Adaptive management

The most effective ecological management techniques and the optimum allocation of resources are not always known in advance. Management and learning must occur together.

Adaptive management involves an ongoing program of management and monitoring that may be adjusted over time as our understanding of an ecological system’s response to management improves. Adaptive management under the MSA Program will inform all management decisions where the best management approach is uncertain.

Adaptive management of conservation reserves

Having a detailed understanding of the ecological values present within each conservation area is an important first step for directing the best practice management for that site.

DELWP conducts vegetation and fauna inventory surveys on all land acquired for nature conservation reserves. These surveys provide baseline data about the location and condition of biodiversity values at each reserve.

Strategic ecological research

Conserving threatened species and restoring the ecological integrity of highly degraded ecosystems is a complex and challenging task. The MSA Program requires a rigorous scientific evidence base, sound ecological knowledge and robust logic to inform its management decisions.

Strategic ecological research under the MSA focuses on areas where our understanding of the species and/or ecological communities is both restricted and important for decision making to achieve program objectives.

DELWP is preparing a Research Strategy which will direct research priorities, how research is conducted and how the results are used and distributed under the program.

For more information about adaptive management techniques, contact msa.conservation@delwp.vic.gov.au