Location: Range Management Research
Project Number: 3050-21600-001-031-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jan 1, 2021
End Date: Mar 31, 2025
Objective:
The objectives of this project are to support the continued implementation and refinement of the AIM Strategy through:
1. Supporting field implementation of AIM monitoring projects – This objective includes providing scientific and technical support to on the design and implementation of AIM monitoring programs, supporting field data collection through continued development and support of desktop and mobile monitoring databases and tools, developing quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) analytical tools, and supporting land managers in the analysis of AIM monitoring project data and reporting.
2. Developing and supporting consistent monitoring protocols – This objective includes documentation of the core monitoring methods through a revised edition of the Monitoring Manual for Shrubland, Grassland, and Savanna Ecosystems to support consistent monitoring within BLM and across other agencies; supporting implementation of remote sensing technologies and models to support field-based monitoring and for monitoring at larger scales; working with the AIM program to increase consistency of monitoring protocols across BLM programs; and working jointly with other US land management agencies to promote consistency in monitoring across all US rangelands.
3. Training staff and partners in monitoring protocols, project implementation, and data analysis – This objective includes the development of training programs and materials for a) correctly applying AIM core field protocols to collect high-quality monitoring data, b) design and implementation of AIM monitoring projects, and c) data analysis and application for decision making; and conducting AIM trainings jointly with AIM program staff.
4. Developing and implementing workflows and tools for monitoring data analysis and reporting – This objective includes providing scientific and technical support on the development and documentation of approaches and tools for analyzing and reporting on monitoring data for multiple objectives to support management decision making.
5. Integrating emerging science on land health monitoring at multiple scales into decision making – This objective includes conducting research into: novel approaches for monitoring land health, analytical techniques for land health monitoring at multiple scales, compatibility and combination of monitoring techniques, development of tools that integrate monitoring indicators to value-add information about land health, and approaches for using monitoring data to support decision making.
6. In cooperation with BLM continue development of a long-term strategy for maintaining the app and database. (LandPKS)
7. ESDs are currently being migrated into the Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool (EDIT). This presents an opportunity to leverage existing AIM data to inform, update and validate ESDs for sites that are relevant to BLM managers.
Approach:
Cooperator will collaborate with ARS scientists and staff in support and development of AIM Monitoring project field implementation, monitoring protocols and train agency partners in monitoring protocols and project implementation.
