Habitat monitoring includes baseline monitoring of a project area before undertaking an invasive plant eradication project or native plant restoration project, as well as post-project monitoring to measure the success of the project and provide insight into the relative effectiveness of different eradication and revegetation techniques. Monitoring should be designed to provide the information to make decisions regarding the most effective approach to restoration, and to answer questions such as the most cost-effective watering method/regimen at different bay locales and for different plant palettes.
NBC’s core restoration monitoring effort is directed at plant survival and growth using almost always the percentage coverage method. This is done in newly restored areas for typically three years from planting or when maturity (defined as 75% native plant coverage) is achieved. Percent coverage is measured and recorded along marked line transects in accordance with written protocols.
Restoration monitoring objectives are directed by the UNB Restoration Team, and protocols reviewed by the NBC Research Committee.
