Towards an integrated monitoring program: identifying indicators and existing monitoring programs to cost-effectively evaluate the Long Term Sustainability Plan
Led by: Dr Prue Addison, AIMS
Project Summary
This project addresses a series of critical initial steps required to develop a cost-effective integrated monitoring program. First, environmental, social and economic elements and indicators will be identified that could be monitored to enable an integrated evaluation of the Long Term Sustainability Plan (LTSP) targets. Second, existing monitoring programs will be evaluated against the newly developed LTSP targets, to ensure that the relevant aspects of these monitoring programs are considered for inclusion in an integrated monitoring program. Finally, the statistical performance of the AIMS Long Term and Marine Monitoring Programs will be evaluated to illustrate how these programs could cost-effectively contribute to an integrated monitoring program.
Problem Statements
Problem
As an initiative of the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan (LTSP), an integrated monitoring program (IMP) is being developed for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). This project addresses a series of critical initial steps required to develop a cost-effective IMP: (1) to identify a suite of environmental, social and economic elements and indicators that could be monitored to enable an evaluation of the LTSP targets; (2) to evaluate existing environmental, social and economic monitoring programs against the newly developed LTSP targets, to ensure that the relevant aspects of these monitoring program are considered for inclusion in an IMP; and, (3) to evaluate how the AIMS Long Term and Marine Monitoring Programs can cost-effectively contribute to the IMP.
How Research Addresses Problem
The components of this proposed project have been identified as critical aims of the Reef Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Network (RIMRN) Program Design working group, and are listed as monitoring and reporting actions of the LTSP that must be undertaken over the next five years. This project will be led by AIMS, with ongoing consultation with the RIMRN working groups to ensure the research undertaken best informs the development of a cost-effective IMP to support adaptive management under the LTSP.
Project Keywords
Indicator; Long-term monitoring; Condition; Trend; Management effectiveness evaluation.
Project Funding
This project is jointly funded through AIMS and the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Programme.
Project Publications
