Monitoring Program
Resource/Project Program
Monitoring and evaluation is a quality control process for implementation of the Tongass Forest Plan. It provides the public, the Forest Service, and other concerned resource agencies with information on the progress and results of plan implementation. As such, monitoring and evaluation comprise an essential feedback mechanism within an adaptive management framework to keep the Plan dynamic and responsive to changing conditions. The evaluation process also provides feedback that can trigger corrective action, adjustment of plans and budgets, or both, to facilitate feasible and meaningful action on the ground.
The Tongass Management Plan facilitates adaptive management through the following monitoring plan components (which are described in more detail in Chapter 6 of the Forest Plan):
- Monitoring Questions - Questions that can be answered to evaluate if the standards and guidelines are applied, if the standards and guidelines are effective, and if the resource objectives of the Forest Plan are met.
- Sampling/Reporting Period - Sampling period is the frequency of data and information collection. Reporting period is the frequency of data evaluation and reporting.
- Evaluation Criteria - Management objectives, standards, guidelines, or other bases for monitoring. In some cases, evaluation criteria are specific to a single monitoring question. In other cases, they are applicable to multiple questions.
- Data and Information Sources - Ongoing work projects that are associated with collection of information, data, and evaluation specific to monitoring questions. In some cases, data and information sources are specific to a single monitoring question. In other cases, they are applicable to multiple questions.
- Feed Back Mechanisms - Forest management practices and Standard and Guidelines that should be evaluated to identify if the practices and guidelines provide the resource protection and outcomes identified in the objectives, goals, and management prescriptions. In some cases, feed back mechanisms are specific to a single monitoring question. In other cases, they are applicable to multiple questions.
This section provides access to each of the resource categories that have ongoing monitoring and evaluations of their programs and/or projects within those programs. Note that project monitoring can often transcend more than one resource. Although these monitoring and evaluation efforts may not be directly related to the issues and questions being monitored under the Forest Plan Monitoring Program, they are important to the overall knowledge and importance to the management of these resource programs.