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Farmers and researchers in the South Island high country have completed a three year project to produce condition assessment models for measuring land condition. The Rural Futures Trust has led the project, linking farm families and Landcare Research scientists. Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Canterbury and Otago Regional Councils have all supported the project.
After some initial training, people in rural communities can now have the confidence, backed by the science, to collect data which measure changes in the health of vegetation on their properties. By doing their own monitoring, land users can relate the results to the effects of their practices and are in a good position to share factual information with neighbours and others. This is an excellent example of "promoting sustainable management" of land under the Resource Management Act.
The benefits of this partnership to the community have included
For the researchers, benefits have included
What is a condition assessment model ? A condition assessment model describes the major vegetation changes that could occur in a particular area under different management practices and climatic conditions. This information is contained in an easy-to-use computer tool that enables individuals to interpret the results of monitoring by showing where a site fits along a gradient (see figure 1). The results of previous monitoring can also be shown. This can assist individuals and groups to understand the impacts of management practices on the health of the land. A model is developed by ecologists for a particular area (eg Kakanui Range) using the results of a scientific vegetation survey of the area. The field work covers survey sites across the whole spectrum of unmodified (or almost unmodified) to highly modified areas, and all the plant species are recorded. Using statistical analysis tools, the ten or so best "indicator species" (see p5) are determined and the model is built showing how the vegetation is expected to change under different conditions. The result is a computer package that can be readily used by land users to enter the monitoring results for their selected sites and see quickly whether or not there is any change in the condition of the site compared to previous monitoring. Figure 1 shows the computer screen for a typical unimproved grasslands model, with the results of ongoing monitoring at one site. The arrows show that the block is evaluated as "well managed", and that over the monitoring period the change in land condition has been away from, not towards, the "unstable" zone.
Thresholds Ecological theory suggests that, once a plant community has been severely modified, it is not always possible to restore it to its original (or near original) condition. It is believed that this is because there are points, or thresholds, beyond which the change is irreversible. Take, for instance, a natural tussock grassland which, over time, has become largely hieracium and bare ground. The amount of change may be so great that it is not possible to return to a tussock community, even by completely removing pressures such as livestock and rabbits and with a long time span (e.g. 20 - 50 years). Part of the development of the models includes identifying where these thresholds are thought to occur (see figure 1), so that this information is available to land users when they analyse their monitoring results. Knowing where this threshold occurs, and whether different sites are close to, or over, the threshold provides useful management information. Reference: Gibson, R.S., Allen, W.J. & Bosch, O.J.H. (1995). Condition assessment concepts and their role in facilitating sustainable range management. Annals of the Arid Zone 34(3): 179-189. Understanding ecological change
All landscapes are changing, either through natural causes or from the pressures of human activity. We need to better understand the scale of different effects and their causes, as well as whether the changes are having an adverse effect on the environment in the long term. Land users and others need accurate and accessible information about the condition and prospects for the environment. Our success in maintaining the quality and productivity of the environment will depend on acknowledging that humans are an integral part of the Earth's interconnected ecosystems, not separate from them. Ecological sustainability cannot be successfully accomplished in isolation from social and economic development. To achieve sustainability, all interactions must be considered in an integrated fashion. Part of developing an integrated systems-based approach to land use is to know more about the ecology of the land and water resources and to link that with financial and production information for use in day-to-day and longer term decision making about land management. Regular monitoring, not only of management information, but also of natural resources, is an essential part of achieving sustainability. For example, if we can understand how and why vegetation changes, we can use monitoring results to make on-going management decisions. What is an Ecosystem ? Ecosystems can be described in different ways: as natural, modified, cultivated, built, or degraded. Native tussock grasslands are natural ecosystems, a forest that has been selectively logged is a modified ecosystem, a wheat field or an orchard is a cultivated ecosystem, and a town or city is a built ecosystem. Any ecosystem can become degraded. Ecosystems vary in size and composition and display functional relationships within and between systems. What does the vegetation monitoring involve ?
When? The monitoring, or data collection, is done in summer, as close as possible to the same time each year (for example, always in mid-February). If a site has been monitored every year for three to four years and is staying very stable, then monitoring for that site can be less frequent, unless management is changed.
