About Resource Stewardship Monitoring

Resource Stewardship Monitoring (RSM) is defined as:

"Routine monitoring of on-the-ground practices to determine if the FRPA, Forest Stewardship Plan, or other approved resource value objectives or strategies are being achieved and/or can be improved."

Objectives of Resource Stewardship Monitoring

The objectives of resource stewardship monitoring are to provide a mechanism for continuous improvement of forest stewardship through the assessment of on-the-ground forest practices as they relate to approved Forest Stewardship Plan results and strategies and Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) resource value objectives.

This will be accomplished by:

• Providing valuable monitoring and assessment data and other information for decision makers responsible for the approval of results and strategies in FSPs;
• Determining an overview of resource value status, trends and implementation issues at the district, regional and provincial levels;
• Assessing and comparing default and innovative practices, strategies, activities and outcomes across multiple geographic areas and licensees;
• Collecting, analyzing and communicating information and results to improve decision-making, and enhance professional reliance and continuous improvement of forest practices;
• Identifying issues related to FRPA resource values (subject areas) that require detailed investigation (i.e., identifying "red flags" for regional/provincial intensive evaluations); and
• Recommending options for changes to forest and range practices and/or guidance (e.g., best practices), where appropriate.

Two Levels of Resource Stewardship Monitoring

Routine - A relatively low intensity evaluation calling for typically inexpensive and rapid data collection.

Routine evaluations are low-cost overview evaluations that often involve visual estimates and "yes/no" checklists. These types of evaluations are useful for identifying management trends or issues that may require more detailed evaluations. An example of a routine-level evaluation might be an overview survey of impacts related to riparian management, which could include visual assessments of stream bank disturbance.

Extensive - A more detailed evaluation involving the collection of categorical data using visual estimates or relatively simple measurements.

Extensive evaluations are more rigorous and quantitative than routine evaluations, and are used to collect more detailed information on a given area. An example of an extensive evaluation might be collecting categorical and quantitative data on the impacts of forest management on karst resources, such as assessing the level of soil disturbance on high vulnerability karst terrain.

Resource Stewardship Monitoring Pilot

The objectives of the Resource Stewardship Monitoring Pilot Project were to:

1. Test the proposed model for integrating Resource Stewardship Monitoring with the provincial Forest and Range Evaluation Program including:
   • Routine/extensive indicators and protocols;
   • Site selection criteria;
   • Quality assurance, including training; and
   • Data collection and analysis (at the district, region and provincial levels).
2. Test ease of monitoring data collection (protocols) and analysis at the district level, region and provincial levels.
3. Test whether the monitoring approach meets district and region Forest Stewardship Plan monitoring needs along with identifying resource value status, trends and issues.
4. Continuous improvement of indicators and protocols to ensure they adequately assess whether resource value objectives are being met.

Resource Stewardship Monitoring Framework

The RSM Framework provides a comprehensive description of the objectives and scope of Resource Stewardship Monitoring, as a component of the Forest and Range Evaluation Program. The document also describes stakeholder involvement, critical success factors, and major deliverables.

• Resource Stewardship Monitoring Framework (PDF)
• Terms of Reference for RSM Team (PDF)

RSM and the Forest and Range Evaluation Program

• RSM and FREP Overview Presentation (PDF)

Resource Stewardship Monitoring Work Plans

2004 RSM Pilot Project Work Plan

• 2004 Pilot Project Work Plan (PDF)
• 2004 Pilot Project GANTT Chart (PDF)
• 2004 Pilot Project Team Members (PDF)

2005 RSM Pilot Project Work Plan

• 2005 Pilot Project Work Plan (PDF)
• 2005 Pilot Project Team Members (PDF)

2006 RSM Pilot Project Work Plan

• Coming soon (PDF)

RSM Pilot Meta-Evaluation

• 2004 Pilot Projects Meta-Evaluation Criteria (PDF)

RSM and FREP Indicators and Protocols

FREP has been mandated to conduct evaluations (routine, extensive and intensive in nature) to assess the status of FRPA Resource Values relative to predetermined baselines. To facilitate quantifying baselines and trends indicators and protocols have been developed for these 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.

For each FRPA resource value a protocol document is created to provide background information and instructions for data collection under FREP. The indicators chosen for that resource value can be found in the protocol document.

More information about FREP Indicators and Protocols can be found on this site.

RSM and the FREP Information Management System

Resource Stewardship Monitoring involves data collection of resource value indicators at the district and regional levels. The data generated is substantial and will only increase yearly and as new resource values are implemented in the program.

The FREP Information Management System is being developed for efficient data capture, storage, analysis and reporting. More information about the FREP Information Management System can be found on this site.