Inventory and MonitoringIssue Team Action Plan

Ecosystem Sustainability Corporate TeamInter-Regional Ecosystem Management Coordinating GroupMay 16, 2000

Objectives

1. Brief History

2. Describe Changes to Action Plan

3. Help Needed From IREMCG/ESCT

4. Next Steps

Appendix

- IM Framework Overview

- Specific Comment Summary

History

IREMCG “Survey of Inventories” – 11/1999

Adopted IM Framework – 11/1999 Joint Mtg.

Draft IMIT Charter to ESCT – 2/2000

ESCT Charters IMIT – 3/2000

Draft IMIT Action Plan Circulated – 4/2000

IMIT Action Plan Decision – 5/2000

Quarterly Updates on IMIT Action Plan

I&M Framework

Builds on 1997 Information Management Operating Framework

Builds on Core Data Concepts - e.g., Core GIS, FIA, RPA, and FHM

Utilizes a Systems Approach

Establishes Clear Organizational Roles

Develop Plan for Action

Business Engineering Model

Industry Standard

Requirements Focus

Integrated Approach

Multiple Scales

Iterative Approach

Re-Engineering vs. Automation

Action Plan-Task Groupings

1. Business Requirements Analysis

2. Systems Approach - Standards/Classification

3. Collaboration Agreements/Systems

4. Communication Strategy

5. Data Exchange System

6. Accountability/Reporting

7. Organization Structure/Roles

8. Data Collection/Analysis Protocols

Priority Actions

Prepare for Hard Work Ahead (1st 6 Months)– Integrate On-going Activities– Establish Organization Structure/Contacts – Planning for Business Requirements Analysis– Systems Approach/Classification Systems– Information Gathering

Business Requirements Analysis (FY2001)

General Reactions

Support National Leadership and Actions IdentifiedCommend FS for Taking on…We Need to do This in my AgencyLooking Forward to Results, On the Right Track Support Action Plan, but Concerned About 8 Specific Areas

Changes to Action Plan

Segue From Framework to Action Plan– Stress Relationship to Framework– Describe Business Engineering Model– Discuss Expected Results of Implementation

• System-Based vs. Issue-Based Methods• “Nested” Protocols at Various Scales• Shift to Mid-Scale Inventories

Changes to Action Plan

Target Audience– Will Keep Action Plan at ESCT/IREMCG Level

• Major Actions• Outcome Focus

– Will Use Working Group “Assignments” to Capture Operational Details and Relationships

Changes to Action Plan

Organization Structure– Increased Priority on Organization Actions

• Build from Experience In FIA/FHM/NRIS• Formalize Contact Network/Roles• Ensure I&M Advice and Assistance is Available to Field

Units (R&D, IMI, Engineering Technical Centers)

Changes to Action Plan

Business Requirements and Protocol Development– Strengthen Field-level Input/Ownership– Exploit Work from FIA/NRIS/FHM– Drop National/Regional Phased Approach

Program/Budget Actions– Clarify Program Management Actions– Strengthen Links to Budget Allocation

Help Needed

Director/DRF Support and Commitment– Cultural Change Demands Leadership Involvement– Identify R/S/A Staff Director-Level Contact

Support IMIT Action Plan Funding Request– Funds Requested For Contractor/Task Groups– Spans FY2001-2003 @ $670,000/year– NFIM, SPFH, FRRE Funding Mix

Help Needed

People for IMIT/Working Groups– Must have Field Participation for Ownership – Using Ad hoc Process Like SDIT and Others– Next Option is to Establish Organization to do…– Secure Regulatory Agency Participation

Tie On-Going Actions to IM Framework– Wilderness Business Requirements - Monitoring– Cohesive Fire Strategy – Assessments

Next Steps

Affirm IMIT Charter for Implementation– Continue Joint Leadership?– Bolster Field Representation

June 6-8 IMIT Team Meeting– Review Action Plan and Milestones– Make Working Group “Assignments”– Contingency Planning

Next Steps

Recruit and Secure Working Group Members– Need to Ensure Field Representation– Engage Regulatory Agencies

Meetings and Conf. Call Circuit– FIA Management and Executive Teams– NRIS User Boards and Regional Coordinators

Physicalfeature

Definitions,Protocols,Methods,codes

Tree, DouglasFir, 32.6” DBH,180 ft. tall, etc.

Datacollection

Informationstorage

Application

InformationAnalysis, Evaluation,Summary

Product

Reports,Models.Assessments,Maps, etc.

Data BaseInventory and MonitoringProtocols

Operational Framework for Managing FS Resource Information (1997)

1 2 3 4 5 6

Site

Eco-Region

National

National Core

Eco-region Core

Watershed Core

Site Core Variables

The Core Data Concept

Watershed

Integration of Protocols

02468

10

Cost/Acre

TraditionalExamsIntegratedw/ FIA

Essential for aggregation and exchange of dataNot subject to changing issues/demandsProvides “context” for decision making at lower scalesLeverages investments made at higher scales

R1/4 Integrated Approachvs. Traditional Stand Exams

Changing Our I&M Investment Pattern

Currently spending money and addressing most issues at the “site” scale.Shift funds to National and Mid-scales to address issues at more appropriate scales.

$

$

National

Mid-scale

Site

National

Mid-scale

Site

Major Comments

…Focus and Scope of Proposed Actions– National vs. Field-level Focus– Relationship to Field-level Activities

…Organizational Structure– Cultural Change Demands Leadership– Needed to Provide Integrated Program Leadership

Major Comments

…Relationship to Budget Processes– Address Funding Discrepancies– Link to Budget Allocation Processes– Develop Integrated Priority Setting Process

…Inter-Agency Collaboration– National Agreements/Leadership Essential– Resolve IT Barriers (e.g., Firewalls)

Major Comments

…Pace of Action Plan– Impact/Effect on Field, Especially Cost– Availability of People/Resources– Too Slow

…Linkage to Proposed NFMA Rule– To support broad-scale assessments– To support increased monitoring emphasis

Major Comments

…Linkages to NRIS– NRIS Viewed as Standardization Method– Linkages Unclear

…Level of Detail– Need More Detail to Better Understand– Too Complex, Need Less Detail