Adaptive management Adaptive management refers to a program of monitoring and management that is adjusted over time as understanding of management improves. The MRF provides for the following key elements of an adaptive management approach (see Figure 1): Defining desired outcomes Addressing uncertainties through identification and where appropriate, testing of assumptions and external factors Establishing a program of monitoring to record changes in the condition or population of MNES and track progress in program delivery Undertaking research and management experiments to test and improve management models (the on-ground adaptive management models for ecological communities) and inform management options Re-assessing solutions and approaches through program evaluations. The results of monitoring and program evaluations may lead to the adaptive improvement of the implementation of the program. This may through the following: Changes to program activities and processes, such as planning mechanisms, strategies and policies, research priorities, on-ground management actions, restoration activities and salvage and translocation priorities Amendments to the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (BCS) and sub-regional species strategies Improvements to the logic underpinning the on-ground adaptive management models Changes to management standards and guidelines for conservation areas Amendments to program outputs and outcomes, with the agreement of the Commonwealth Government. The MRF does not cover all aspects of on-ground adaptive management of land. These aspects will be addressed by undertaking additional work to detail management options for each asset and/or location. Monitoring design principles The monitoring described in the MRF and two supporting technical documents is guided by the following principles: Monitoring is driven by well-defined ‘questions’ that are specific, measurable and (Park et al. 2012) Monitoring is informed by defined conceptual models, wherever possible (e.g. on-ground adaptive management models for ecological communities, a metapopulation model for the Growling Grass Frog) Monitoring provides the necessary information by which the program outcomes can be evaluated against KPIs Monitoring is underpinned by rigorous statistical design, using the best available information Monitoring links to the adaptive management cycle (Lindenmayer and Likens 2009) Monitoring will be periodically reviewed to reflect advances in ecological understanding or improved sampling Monitoring will be efficient and cost effective. Statistical power
Appendix 2: Key Performance Indicators for Program Outputs Key performance indicators for the outputs that the Melbourne Strategic Assessment expects to achieve Output Key Performance Indicator Data collection Data source Responsibility Urban development proceeds in accordance with the Commonwealth approvals and mechanisms and processes specified in the Program Report and BCS Per cent of gazetted planning scheme amendments to introduce a Precinct Structure Plan consistent with the Commonwealth approvals Collated data from review for consistency of each planning scheme amendment Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Per cent of program area with gazetted Precinct Structure Plans Collated data from each gazetted Precinct Structure Plan Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Per cent of gazetted precincts with Native Vegetation Plans (or equivalent plans) Collated data from each gazetted Precinct Structure Plan Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Number of non-compliances with Native Vegetation (or equivalent plans) Collated data from compliance programs and third party notifications Compliance programs Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Per cent of conservation areas in gazetted precincts with Conservation Area Concept Plans (or equivalent plans) Collated data from each gazetted Precinct Structure Plan Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Per cent of permits with conditions consistent with the Commonwealth approvals Collated data from random sample of permits in each local government area Random sample Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Number of non-compliances with permit conditions associated with the Commonwealth approvals Collated data from compliance programs and third party notifications Compliance programs Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Number of non-compliances with approved work plans affecting matters of national environmental significance Collated data from compliance programs and third party notifications Program files Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources Program cost recovery and expenditure is transparent and efficient Revenue Collated data from financial report BMS Department of Environment, Land, and Planning Expenditure Collated data from financial report and contracts BMS Department of Environment, Land, and Planning Number of habitat hectares provided as offset Collated data from Habitat Compensation Statements NVIM Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Number of hectares of GSM habitat with offset met Collated data from Habitat Compensation Statements NVIM Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Number of hectares of GGF habitat with offset met Collated data from Habitat Compensation Statements NVIM Department of Environment, Land, and Planning Hectares of habitat compensation obligation met Collated data from Habitat Compensation Statements NVIM Department of Environment, Land, and Planning Number of staged obligation agreements Collated data from agreements NVIM Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Per cent of reserve secured Calculated from hectares of land acquired Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of EPBC-listed community secured Vegetation mapping GIS files NVIM Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of Ecological Vegetation Class secured Vegetation mapping GIS files NVIM Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Units of land management (DELWP Standard Outputs) undertaken Collated data from land manager reports and data submissions and contracts Parks Victoria A network of Conservation Areas within the Urban Growth Boundary is protected and managed for MNES species and vegetation communities Hectares of land secured