AIM-monitoring

the long version

The purpose of this technical note is to describe the monitoring portion of the AIM Strategy to support implementation across the BLM [Bureau of Land Management], thus addressing multiple resource questions at multiple scales. The AIM approach to monitoring features five elements: (1) a standard set of core quantitative indicators and methods, enabling easy comparison of measurements in different places and over time; (2) a defensible and statistically valid way of selecting monitoring plots that informs land management at multiple scales; (3) integration with remote sensing, providing a bird's-eye view of conditions across the landscape; (4) electronic data capture and management, streamlining information access and application to decisions; and (5) a structured implementation process built on management questions and an understanding of ecosystems.