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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 • • • • 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 • • • • 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 • • • • • 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 • • • • 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 • • • • 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 • • • • 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 • • • • 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 • • • • • 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...