Collated data from notification of completed land purchase forms and Agreements for permanent protection on-title Program files Department of Environment, Land, and Planning Per cent of conservation area secured Calculated from hectares of land secured Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of land secured through purchase/ transfer by the Crown Collated data from notification of completed land purchase forms Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of land secured through vesting in a public authority and permanent protection agreement on-title with management plan Collated data from notification of completed land transfer forms and Agreements for permanent protection on-title Program files Department of Environment, Land, and Planning Hectares of land secured through permanent protection agreement with management plan Collated data from Agreements for permanent protection on-title Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Hectares of land secured through permanent protection agreement on-title Collated data from Agreements for permanent protection on-title Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of EPBC-listed community secured Vegetation mapping GIS files NVIM Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of Ecological Vegetation secured Vegetation mapping GIS files NVIM Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Number of key populations secured Species inventory Program Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Units of land management (DELWP Standard Outputs) undertaken Collated data from land manager reports and data submissions, Works in Kind Agreements and contracts Program Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning A 1,200 hectare Grassy Eucalypt Woodland Reserve protected and managed Hectares of land secured Collated data from notification of completed land purchase forms Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Per cent of reserve secured Calculated from hectares of land acquired Program files Department of Environment, Land, and Planning Total hectares secured through purchase by the Crown Collated data from notification of completed land purchase forms Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of land secured through permanent protection agreement on-title with management plan Collated data from Agreements for permanent protection Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Hectares of land secured through permanent protection agreement on-title Collated data from Agreements for permanent protection on-title Program files Department of Environment, Land, and Planning Hectares of EPBC-listed community secured Vegetation mapping GIS files NVIM Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of Ecological Vegetation secured Vegetation mapping GIS NVIM Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Units of land management (DELWP Standard Outputs) undertaken Collated data from land manager reports and data submissions and contracts Program files Department of Environment, Land, and Planning 80% of Grassy Eucalypt Woodland within the UGB is protected Hectares of Grassy Eucalypt Woodland secured Calculated from data from notification of completed land transfer forms and Agreements for permanent protection on-title and Hectares of EPBC listed community Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Per cent of Grassy Eucalypt Woodland secured Calculated from Hectares of Grassy Eucalypt Woodland secured Program Department of Environment, Land, and Planning 80% of high priority habitat for Golden Sun Moth protected and managed Hectares of high priority habitat protected Calculated from data from notification of completed land transfer forms and Agreements for permanent protection on-title Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Per cent of high priority habitat protected Calculated from Hectares of highest priority habitat secured Program files Department of Environment, Land, and Planning Hectares of land secured Collated from notification of completed land purchase forms and agreements for permanent protection on-title Program Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Hectares of land secured through permanent protection agreement with management plan Collated data from Agreements for permanent protection on-title Program Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of EPBC-listed community secured Vegetation mapping GIS files NVIM Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of Ecological Vegetation Class secured Vegetation mapping GIS NVIM Department of Environment, Land, and Planning Units of land management (DELWP Standard Outputs) undertaken Collated data from land manager reports and data submissions and contracts Program files Department of Environment, Land, and Planning 80% of the highest priority habitats for Matted is protected and managed Hectares of highest priority habitat protected Calculated from data from notification of completed land transfer forms and Agreements for permanent protection on-title Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Per cent of highest priority habitat protected Calculated from Hectares of highest priority habitat secured Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of highest priority habitat secured outside the UGB Calculated from data from notification of completed land transfer forms and Agreements for permanent protection on-title Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Per cent of highest priority habitat secured outside the UGB Calculated from Hectares of highest priority habitat secured Program Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of land secured through purchase by the Crown Collated data from notification of completed land purchase forms Program Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Hectares of land secured through permanent protection agreement with management plan Collated data from Agreements for permanent protection on-title Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of EPBC-listed community secured Vegetation mapping GIS files NVIM Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of Ecological Vegetation Class secured Vegetation mapping GIS files NVIM Department of Environment, Land, and Planning Units of land management (DELWP Standard Outputs) undertaken Collated data from land manager reports and data submissions and contracts Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Important landscape and habitat areas for Southern Brown Bandicoot are protected and managed Hectares of private land with management agreement Collated data from Agreements for permanent protection on-title Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares of public land with management agreement Collated data from Agreements management on public land and contracts Program files Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hectares under landscape scale predator control program Collated data from land manager reports and data submissions and contracts Program Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Units of land management (DELWP Standard Outputs) undertaken Collated data from land manager reports and data submissions and contracts Program files Department of Environment, Land, and Planning
