[Contents]

Ecosystem Planning/Action Framework

The Service's focus is on action; planning is to be completed quickly, and action to bring about solutions will follow immediately. The intent of the plans is to concisely identify issues and problems, solutions, and the funds and staff to implement solutions. Combining and leveraging Service resources with those of others will allow us to achieve greater on-the-ground results. The planning/action framework that has worked well in some existing ecosystem approach efforts is described below. There is nothing rigid about this framework; what works at the local level and gets good results is the right approach. This framework can also be applied to areas of more intense activity (focus areas) within the ecosystem.

1. Identify natural resource needs - This involves examining important ecosystem components from a historical perspective, how they have changed over time, and why. 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.

    

2. 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: 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. Goal statements are broad and should incorporate the following concepts:

   • perpetuation of natural communities of plants and animals;
   • maintenance of naturally-occurring structural and genetic diversity;
   • needs of rare and ecologically important species;
   • minimization of habitat fragmentation;
   • maintenance of uncontaminated land and water;
   • continued role of natural processes (e.g., fire, floods);
   • control of undesirable exotic species; and
   • maintenance of compatible, sustainable human activities.

   Objectives: Each goal should step down to one or more objectives. Objectives are more specific and quantifiable than goals, and are a means of measuring progress. Objectives can be expressed in terms of water quality parameters; acreage, location, and quality of habitat; populations stabilized, increased, or protected; or any other quantifiable ecological parameters. Objectives should be specific enough that progress and effectiveness can be measured and evaluated.

    

3. Identify and Implement Needed Action Strategies - Suggested action strategies should be developed to achieve each objective identified. Solutions will make the most efficient and integrated use of our many tools such as land acquisition, land protection easements, refuge management, habitat restoration, natural resource damage assessment, landowner assistance, endangered species recovery, regulatory evaluations, fish restoration, Federal Aid programs, outreach, and education. Action strategies should be prioritized and specify which facility will do what by when. Implementation should involve public and private partners and leveraging of resources whenever possible.

    

4. Budget Development - Funding to implement ecosystem actions will come from the existing base budget and potential future increases. Each ecosystem team will develop and periodically update a 3-year budget to support the goals, objectives, and action strategies identified. The budget should include the following:
   • current base funding by field facility/activity;
   • how each facility's/activity's base funding is applied to the priority action strategies;
   • opportunities for cross-program leveraging of funding to implement priority action strategies; and
   • highest priority funding and FTE increase needs based on the action strategies.

    

5. Monitor and evaluate - Monitoring and evaluating progress and reporting results are integral components of an ecosystem approach, as is periodic review of plans and priorities. Feedback to the needs assessment and goal-setting steps is critical.

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