Effective monitoring to evaluate ecological restoration in the Gulf of Mexico / Committee on Effective Approaches for Monitoring and Assessing Gulf of Mexico Restoration Activities, Ocean Studies Board, Water Science and Technology Board, Division on Earth and Life Sciences ; a report of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine.
Publisher:
National Academies Press,
Copyright Date:
2017
Description:
xii, 207 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), color map ; 28 cm
General principles of effective monitoring and evaluation -- Introduction -- Gulf restoration programs -- Restoration project monitoring -- Monitoring beyond the project scale or duration -- Data stewardship -- Synthesis and integration -- How monitoring improves restoration effectiveness -- References -- Good practices for monitoring restoration of selected habitats and species of concern -- Introduction -- Oyster reef restoration -- Tidal wetland restoration monitoring -- Seagrass restoration monitoring -- Bird restoration monitoring -- Sea turtle restoration monitoring -- Marine mammal restoration monitoring -- Appendix A. Committee and staff biographies -- Appendix B. Glossary.
Summary:
"Gulf Coast communities and natural resources suffered extensive direct and indirect damage as a result of the largest accidental oil spill in US history, referred to as the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. Notably, natural resources affected by this major spill include wetlands, coastal beaches and barrier islands, coastal and marine wildlife, seagrass beds, oyster reefs, commercial fisheries, deep benthos, and coral reefs, among other habitats and species. Losses include an estimated 20% reduction in commercial fishery landings across the Gulf of Mexico and damage to as much as 1,100 linear miles of coastal salt marsh wetlands. This historic spill is being followed by a restoration effort unparalleled in complexity and magnitude in U.S. history. Legal settlements in the wake of DWH led to the establishment of a set of programs tasked with administering and supporting DWH-related restoration in the Gulf of Mexico. In order to ensure that restoration goals are met and money is well spent, restoration monitoring and evaluation should be an integral part of those programs. However, evaluations of past restoration efforts have shown that monitoring is often inadequate or even absent. Effective Monitoring to Evaluate Ecological Restoration in the Gulf of Mexico identifies best practices for monitoring and evaluating restoration activities to improve the performance of restoration programs and increase the effectiveness and longevity of restoration projects. This report provides general guidance for restoration monitoring, assessment, and synthesis that can be applied to most ecological restoration supported by these major programs given their similarities in restoration goals. It also offers specific guidance for a subset of habitats and taxa to be restored in the Gulf including oyster reefs, tidal wetlands, and seagrass habitats, as well as a variety of birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals"--Publisher's description.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.