Appendix 3: Key Performance Indicators for Program Outcomes Key performance indicators for the outcomes that the Melbourne Strategic Assessment expects to achieve Outcome Key Performance Indicator Data collection Data Responsibility The composition, structure and function of Natural Temperate Grassland improves Hectares making transitions between states Mapping undertaken between August and December undertaken every five years compared to previous reporting period NVIM Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning of native perennial herbs Estimated of perennial herbs in all 20 X 20 plots in NTG states monitored in spring annually Diversity of native perennial herbs Estimated diversity of native perennial in all 20 x 20 m plots in NTG states monitored in spring annually Cover of Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) Estimated cover of Kangaroo Grass in 20 x 20 plots in NTG states monitored in spring annually Cover of native perennial grasses (excluding Kangaroo Grass) Estimated cover of native perennial grasses (excluding Kangaroo Grass) in all 20 x 20m plots in NTG states monitored in spring annually. Per cent of plots that have bare ground cover between 25-75% Per cent of rapid monitoring plots in the target cover range monitored in pring annually Per cent of all perennial vegetation comprised of weeds Per cent of perennial vegetation which is composed of weeds in permanent 20 x 20 m plots collected in spring annually compared to the original per cent cover in that plot in the year of acquisition. The composition, structure and function of Grassy Eucalypt Woodland improves Hectares making transitions between states Mapping undertaken between August and December undertaken five years compared to previous reporting period Cover of native perennial herbs Estimated cover of perennial herbs in all 20 X 20 m plots in GEW states monitored in spring annually Diversity of native perennial herbs Estimated diversity of native perennial in all 20 x 20 m plots in GEW states monitored in spring annually
No substantial negative change to populations of Large-fruit Groundsel Average annual population count over last five years Calculated from annual population counts using transects monitored between September 1st and November 30th VBA Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning No substantial negative change to populations of Maroon Count of individuals emergent at least once over a five year period Calculated from annual population counts to locate emergent individuals monitored between September 1st and October 31st VBA Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning No substantial negative change to populations of Matted Flax-lily Average annual population count over last five years Average calculated from annual population using transects monitored between October to January VBA Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning No substantial negative change to populations of Small Golden Moths Orchid Count of individuals emergent at least once over a five year period Calculated from annual population counts using transects to locate emergent monitored between September 1st and October 31st VBA Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning No substantial negative change to populations of Spiny Rice-flower, and populations are Five year annual average population density Calculated from annual population counts using transects monitored between May to August VBA Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Number of years that recruits form over 10% of the population over a 10 year period Calculated from annual population counts for each conservation area using plots monitored between May to August Golden Sun Moth persists Proportion of monitored sites that are occupied Calculated from transects to identify occupied sites, conducted between November and January annually VBA Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Growling Grass Frog persists Projected risk of extinction for each Conservation Area, estimated a stochastic patch-occupancy model for Growling Grass Frog metapopulations Predictions of extinction risk from the stochastic patch occupancy model, incorporating all available occupancy and habitat data for each Conservation Area. VBA Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Southern Brown Bandicoot persists Proportion of monitored sites that are occupied Calculated from camera trap surveys conducted every five years VBA Department of Environment, Land, and Planning Striped Legless Lizard persists Proportion of permanent monitoring plots that are occupied Calculated from tile grid surveys conducted between November and December annually VBA Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Appendix 3: Key Performance Indicators for Broader outcomes Key performance indicators for the broader outcomes that the Melbourne Strategic Assessment will contribute to Broad Outcome Key Performance Indicator Melbourne Strategic Assessment Data contribution Ecologically sustainable development through the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources Progress against outcomes Output progress report and five yearly outcome reports Nation-wide reporting undertaken by Department of Environment Our natural assets are protected and is better planning of our water, energy and waste management Progress against outputs and outcomes Output process report and five yearly outcome reports Melbourne Reporting undertaken by Metropolitan Planning Authority