“Monitoring, evaluation and reporting are fundamental activities in a modern approach to NRM”
Considerable investment is directed to natural resource management (NRM) issues through programs such as the NRM Levy, National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP), Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and the National Landcare Program (NLP).
These investments target priority natural resource management issues and aim to maintain and improve the management and condition of the NRM Region’s natural resources base. Monitoring and evaluating the success of these programs is essential to see, over time, the impact of the investment and to ensure it is directed strategically to priority issues.
What is Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting?
Monitoring: systematic collection and storage of data
Evaluation: assessing efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of an outcome or activity against a stated goal, objective or value
Reporting: documenting of results of monitoring and evaluation and presenting to appropriate forums at specified times
Why Do Monitoring and Evaluation?
The Board has monitoring, evaluation and reporting obligations to meet under the broad themes of:
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The Regional Plan: The Regional Plan and vision places onus on the Board to undertake programs, actions and activities that will ensure that the condition of the region in years to come can meet the social, environmental and economic needs of future generations.
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Investment: Considerable investment is directed to NRM issues from government programs, through to regional and private investment. In order to assess over time the impact of the investment and to ensure it is directed strategically to priority issues, it is critical the Board conduct ongoing monitoring and evaluation to assess the effectiveness, efficiency and appropriateness of investment
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Progress reporting under agreements: Agreements between the region and investors generally contain conditions requiring periodic reporting on progress. Using the NAP Bilateral Agreement as an example, annual reporting on resource condition outlining how NAP investment has contributed towards achievement of targets, including Resource Condition Targets and Management Action Targets
Case Study: Community Monitoring in Action – Wetlands Baseline Survey
Community groups have been the force behind wetland rehabilitation projects along the River Murray in SA. Many community groups have received funds from the Australian Government for on-ground works in wetlands, including constructing flow control structures, fencing and the upgrade of culverts. Groups have been responsible for monitoring changes in wetlands following the implementation on-ground works.
The Wetlands Baseline Survey provided baseline data against which future monitoring results can be compared, as well as educating new and existing community groups in wetland monitoring techniques. Data was collected at different times in 2004, 2005 and 2006 for a range of biological, chemical and physical parameters, including frogs, fish, birds, macroinvertebrates, vegetation, surface water, groundwater and site details.
The data collected has been used in the development of management plans for the wetlands. These plans guide the management and monitoring requirements that are necessary to maintain the health of these wetlands. The plans will also ensure that the wetlands have an adequate supply of water allocated to them.
Resource Condition Targets (RCTs) are the ultimate long term (15 to 20yrs) targets in relation to achieving the objectives of the Regional Plan.
Current Monitoring and Evaluation in the SA MDB NRM Region
At the regional level frameworks have been developed or are under development to support regional M&E:
Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Framework (MERF):- The MERF sets out the context and requirements for assessing progress towards the vision of the region (INRM Group vision). This framework is being implemented.
Integrated Monitoring Framework for Environmental Flows and Salinity in SA (IMF):- is under development and nearing completion soon. The IMF will assess the impact of flow management and salt interception schemes on the River Murray and its floodplain in South Australia.
Community Based Monitoring Framework for Natural Resource Management in the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin (CMF):- The CMF is a guide for groups and their supporting project officers on how to achieve the greatest value from their monitoring. We are trying to implement this framework now.
These frameworks target M, E & R at the regional or broader scale, but M, E & R should occur at different levels – at the project level, the program level and the regional level.
Monitoring and Evaluation Communication Products
The Regional NRM Health Report provides an overview or ‘snapshot’ of the condition of the natural resources for the region incorporating data and input from further sources, such as experts and published reports. It is anticipated that the Regional NRM Health report would be useful for South Australian State of Environment reporting and State NRM Plans needs. The target audience for the Health Report is the Board and its staff, NRM planners and program or project proponents.
The Report Card (4.75mb) is a user-friendly summary of the Regional NRM Health report - it highlights the condition rating for each of the resource condition target issues for the region. Over time with the development of further report cards, this product will serve as a guide to show change in condition and progress in NRM. The target audience for the Health Report Card (4.75mb) is the NRM Board, investors and broader community.
Information sheets have been developed for the current developed resource condition target issues. The information sheets provide a broad overview of the NRM issues that are the focus for the resource condition targets. In addition, the information sheets highlight initiatives that are being undertaken to tackle the issues, key factors for measuring change in NRM issues, factors that need to be considered relevant for each NRM issue and how progress will be reported. Each information sheet introduces natural resource management (NRM). The target audience for the information sheets is the broader community.
Maps have been generated where spatial data is available to assist NRM planners and program or project proponents – so activities can be targeted.
Monitoring and Evaluation Documents
Community Based Monitoring Framework for Natural Resource Management in the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin 2005 - see Community Monitoring Page
Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Framework for the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin 2005 (2.6mb)
Management Action Targets (MATs) are the short term (1 to 5yrs) targets which work towards achievement of RCT’s
An action of the regional M&E Program is to develop and implement appropriate systems for monitoring and reporting to support NRM.