
. This is usually done after the workshop.
Indicator Ratings
Target
Blue billed
ducks
Category
Size
KEA
Indicator
Poor
Fair
Good
Very
Good
Population
size
# adult
birds of
reproductive
age
< 700
700 –
999
1,000 –
2,000
> 2,000
Threshold
line
Viability in Miradi
Viability
Assessment
Preview of Goals
From the Viability Assessment…
Viability
Goal: Assessment
By ~2025, there
are at least 1,500 adult
blue-billed ducks of
reproductive age in the
Swan Coastal Plain
Indicator Ratings
Target
Blue billed
ducks
Category
Size
Characteristic
Indicator
Poor
Fair
Good
Very
Good
Population
size
# adult
birds of
reproductive
age
700 –
999
1,000 –
2,000
> 2,000
700 –
999
Current Status
Desired Future Status
900
1,500
Another Example
Poor:
Restoration
increasingly difficult;
May result in
extirpation
Fair:
Outside acceptable
range of variation;
Requires human
intervention
Target
Category
KEA
Seasonally
flooded
wetlands
Condition
Community
architecture
Good:
Indicator w/in
acceptable range of
variation; Some
intervention required
for maintenance
Viability
Assessment
Very Good:
Ecologically desirable
status; Requires little
intervention for
maintenance
Another Example
Poor:
Restoration
increasingly difficult;
May result in
extirpation
Target
Seasonally
flooded
wetlands
Fair:
Outside acceptable
range of variation;
Requires human
intervention
Good:
Indicator w/in
acceptable range of
variation; Some
intervention required
for maintenance
Category
KEA
Indicator
Condition
Community
architecture
Native plant
species
richness
Viability
Assessment
Very Good:
Ecologically desirable
status; Requires little
intervention for
maintenance
Viability
Assessment
Another Example
Poor:
Restoration
increasingly difficult;
May result in
extirpation
Fair:
Outside acceptable
range of variation;
Requires human
intervention
Good:
Indicator w/in
acceptable range of
variation; Some
intervention required
for maintenance
Very Good:
Ecologically desirable
status; Requires little
intervention for
maintenance
Indicator Ratings
Target
Seasonally
flooded
wetlands
Category
Condition
KEA
Indicator
Community
architecture
Native plant
species
richness
Poor
Fair
Good
Very
Good
Mostly
native
vegetation
Native
vegetation only
Viability
Assessment
Another Example
Poor:
Restoration
increasingly difficult;
May result in
extirpation
Fair:
Outside acceptable
range of variation;
Requires human
intervention
Good:
Indicator w/in
acceptable range of
variation; Some
intervention required
for maintenance
Very Good:
Ecologically desirable
status; Requires little
intervention for
maintenance
Indicator Ratings
Target
Seasonally
flooded
wetlands
Category
Condition
KEA
Community
architecture
Indicator
Poor
Fair
Good
PredomMostly
Native plant
inantly
Some
native
species
invasive invasives vegetatrichness
exotics
ion
Very
Good
Native
vegetation only
Viability
Assessment
Another Example
Poor:
Restoration
increasingly difficult;
May result in
extirpation
Fair:
Outside acceptable
range of variation;
Requires human
intervention
Good:
Indicator w/in
acceptable range of
variation; Some
intervention required
for maintenance
Very Good:
Ecologically desirable
status; Requires little
intervention for
maintenance
Indicator Ratings
Target
Seasonally
flooded
wetlands
Category
Condition
KEA
Indicator
Community
architecture
Poor
Fair
Good
PredomMostly
Native plant
inantly
Some
native
species
invasive invasives vegetatrichness
exotics
ion
Current Status
Desired Future Status
Some
invasives
Mostly
native
Very
Good
Native
vegetation only
Viability
Assessment
Another Example
Poor:
Restoration
increasingly difficult;
May result in
extirpation
Fair:
Outside acceptable
range of variation;
Requires human
intervention
By ~2030, the
Good:
Good:
seasonallyVery
flooded
Indicator w/in
Ecologically desirable
wetlands
of the
Swanlittle
acceptable range of
status;
Requires
Plain are for
variation; Some Coastal intervention
intervention required
composedmaintenance
of at least
for maintenance
95% native species.
Indicator Ratings
Target
Seasonally
flooded
wetlands
Category
Condition
KEA
Indicator
Community
architecture
Poor
Fair
Good
PredomMostly
Native plant
inantly
Some
native
species
invasive invasives vegetatrichness
exotics
ion
Current Status
Desired Future Status
Some
invasives
Mostly
native
Very
Good
Native
vegetation only
This Presentation
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Viability
Assessment
What is viability assessment?
