Considering that each user will be coming to this tutorial with varying degrees of experience, knowledge and intent, the AMA will provide a mechanism for moving through the information from beginning to end or going directly to desired information at any desired point in the process. Other approaches, such as the Center for Invasive Plant Management's Ecological Approach to weed management exist and should be reviewed for comparison.

Overview of the Adaptive Management Approach (AMA)

The management of natural, biological systems is inherently difficult because prediction of ecosystem behavior is highly inexact. Predicting the outcome of invasive species management and control is difficult given that our current level of experience and knowledge is based on a relatively short history of invasive plant management. Managers are finding that taking an adaptive approach to managing invasives provides the most likely chances of success in controlling these organisms.

Adaptive management differs from traditional management approaches in that it allows management activities to proceed despite uncertainty regarding how best to achieve desired outcomes, and despite inevitable change and surprises. In fact, it specifically targets such uncertainty: it compels ecosystem managers to be open and explicit regarding what is not known about how best to achieve conservation and management objectives, and provides a science-based learning process characterized by using outcomes for evaluation and adjustment (Murray and Marmorek, 2003). AMA involves exploring alternative ways to meet management objectives, predicting the outcomes of each alternative based on the current state of knowledge, implementing one or more of these alternatives, monitoring to learn which alternative best meets the management objectives (and testing predictions), and then using these results to update knowledge and adjust management actions.

AMA and Invasive Species

The concept of adaptive management was first developed in the 1970's at the University of British Columbia and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Vienna (Holling, 1978). The Nature Conservancy and others have taken this original concept and modified it for use by land managers who are interested in addressing invasive species. To review TNC's explanation of the AMA, visit the section on Management Planning where the process is included under the TNC Management Plan template or review TNC's Weed Control Methods Handbook (Tu, M., et al., 2001) at the website, http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu:

Before embarking on a weed management program, it is important to develop a straightforward rationale for the actions you plan to take. The following is a process diagram that takes the AMA to the next level where decision making becomes more apparent and process becomes more clear:

Invasive Exotic Plant Management Tutorial
Adaptive Management Process

(1) Establish conservation goals and objectives for the site. These may be identified in a broader management plan for the site or may need to be identified for purposes of the invasive plant management plan for the site.
(2) Determine which plant species or populations, if any, block or have potential to block attainment of the management goals and objectives by conducting an assessment. Once detected, mapping and ranking these plants becomes important.

(a) if an assessment reveals that there are no plants or plants populations blocking attainment of goals and objectives then it is important to move into prevention mode which will require some plan of action for regularly timed assessments and a focus on early detection.

(3) Determine which methods are available to control the invasive plants.
(4) Develop and implement a management plan designed to move conditions toward management goals and objectives. Determine what control methods will work best given your site and resource constraints;
(5) Monitor and evaluate the impacts of management actions in terms of their effectiveness in moving conditions toward these goals and objectives; and

(a) If the evaluation reveals that management goals and objectives have not been met, then begin the cycle again beginning with a determination of whether you need to modify your goals and objectives. If you reach success, then it is important to move into prevention mode which will require some plan of action for regularly timed monitoring and evaluation (or assessment).

Note that control activities are not started until the first three steps have been taken. An invasive plant control program is best viewed as part of an overall restoration program, so focus on what is desired in place of the invasive plant, rather than simply eliminating the plant. When selecting control methods, keep in mind that the ultimate purpose of the work is to preserve native species, communities, and/or functioning ecosystems.

AMA and this Tutorial

The management and control information in this tutorial is presented in the framework of the Adaptive Management Approach. To further explore the steps presented as part of this process, we have presented each step in the process as a Guidance Question. Information on management and control is organized in such a way as to provide you the answers to these questions. The Guidance Questions are presented on the opening page of this tutorial, as well as in the flow diagram above. This information is also organized in a Table of Contents accessible from the opening page.

References:

Holling, C.S. (ed.) 1978. Adaptive Environmental Assessment and Management. John Wiley and Sons, New York.

Murray, C. and D. Marmorek. 2003. Adaptive Management: A Science-based Approach to Managing Ecosystems in the Face of Uncertainty. Prepared for presentation at the Fifth International Conference on Science and Management of Protected Areas: Making Ecosystem Based Management Work, Victoria, British Columbia, May 11-16, 2003. ESSA Technologies, BC, Canada.cmurray@essa.com and dmramorek@essa.com.

Tu, M., Hurd, C., & J.M. Randall, 2001. Weed Control Methods Handbook, The Nature Conservancy, Version: April 2001. http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu > Invasives and Control Methods > Weed Control Methods Handbook.

Return to top of Page