ASSIGNMENT 5

PAPER ON: MONITORING AND EVALUATION IN CONSERVATION: A REVIEW

OF TRENDS AND APPROACHES

SUBMITTED BY

Group Members;

Ranjith H2018RDG018
Revathy V.R. H2018RDG019
Salona Oreya H2018RDG020
S Gauri Gopal H2018RDG021
Shailendra Yadav H2018RDG022
Sunny Suman H2018RDG023
Introduction:-

The essay “Monitoring and Evaluation in Conservation: a review of trends and approaches”
basically deals with the implementation of these two approaches in conservation of biological
resources. It tells how these approaches are important and effective, whether in recent times other
methodology and ways of protecting these resources are being failed. In the aspect of protecting
earth’s biological resources, conservation community is facing continuous problems and
struggling to protect the global resources. Hence, in this regard Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
is taking an important place. It has seen the absence of implementation of good management but
also linkage of effective management with well designed monitoring and evaluation systems for
bio conservations. Monitoring and Evaluation approach plays a major role to indicate early
warnings for potential problems in this regard. There are various ways have been developed to
implement better these approaches. M&E Approach is not useful for the conservation of resources
only but, in the field of international development, public health, family planning, education,
business and social services as well.

Evaluation of M&E approach:-

M&E Approach is generally a series or set of guidance that includes factors like social data,
biological data or combination of any two variables. M&E approach under implicit assumption
leads to a better decision making hence improved conservation of resources. There’s a bit clarity
about the functioning of different evaluation systems that is most appropriate for biological
conservation. But, this approach also varies on some other factor which influence the functioning
of this system. It depends on different contexts and interest of various stakeholders. This approach
majorly serving as overlapping purpose and program improvement, accountability, transparency,
resource allocation, advocacy and impact assessment. In this regard, to identify four main factors
we need a depth look on modified Mark et al.s’ (2000) framework that is –

 Overlapping
 Purposes of Evaluation
 Status assessment
 Effectiveness measurement

Hence, In this system Evaluation approach can be divided into two broad categories: First, Impact
assessment that is mostly one time assessment that is generally taken after the completion of a
project and to chek the quality of process that how well it is completed and second category is
adaptive management that is generally a set of some factors like integration of project design,
management and monitoring with a ultimate goal of adapt and learn to perform better in further
conservations, about the process in terms of conserving the resources.
Approaches for status assessment

The measurement of the area or what is to be conserved has to be done by the conservation
managers for the effective protection of environment and its resources. The status of the major
threats and problems faced by the biodiversity are identified and focused while working on
conservation programs. Various approaches are there for the evaluation of the status assessment
and it includes monitoring of population, rapid assessments, monitoring of environment,
preparation of scorecards and report cards. In order to understand the status of species, how it is
distributed and what are major threats faced for their survival, the population monitoring approach
helps to a great extent. Even though this approach can be made use of making conservation
strategies by tracking the record of changes and threats, the method is too expensive and time
consuming.

An alternative method- rapid assessment comes up in this scenario where a huge data collection
can be done within a short period of time and thereby establishing a conservation action. The
organizations like The Nature Conservancy (TNC), World Wide Fund for Nature, World Wildlife
Fund make use of this approach for their conservation action plans. But the problem adhered to
this method is limitation with sample size and precision on conclusion.

Another method the state-of-the-environment monitoring introduced with the aim to easiness the
systematic documentation of status and tracking of environmental changes happening. World
Watch Institute and the World Resource Institute use this method for their conservation programs.
This particular approach at national and regional levels, is one of the efficient ways to keep a track
on the policies and actions of biodiversity conservation programs and their impact, still they do
not demonstrate the emergency conditions.

Some countries and organizations uses national report cards in order to represent the data related
to environment degradation and conservation. WWF Canada, Sierra Club offices in Canada and
United States uses this method to deal with the environmental issues. This approach is so much
helpful for the public policy makers to take actions reading biodiversity conservation and
management matters.