How to do viability assessment
Additional examples of viability assessment
Advice for doing viability assessment
KEA for
Mangrove Forest
Focal
Target
Category
Key
Attribute
Mangrove
Forest
Size
Habitat
Size
Viability
Assessment
Indicator for
Mangrove Forest
Focal
Target
Mangrove
Forest
Category
Key
Attribute
Size
Habitat
Size
Indicator
% of
original
forest
Viability
Assessment
Viability Ratings
for Mangrove
Forest
Viability
Assessment
Indicator Ratings
Bold=Current
Italics=Desired
Focal
Target
Mangrove
Forest
Category
Key
Attribute
Size
Habitat
Size
Indicator
% of
original
forest
Poor
Fair
Good
51-75
Very
Good
Viability Ratings
for Mangrove
Forest
Viability
Assessment
Indicator Ratings
Bold=Current
Italics=Desired
Focal
Target
Mangrove
Forest
Category
Key
Attribute
Size
Habitat
Size
Indicator
% of
original
forest
Poor
Fair
Good
Very
Good
< 25
25-50
51-75
> 75
Viability Ratings
for Coral Reef
Focal
Category
Target
Key
Attribute
Coral
Reef
Species
Composition
Condition
Indicator
Viability
Assessment
Poor
Fair
Good
Very
Good
Viability Ratings
for Coral Reef
Viability
Assessment
Note that in this case
the indicator is a
threat to the target.
That is OK, but
always state the KEA
is positive terms – as
an attribute of the
target.
Focal
Category
Target
Key
Attribute
Indicator
Coral
Reef
Species
Composition
# of Crown of
thorns per
transect
Condition
Poor
Fair
Good
Very
Good
Viability Ratings
for Coral Reef
Viability
Assessment
Indicator Ratings
Focal
Category
Target
Key
Attribute
Indicator
Coral
Reef
Species
Composition
# of Crown of
thorns per
transect
Condition
Poor
Fair
Good
Some
None
Very
Good
Viability Ratings
for Coral Reef
Viability
Assessment
Indicator Ratings
Focal
Category
Target
Key
Attribute
Indicator
Coral
Reef
Species
Composition
# of Crown of
thorns per
transect
Condition
Current Status
Desired Future Status
Poor
Fair
Good
Some
None
Some
None
Very
Good
Viability Ratings
for Coral Reef
Viability
Assessment
Indicator Ratings
Focal
Category
Target
Key
Attribute
Indicator
Coral
Reef
Species
Composition
# of Crown of
thorns per
transect
Condition
Current Status
Desired Future Status
Poor
Fair
Good
4+
1-3
0
2
0
Very
Good
From Viability
Assessment in
Indonesian Village
Viability
Assessment
Indicator Ratings
Bold=Current Italics=Desired
Focal
Target
Catches
from the
Sea
Category
Size
Key Attribute
Population
size
Indicator
Fish catch
per day
Poor
Fair
X
• Catches from the Sea identified as a focal target for fish
caught for local consumption and sale
• Key attribute & indicator selected
• Fisherman observe that catch is much less than they
remember in recent times
• Current status considered not viable (Fair)
Good
Very
Good
From Viability
Assessment in
Indonesian Village
Viability
Assessment
Indicator Ratings
Bold=Current Italics=Desired
Focal
Target
Catches
from the
Sea
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Category
Size
Key Attribute
Population
size
Indicator
Poor
Fair
Good
Very
Good
11-30 31-100 > 100
Fish catch per <10
strings strings strings
day (# of
strings
strings of fish of fish of fish of fish of fish
over min size)
Interviews indicate current harvest < 30 strings of fish
over minimum catch size
Ten years ago, harvest yielded up to 200 strings of fish
over minimum catch size
> 100 considered Very Good
31-100 considered Good
This Presentation
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Viability
Assessment
What is viability assessment?
