SCIENCE in California’s Natural Community Conservation Plans (NCCPs)

1. SCIENCE in California’sNatural Community Conservation Plans (NCCPs) Brenda S. Johnson, Ph.D. California Department of Fish and Game

2. California’s Human Population Growth Year

3. Resource Competition

4. Species at Risk in California 400+ Listed plants 200+ Listed animals 200+ Species of Special Concern 1000+ Sensitive plants (CNPS)

5. CALIFORNIANatural Community Conservation Planning Act (1991, 2000, 2003) California Fish and Game Code Chapter 10, Sections 2800-2835 UNITED STATES Endangered Species Act (1973) Section 10(a) (HCPs) 1982 Five-Point Policy 2000

6. NCCP/HCP Goals • Protect and recover biological diversity • Prevent future species listings • Allow compatible and appropriate use

7. Characteristics of Regional Conservation Plans • Locally-driven collaborative partnerships • Broad geographic scope • Ecosystem-based approach • Long-term conservation and management • Monitoring in perpetuity

8. Regional Conservation Plans 2006

9. NCCP Science • Existing information • Planning phase • Implementation

10. Existing information(consultants and lead agencies) • Previously collected data • Vegetation mapping (GIS) • Other spatial data sets • Local scientific expertise • Museum records • Existing monitoring programs

11. Planning Phase I(consulting team) • Refinement of existing data • New data collection • Conceptual models • Biological goals and objectives

12. Planning Phase II(independent science advisors) • Review existing data • Data gaps/research needs • Species ecological requirements • Conceptual models • Biological goals and objectives • Conservation and recovery principles and strategies • Scientific uncertainty and risk • Potential for changed circumstances

13. Implementation(implementing entity) • adaptive management • effectiveness monitoring • targeted studies

15. “Monitoring is important, it is difficult, and it is often avoided or overlooked.” Schoonmaker, P. and W. Luscombe. 2005. Habitat Monitoring: An Approach for Reporting Status and Trends for State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies. Prepared for Defenders of Wildlife.

18. CHALLENGES • Monitor covered species andecosystem integrity

19. CHALLENGES • Monitor covered species andecosystem integrity • Scale up and integrate across

20. CHALLENGES • Monitor covered species andecosystem integrity • Scale up and integrate across

21. CHALLENGES • Monitor covered species andecosystem integrity • Scale up and integrate across • Acknowledge high degree of uncertainty

22. CHALLENGES • Monitor covered species andecosystem integrity • Scale up and integrate across • Acknowledge high degree of uncertainty • Reduce critical knowledge gaps • Scientific capacity • Resources • Flexibility

23. CHALLENGES • Monitor covered species andecosystem integrity • Scale up and integrate across • Acknowledge high degree of uncertainty • Phase-in monitoring program development

24. MONITORING PROGRAM PHASES • Phase 1-- Inventory resources and identify relationships • Phase 2 – Pilot test monitoring and resolve critical uncertainties • Phase 3 – Long-term monitoring and adaptive management

25. CHALLENGES • Monitor covered species andecosystem integrity • Scale up and integrate across • Acknowledge high degree of uncertainty • Phase-in monitoring program development • Stage implementation spatially

27. We need to • Think before monitoring • Embrace complexity • Use many brains • Be strategic • Have fun with uncertainty • Analyze early and often • Communicate progress

28. To be monitored for Ambrosia pumilla Natural drivers ClimateChange Current Anthropogenic Drivers Hydrology Fire??? Invasive species cover Habitat alteration from invasive plants Episodic floodscreate openings A Trampling By vehicles, people, livestock C B Soil compaction??? Available habitat Number populations (patches) Historical Anthropogenic Drivers Size of populations Altered hydrology Due to water diversion, dams, mining • Management Responses • Remove exotics (or see C) • Restrict access • Restore flooding or mimic disturbance that causes clearings Habitat loss Due to land use change – urbanization, grazing, agriculture

29. What have we really learned? • It hurts to think

30. What have we really learned? • It hurts to think • Too many cooks can spoil the broth

31. What have we really learned? • It hurts to think • Too many cooks can spoil the broth • It costs a lot!

32. What have we really learned? • It hurts to think • Too many cooks can spoil the broth • It costs a lot!! • There are trade-offs

33. What have we really learned? • It hurts to think • Too many cooks can spoil the broth • It costs a lot!!! • There are trade-offs • This is not the ivory tower

34. What have we really learned? • It hurts to think • Too many cooks can spoil the broth • It costs a lot!!!! • There are trade-offs • This is not the ivory tower • Every monitoring program is different

35. What have we really learned? • It hurts to think • Too many cooks can spoil the broth • It costs a lot!!!!! • There are trade-offs • This is not the ivory tower • Every monitoring program is different • Close the loop

36. Progress! • New frontier

37. Progress! • New frontier • We’ve got data!

38. Progress! • New frontier • We’ve got data! • We are learning

39. www.dfg.ca.gov/nccp