Grassland Effectiveness Monitoring Protocol - A Rapid Approach to Evaluate and Monitor Grassland Condition

Learn about a standardized protocol for evaluating grassland management activities and monitoring conditions in this 44-minute presentation from the Conservation and Adaptation Resources Toolbox. Discover how the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program collaborated with USGS and the Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture to develop the Grassland Effectiveness Monitoring (GEM) protocol, addressing the need for quantifiable treatment success metrics across private lands. Explore the rapid field assessment methodology that can be implemented at three different effort levels, generating scientific data that integrates with other resource surveys to assess impacts on grassland birds, pollinators, and wildlife. Follow along as presenters Daniel Bunting and Don Wilhelm detail the protocol's components, including sampling design, plant density measurements, functional groups, and database structure, while demonstrating how ArcGIS Online tools support implementation. Gain insights into this transferable monitoring system that enables data sharing and grassland condition comparisons across broader landscapes.