How to do viability assessment
Additional examples of viability assessment
Advice for doing viability assessment
Overall “Picture” of
Project Viability
Viability
Assessment
SIZE
SIZE
CONDITION
CONDITION
SIZE
LANDSCAPE
CONTEXT
CONDITION
LANDSCAPE
CONTEXT
LANDSCAPE
CONTEXT
Target A
Viability
Target B
Viability
SIZE
CONDITION
Target C
Viability
Biodiversity Health or Landscape
Functionality
LANDSCAPE
CONTEXT
Target D
Viability
Key Words for
This Process
Viability
Assessment
“Representative & Encompass”
Indicators → Key Attributes →
Conservation Targets →
Biodiversity at Site
Tips for
Selecting KEAs
Viability
Assessment
• Pick factors that are critical for long-term viability
– characteristics that, if degraded, would
seriously jeopardize the target’s ability to
persist for 100+ years
• When in doubt, pick characteristics that are
likely to be affected by human activities
• Look for a few really key ecological attributes…
versus many desirable or descriptive
characteristics
Key ecological attributes are what’s important…
Tips for Selecting
Indicators
Viability
Assessment
Look for indicators that:
•Strongly
relate to the status of the key ecological attribute
•Are efficient & affordable to measure
•Can reasonably define what constitutes “Good”
Desirable indicators ...
•Might
provide an early warning to serious stresses
•Might assess two or more key ecological attributes
e.g. Presence of young cypress in a floodplain forest as an
indicator for both hydrological regime & reproduction of
dominant species
Be Prepared to
Accept Uncertainty!!
Viability
Assessment
• The main purpose of viability assessment is
capturing the current state of knowledge
• Don’t worry about information gaps
• Don’t focus on filling out all indicator ratings!
• Viability assessment is an iterative process with
successive approximations. You can return
during later planning stages to add more detail
(if necessary)
Be Prepared to
Accept Uncertainty!!
Viability
Assessment
1st Pass Table
Target
grassland Type X
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Category
KEA
Landscape
fire regime
Context
Indicator
fire
frequency
Grassland target identified
Fire regime = Key Attribute (Landscape Context)
Fire frequency = Indicator
Dense woody cover suggests not enough fire
Be Prepared to
Accept Uncertainty!!
1st Pass Table
Target
grassland Type X
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•
•
•
Category
Viability
Assessment
Indicator Ratings
KEA
Landscape
fire regime
Context
Indicator
fire
frequency
Poor
Fair
Good
Very
Good
not
enough
fire
Grassland focal target identified
Fire regime = Key Attribute (Landscape Context)
Fire frequency = Indicator
Dense woody cover suggests not enough fire
Current status deemed not viable - assigned “Fair”
Be Prepared to
Accept Uncertainty!!
2nd Pass Table
Target
Category
Viability
Assessment
Indicator Ratings
KEA
Indicator
Poor
Fair
grassland Type X
Landscape
fire regime
Context
fire
frequency
not
enough
fire
grassland Type X
Landscape
fire regime
Context
fire
frequency
> 10
years
Phone call to local grassland expert indicates
natural fire frequency of 5-10 years
Good
5-10
years
Very
Good
Be Prepared to
Accept Uncertainty!!
3rd Pass Table
Target
Category
Viability
Assessment
Indicator Ratings
KEA
Indicator
Poor
Fair
Good
grassland Type X
Landscape
fire regime
Context
fire
frequency
not
enough
fire
grassland Type X
Landscape
fire regime
Context
fire
frequency
> 10
years
5-10
years
Landscape
fire regime
Context
%
grassland
w/ 5-10 yr
fire return
25-50%
51-75%
grassland Type X
<25%
% area burned at acceptable frequency is key
Very
Good
>75%
Viability
Assessment
Incomplete is OK!
Indicator Ratings
Bold=Current Italics=Desired
Focal
Target
grassland Type X
Category
Size
Key Attribute
Size/extent of
characteristic
communities /
ecosystems
Indicator
aerial extent
in acres
How important is it to fill out
all ratings in this case
where Current & Desired
status is Very Good?
Poor
Fair
Good
Very Good
> 100,000
acres
Probably Not Important!
- Unless grassland area is
threatened by large-scale habitat
destruction.
- In this case, determining the Fair
rating might guide efforts to
determine how much to save
Where to get
more info…
Viability
Assessment
• Examples:
TNC Conpro database (TNC) - http://conpro.tnc.org
This Presentation
•
•
•
•
Viability
Assessment
What is viability assessment?
How to do viability assessment
Additional examples of viability assessment
Advice for doing viability assessment
Key Points
Viability
• Key Ecological Attributes – important characteristics of targets
• Indicators – what you actually measure
• “Reduce, reuse, recycle” KEAs if one will work for more than
one target
• Rating is important (especially Good versus Fair)
• Viability assessment is iterative - if in doubt, just try it...
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