It is important to understand the status and trends of fish and wildlife and their habitats, and relationships and processes within and between ecosystems. Teams can review existing data and proceed, while continuing to identify additional information needs. Information requirements to support decisions change, especially in the areas of inventory, monitoring, ecological processes, demographics, socioeconomics, and techniques development. There are several potential partners in meeting information needs, including the States, universities, conservation organizations, and industry. Set Resource Goals and Objectives - Goals and objectives are established to guide Service activities in each ecosystem unit and, more specifically, in focus areas.
Goals reflect desired future conditions in the ecosystem.
Goals should be few in number and achievable. Goals can reflect priority species or groups of species, habitat types of significance to Service trust resources, or important focus areas within the ecosystem unit. Objectives are more specific and quantifiable than goals, and are a means of measuring progress. Objectives should be specific enough that progress and effectiveness can be measured and evaluated. Identify and Implement Needed Action Strategies - Suggested action strategies should be developed to achieve each objective identified.