Vital signs have been selected!
The term vital sign is defined as “a subset of physical, chemical, and biological elements and processes of ecosystems that are selected to represent the overall health or condition of park resources, known or hypothesized effects of stressors, or elements that have important human values”. The National Park Service is using vital signs to identify priority resources for long-term monitoring
The Mid-Atlantic Network (MIDN) initially selected 43 vital signs, in consultation with park staff and the Science Advisory Committee, that represented high priority natural resources and ecological stressors. Supporting material was developed that provided a brief outline for each vital sign, including a justification for monitoring, information on related environmental issues, examples of monitoring questions and management applications, proposed metrics and their efficiency, and prospective methods for monitoring.
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Next, a web based interface was developed where users could log-in and select vital signs for ranking. Ninety-seven subject matter experts participated, more than would have provided input through a single workshop. Participants included members of the Science Advisory Committee, park staff, and a wide range of experts from other government and state agencies, universities, and NGOs.
This process resulted in the selection of 20 vital signs (see list on left). Of these, five will involve data compilation from other sources, nine will be developed as protocols for implementation at parks over the next three to five years, and six are considered high priority but will not be developed into protocols at this time. Since Shenandoah National Park already has a monitoring program in place, the results of the vital signs ranking process will be used to evaluate their current monitoring priorities and to identify potential gaps in the program.
The MIDN is currently working to develop four monitoring protocols that will target the high priority and high feasibility vital signs. These include Air Quality, Weather, Water Quality, and Forest Vegetation. Protocols identified for future development include Riparian/Wetlands, Land Cover/Land Use Change, Amphibians, and Breeding Birds. Over the next few months, MIDN staff will initiate pilot testing and implementation of the first monitoring protocol, Forest Vegetation.
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