Cooperative Monitoring Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Land Management and the Public Lands Council
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov
November 16, 2017
In Reply Refer To:
1780, 4400 (220) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 11/21/2017
Information Bulletin No. 2018-006
To: All Washington Office and Field Office Officials
From: Assistant Director, Resources and Planning
Subject: Cooperative Monitoring Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Land Management and the Public Lands Council
The Washington Office announces an updated Cooperative Monitoring Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) WO 220-2017-07 between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Public Lands Council (PLC). The MOU was signed on September 22, 2017. This MOU updates the 2004 version, as previously extended, and is effective until September 22, 2022.
The purpose of the Cooperative Monitoring Memorandum is to establish an updated framework for cooperative monitoring and the exchange of information on rangelands administered by the BLM. The MOU strives to create opportunities for consultation and coordination of rangeland stewardship, through joint, cooperative monitoring at the pasture, allotment, watershed or landscape levels.
The BLM and grazing permittees, lessees, and cooperators benefit from the exchange of information when monitoring data is collected, analyzed, and interpreted in a transparent and candid setting. The BLM benefits when using the current, historic, operational, and practical experience of grazing operators. The PLC members (grazing permittees and lessees) benefit when they are collaboratively included in shared data analysis results, biological concepts, and professional judgments made by BLM rangeland resource professionals.
BLM field units are encouraged to develop monitoring plans with permittees/lessees and other stakeholders to increase collaborative rangeland stewardship. Cooperative monitoring planning should consider:
o Monitoring that is appropriate and feasible by both parties.
o Appropriate monitoring scales involving timeframes and geographic scope.
o Review of background and geospatial information.
o Establishment of protocols (For example: all parties should agree on whether the data will be used for long or short-term monitoring; for adjustments within a season of use, or both, if appropriate.).
o Providing feedback and sharing information (All parties should receive copies of field data, results and summaries.).
A monitoring plan template can be found here. This template will be periodically updated, as needed, with updates found at this location.
You are encouraged to continue using existing MOU’s or monitoring plans. This template is available for use in the absence of such, or if you wish to update existing documents.
Please direct any questions pertaining to this IB to Maggie Marston (WO-220) at 202-912-7444, or Kimberly Hackett (WO-220) at 202-912-7216.
Signed by: Authenticated by:
Steve G. Tryon Robert M. Williams
Acting, Assistant Director Division of IT Policy and Planning,WO-870
Resources and Planning
2 Attachments
1 - BLM-MOU-WO-220-2017-07 (4 pp)
2 - Appendix A (3 pp)