Another method named scorecards for the systematic and structural assessment facilitates the
monitoring and evaluation and also gives direct feedback for the decisions regarding management.
The Site Consolidation Scorecard is an easy and inexpensive method used by Nature Conservancy.
The main disadvantage associated with this approach there is no direct connection with the
conservation interventions.

Approach for Measuring Effectiveness

As of now authors present methodologies show, M&E is a key to comprehend an executed and
existed status of some factor. It is important to find effective intervention. Assessment measure
incorporate onetime effect appraisal of an intercession and of versatile administration approach.
Impact Assessment

Name clarifies the evaluation related with aftereffect of improvement program and developed
movement. It is on time evaluation which is executed in the wake of actualizing ventures (p. 297).
Natural effect appraisal developed for distinguishing, anticipating, and assessing the potential
impact, and useful of any basic leadership, activity on condition and arranging ends. US present
National Ecological Policy Act (NEPA) amid 1969, which imperative for all government office
arranging venture with noteworthy implications of condition. Universally EIA is extended
comprehensively, Agenda 21 and the preservation on Biological Diversity sort of various
understanding included. In spite of the fact that the EIA has been limiting and keeping away from
unfriendly natural impacts related with improvement exercises, creators had condemned for
various reason from various audit of writing for example, concentrated nearby dimension effect
and restricted regard for natural and biodiversity sway, reactionary nature which advocate sway
moderation rather than elective advancement, propensity to be directed once the project has been
grown, somewhat then in the early structure arrange when it is simpler to have acclimations to
keep away from effect, lact pf regard for total effect of various interventions at local dimension,
inability to consider financial and social impact related with the improvement activity. EIA has
risen different conventional turns and analysis reaction in it. The model this article clarify is every
now and again join social effect evaluation that analyze how the proposed improvement activity
influence individuals and communities and working of both. Key ecological evaluation reacts to
issue related with the task explicit nature of the EIA and the inclination of the association to utilize
the procedure past the point of no return in the structure and arranging stage. Vital ecological
evaluation address ecological issues prior in the venture and furthermore work at an outskirt
program and arrangement level. At long last, in 1992 this evaluation spread tradition on natural
decent variety, grows the extent of the EIA to consider impacts on biodiversity. Every evaluation
tends to shortcoming in customary way. In view of distinction between the extent of a task choice
and the size of potential effects, biodiversity effect can results deficiency investigation of
roundabout and total effect.

Adaptive Management

The term adaptive Management came from C.S. Holling and his colleagues it was come into play
because the need of the measurement of the effectiveness in the conservation process. In Adaptive
Management is the combination of many activities which a re done systematically the basic idea
is that it is process of “learning by doing”). It have project design, monitoring, management,
learning and adaptation.
The adaptive management is a good tool for proper conservation because it includes result based
management, logical framework, project-cycle management. It examines the errors and takes the
desired actions and has many good examples in Southeast Asia.
The result based approach of environment protection or conservation give a solid and complete
approach to M and E but in practice it fails because only depend on result without proper
implementation will not give desired results.

The approach path used for effective conservation is more sound able with proper planning and
proper implementation. Earlier the logical framework was the method to do all the conservation
activities and most of the developmental agencies work on the basis of logical framework but it
was criticized by many for its structural rigidity and many other reasons.

The environmental agencies national and multilateral agencies in the mid-1990s started focusing
on result based approach of management for the environment because the donors who give funds
for the projects are concerned about the results. So to make this the agencies started using the M
and E system it measures results for this the US government started an agency named National
Environment Performance Partnership System (NEPPS) in 1995 the major aim for to do the result
oriented environment protection.

In the same period the organization started focusing on the result based management and the M
and E principles are integrated with the management cycle. Many organizations like TNC,
Biodiversity support program, WWF used the project cycle approach and get success. The
approaches used by the foundations are in two categories simple and complex the simple approach
contain plan, implementation and monitoring and the complex approach contain development of
the project site and analysis, Communication and they also follow feedback mechanism at many
levels for better service.

