Resource Value Indicators

Eleven resource values have been identified under the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA). The Forest and Range Evaluation Program (FREP) is mandated to conduct evaluations (routine, extensive and intensive in nature) to assess the status of these resource values relative to predetermined baselines.

More information about the FRPA resource values can be found under the FRPA Resource Values menu.

Resource Value Indicators

To facilitate quantifying baselines and trends, indicators have been developed or are in the process of being developed for the eleven FRPA resource values.

A resource value indicator is a parameter that characterizes an important aspect of a resource value’s condition and which may be measured to provide direct or indirect information on the state of that resource value.

Characteristics of a Good Indicator

A good indicator is:

• Focused on answering a specific evaluation question;
• Correlated to what you want to measure;
• Based on valid scientific research and literature;
• Relevant at various scales (site, feature, landscape);
• Responsive to forest and range practices in a predictable way;
• Low naturally occurring variability;
• Well documented (rationale, methodology, analysis);
• Peer reviewed;
• Understood and supported by stakeholders;
• Practical, easy to measure, interpretable;
• Cost effective;
• Comparable to existing baseline data;
• Part of a suite of indicators for evaluating a resource value.

Resource Value Protocols

For each resource value a protocol document has been created to provide background information and instructions for data collection under the FREP mandate. The indicators developed for that specific resource value can be found in the protocol document. Each FRPA resource value protocol is reviewed and updated annually.

The protocols for a specific FRPA resource value can be accessed one of three ways:

• The Table of Resource Value Indicators and Protocols lists all the relevant protocol documents for each of the eleven FRPA resource values;
• Each of the eleven FRPA resource values has it's own page, with information, resources, links, protocols and indicators for that value:
  • Biodiversity;
  • Cultural Heritage Resources;
  • Fish/ Riparian;
  • Forage and Associated Plant Communities;
  • Recreation Resources;
  • Resource Features;
  • Soils;
  • Timber;
  • Visual Quality;
  • Water;
  • Wildlife;
• The FREP Publication Library lists every current FREP document, report, paper, note and publication.