Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland and Savanna Ecosystems: 2nd Edition

BLM Technical Reference 1734-8

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) Strategy was initiated, in part, to evaluate current monitoring activities and recommend procedures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these activities including the development and application of a consistent set of ecosystem indicators and methods for measuring them (i.e., quantitative core indicators and consistent methods for monitoring) (Toevs et al. 2011). Technical Note 440 introduces and describes the terrestrial core indicators and methods components of the AIM Strategy. The methods for collecting these core indicators are described in the Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland and Savannah Ecosystems, Volumes 1 and 2. 

The Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland and Savannah Ecosystems: Volume 1 includes basic methods and instructions for establishing photo points and completing four basic measurements to describe how to monitor three rangeland attributes: soil and site stability, watershed function and biotic integrity. Nearly everything we value about rangelands depends on these attributes. Monitoring these three attributes is like monitoring the foundation of our rangeland ecosystems. The measurements used to monitor these attributes also can be used to generate indicators relevant to specific management objectives, such as maintaining wildlife habitat, biodiversity conservation or producing forage. Volume 2 provides more detailed guidance on monitoring program design, data analysis and interpretation. It also includes a number of supplementary methods.