The most important advantage of the project cycle management approach is that it more focuses
on the learning side of the M and E. and learning is the biggest challenge in front of the managers
because through this only they can manage the situation in better way.

Discussion

DIFFERENT M&E NEEDS REQUIRE DIFFERENT M&E APPROACH

The tool and approaches the practitioners use depends on the kind of assessment they are involved
in. It could be status assessment or effectiveness measurement.

Status assessment

 General picture of a situation at one point of time or over various points in time.
 Useful for tracking high level trends and comparison of these trends.
Tools used for status assessment are simple and clear.

 The approaches and tools could yield important political inputs, thereby help decision
makers.
  But these approach can’t adequately demonstrate probable cause and effect
relationship.
Effectiveness measurement

 Provides explicit recognition of the link between program, goal, and objective.
 Comprehensive process to measure whether specific conservation actions have produced
desired impact.
 Provide critical information to the practitioners to allocate scarce resources.

CONCEPTUAL SIMILARITIES ARE WIDESPREAD AMONG PREVAILING M&E

APPROACHES

General steps and fundamental principles underlying the various approaches are the same. There
is little conceptual difference among various M&E approaches used. Therefore it has many
advantages which include clarity on steps, easiness for understanding, comparison and to garner
increased insight on the benefits.

INCONSISTENT LANGUAGE IMPEDES COMMUNICATION OF UNDERSTANDING

Even though conceptual similarities exist, the prevailing approaches are not well understood across
organisation. There are many flaws in the communication. The community could greatly benefit
from the use of a common standard language, facilitates clearer communication, understand the
concept and main steps in the project management cycle.

CONFUSION AMONG COMPONENTS OF M AND E SYSTEMS HINDERS ABILITY TO

CHOOSE APPROPRIATE COMPONENTS

In a basic review findings organization will in general confuse the motivation behind various
segments of a M&E framework. This perplexity is identified with conflicting language. For
example, a few associations have alluded to the weight - state-reaction structure as their M and E
approach, when as a general rule it is a calculated system that gives a format to understanding
nonexclusive circumstances and logical results connections. To utilize these parts viably,
protection experts need to comprehend those systems and how to identify with entire M and E
process. The methodology may incorporate instruments, for example, a score card, yet is the
methodology - not the - device that unequivocally indicates the means to complete the M and E
process.

MONITORING ONLY QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION IS INSUFFICIENT

Conservation monitoring has implied taking a gander at quantitative markers of natural wellbeing.
In spite of the fact that moderating biodiversity is a definitive objective, most association presently
perceive the significance of looking past organic markers while evaluating biological system
wellbeing. Assessment exercises for both status appraisal and successful estimations presently
often incorporate the checking of social, monetary, political, and social dangers and openings that
impact protection. The associations likewise screen verifiable and social assets, transportation and
the condition of a spot for individuals and network.

The most essential exercise here is that it is imperative to comprehend the qualities and restrictions
of quantitative and subjective techniques and measures and to know when it is most suitable to
utilize every one of them. Professionals ought to be clear about their data needs and accumulate
the base measure of data required to address these issues given the accessible assets.

TAKING ACTION

At long last, since protection happens in a mind boggling, human culture, it generally includes or
is impacted by individuals. In that capacity, the preservation network ought to think about social,
monetary, political and social factors in its observing endeavors and join the utilization of
subjective information where doable and helpful. Applied edge works give a structure to thinking
about these differed dangers and openings and ought to be extended to perceive factors past organic
domain. We trust that this audit will create more extensive exchange and help move the field of
protection closer to distinguishing the most fitting and compelling ways to deal with measure
preservation accomplishment under fluctuating conditions.

REFERENCE

Stem, C. (n.d.). Monitoring and Evaluation in conservation: a review of trends and approaches. U S A.

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