Forest Practices > Monitoring and Evaluation > EFP Monitoring

Introduction

This web site is a resource center where silviculture program managers can obtain materials (procedures, examples, and information) that will help them monitor key components of their Enhanced Forestry programs. Funding for this site was provided by Forest Renewal B.C. This site provides links to work completed by a wide variety of groups and individuals. These links do not imply full endorsement of the work by the B.C. Ministry of Forests. This web page provides an introduction to the topic of monitoring for an Enhanced Forestry program.

Definition of monitoring

Monitoring can be defined very broadly as:

“to watch or check on”, “checking the status of some thing,” “observing trends over time,” or “obtaining feedback.”

A more restrictive definition is that:

“monitoring is checking an expectation (or assumption) by comparing it to observations.”

On this web site, we provide materials to assist with monitoring as defined in both of these ways.

The role of, and need for, monitoring

Systems to provide feedback, and provide a check on key assumptions, are a critical component of every well-run program. To facilitate continual refinement of treatment regimes, it is necessary to not only plan and implement treatments, but to monitor and evaluate the outcomes. The results of monitoring and evaluation should be used to refine subsequent silviculture plans and treatments.

Focus and scope of this web site

The field of monitoring is vast and complex. A wide range of treatment “outcomes” can be monitored (outcomes that pertain to employment, habitat, timber yield, and so on). There are many groups (both within and outside of the Ministry of Forests) that have various roles and responsibilities for “monitoring” and have developed, or are developing, monitoring protocols, training, and analysis methods. Our focus on this web site is to:

• provide some overview material to help silviculturists navigate through the reams of monitoring information that is currently available;

• focus on monitoring issues that are of specific relevance to Enhanced Forestry treatments (such as spacing, brushing, pruning, and fertilizing);

• avoid duplication by linking to sites where specific monitoring questions are addressed in more detail; and

• provide materials that are of specific relevance to monitoring Enhanced Forestry treatments where important gaps in monitoring materials have been identified.

Types of monitoring important to an incremental silviculture program

Monitoring can play an important role at many stages in the management of an incremental silviculture program. Some of the many general types of monitoring that are useful include:

Plan implementation monitoring

This form of monitoring assesses the extent to which a plan was actually implemented. It addresses questions such as “to what extent do the treatments that were actually conducted last year in a management unit match those planned for in the management unit’s Silviculture Strategy?” In each management unit, a simple table should be maintained to track the implementation of the Silviculture Strategy (example table).

Treatment cost monitoring

This form of monitoring assesses the cost of treatments. It addresses questions such as “are treatment costs greater this year than they have been in the past?” These important questions are best monitored with existing silviculture information systems.

Quality of work monitoring

This form of monitoring assesses the quality of field work. It addresses questions such as “where treatments were conducted, was the work completed to high standards of quality?” Forest Practices Branch provides procedures to assess the quality of work. See for example:

• the new juvenile spacing quality inspection procedures; and

• the procedures for monitoring fertilization applications.

Policy effectiveness monitoring

This form of monitoring assesses the effectiveness of policies and procedures. It addresses questions such as “are the policies and procedures pertaining to incremental treatments contributing to these treatments meeting their broad goals?” Within Forest Practices Branch, procedures for policy effectiveness monitoring are being developed by Peter Bradford (Peter.Bradford@gems1.gov.bc.ca).

Monitoring yield predictions

This form of monitoring is typically used to test a model’s predictions or confirm a specific, quantitative assumption. It addresses questions such as:

• “do mid-rotation spaced stands have the volume/ha predicted by the model used to develop the silviculture regimes?” and

• “is the average for planted stands to achieve green-up really 12 years after planting as assumed in the Type 2 Silviculture Strategy analysis?”

Related Forest Practices Branch initiatives

1. Adaptive management: Brian Nyberg of Forest Practices Branch leads the Adaptive Management program. Monitoring is a key component of adaptive management and the adaptive management web site contains much information useful to the question of monitoring EFP-funded treatments: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/archives/amhome/amhome.htm

2. Effectiveness Evaluation: Peter Bradford of Forest Practices Branch leads the branch program to evaluate the effectiveness of branch policies and procedures. This work area is related to monitoring. For more information on this initiative, contact Peter Bradford (tel: 250-356-2134; email: Peter.Bradford@gems1.gov.bc.ca)

3. Forest certification and monitoring the silviculture program: Some certification schemes require monitoring the treatment program and it’s impact on forest resources. Nigel Fletcher is the contact for this issue within Forest Practices Branch (tel: 250-387-8738; Nigel.Fletcher@gems5.gov.bc.ca). Additional information on certification and monitoring is available at: (http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/het/certification/)

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