The first step is to select the sites you are going to use. Note that the most appropriate sites for land users to monitor will not necessarily be the same as those chosen by the researchers doing the scientific vegetation survey used to develop the model. They look for sites that will give good information for the model, rather than looking at areas where there are potential management issues. Out in the field, the selected sites need to be marked, usually with a peg at each end, and notes made and photos taken, so that they can be found in the future. The Rural Futures Trust, together with Landcare Research, and Otago and Canterbury Regional Councils, has a project under way that can provide assistance to groups and individuals that want to get monitoring sites set up. How? The monitoring itself is easiest with two people. There are two commonly used methods. The recommended method involves use of a wheel pointer (see picture) which is rolled between the markers. As the point touches the ground after each revolution of the wheel, the plant nearest to the point is recorded. Whichever method is used, 200 points need to be recorded for each site. This takes about an hour per site for people who only do this job once a year. It gets faster if you do lots of sites! Both Canterbury and Otago Regional Councils have wheel pointers available for loan to land users. Each time a plant is recorded it is identified as either one of the ten or so indicator species, otherwise as bare ground, litter, grass, shrub, or herb. Analysing & Interpreting Results For each site, the total hits for each indicator plant are added up. These numbers are entered into the computer. This takes about five minutes per site. Push the button, wait 30 seconds, and your data is analysed with the results shown on the screen (see figure 1) and can be compared with previous records for that site. Not everyone needs to have a computer - one copy of the model can be used by several people and the data and results printed out to take home. Indicator Species The overall composition of a plant community is a reflection of the condition or health of the land underneath, as well as of factors such as rainfall, altitude, aspect, grazing, fertiliser, seed etc. In the South Island tussock grasslands there are hundreds of different species of native and exotic plants, so it is immediately clear that any monitoring that depends on being able to identify all these species could only be carried out by specialists. However, the condition assessment models are designed to determine, for a given area (e.g. Lees Valley), ten or so species which are particularly sensitive to changes in management practices (such as intensity of grazing), rather than changes in factors that can't be altered (e.g. rainfall, or altitude). These plants then become the indicator species for that area. They are the only species that land users need to be able to identify to do their own monitoring. The plants that are chosen as indicators must not only be responsive to management practices but must also be reasonably abundant in the zone they represent (e.g. unmodified, well-managed or unstable condition). Preferably they should also be relatively easy to identify.
ISPD - Integrated System for Plant Dynamics The scientific techniques which underlie the models are a part of the internationally recognised Integrated System for Plant Dynamics (ISPD). This methodology is recognised world wide, being used as a tool for long term environmental monitoring in many countries including South Africa, Australia, USA, Israel, Namibia, Kenya and Spain. The New Zealand approach, where the model development is a partnership between the researchers and the land user communities, is unique. Reference: Bosch OJH & Booysen J, 1992. An integrative approach to rangeland condition and capability assessment. J. Range Management 45:116-122. Where to from here ?
We know that there are more groups wanting models, and we will be seeking further support so that all areas that want models can get them. We also want to ensure that, where there are models, everyone who wants to monitor can get sites set up. Rural Futures Trust - "Promoting sustainable rural land & communities" The Rural Futures Trust is an organisation which believes that rural people have the incentive to care for the land and that they must take the lead in the search for options that address sustainability. Our focus is on developing and supporting projects that provide opportunities for rural communities to work proactively with other groups and agencies such as local and central government and research agencies. We are always keen to assist groups and individuals to develop new projects and seek funding. Contacts: For further information on developing new models, or any aspect of using the model (eg selecting sites, collecting or analysing data) contact:
Rural Futures Trust For further information on the scientific methodology contact:
Dr Ockie Bosch or Roger Gibson
Our thanks to all those who have participated in this project. Without the many hours of voluntary time provided, especially by farm families, this project would not have been possible. The inputs from Ministry for the Environment Sustainable Management fund, Ministry of Agriculture, Landcare Research, Canterbury Regional Council and Otago Regional Council are also gratefully acknowledged. |
This project, which has involved researchers and landcare groups working together has demonstrated the benefits of partnerships between science and land users. There is an increasing need for science to become less distant from farmer needs and to no longer operate in isolation. This approach, which is also supported by regional and district councils, is particularly important where the issues are complex, and cannot be isolated to individual properties - eg pests, weeds.
Another benefit of this tool is that it provides environmental indicators of the effects of land use at a property level. This is important as the land users who collect and analyse the results are the people who can make changes to land management practices. There is also the potential for the data to be used for district, regional and national reporting on the state of the environment for this land. Of course, the data cannot be used for such purposes unless it is made available by the landholders who collect it and therefore own it.
Where? 
