2011 GSP FOREST MONITORING TEAM END-OF-SEASON REPORT Malia Caracoglia GSP Forest Monitoring Team Program Coordinator November 2011 Contents 2011 GSP Forest Monitoring Program Summary of Accomplishments and Recommendations ................................................ 2 Recruitment ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Training ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Public Relations ............................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Communications .............................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Field Work ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Equipment ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 Volunteer Management ................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Data Management ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Monitoring Protocol .......................................................................................................................................................................10 Contractor Training ........................................................................................................................................................................11 Recommendations .........................................................................................................................................................................12 Appendix A ......................................................................................................................................................................................19 Appendix B .....................................................................................................................................................................................20 Appendix C .....................................................................................................................................................................................23 Appendix D .....................................................................................................................................................................................24 Appendix E ......................................................................................................................................................................................26 Appendix F ......................................................................................................................................................................................30 Appendix G .....................................................................................................................................................................................35 Appendix H .....................................................................................................................................................................................36 Appendix I .......................................................................................................................................................................................37 Appendix J ......................................................................................................................................................................................42 Appendix K .....................................................................................................................................................................................43 Appendix L ......................................................................................................................................................................................45 Appendix M.....................................................................................................................................................................................46 Appendix N .....................................................................................................................................................................................48 Appendix O .....................................................................................................................................................................................53 Appendix P......................................................................................................................................................................................54 Appendix Q .....................................................................................................................................................................................57 1 2011 GSP Forest Monitoring Program Summary of Accomplishments and Recommendations Accomplishments: Ten introductory trainings educated 133 individuals in the protocols of forest monitoring 41 volunteers installed an average of four plots each Plots completed by volunteers:62 new plots installed and 26 (out of 32)plots monitored from 2010 in 34 different Seattle Parks (note: six 2010 plots were not monitored in 2011 because no change occurred) Plots completed by contractors: 16 new plots installed in 14 different parks Total new plots for 2011:79 Total GSP forest monitoring plots:110;Total parks with plots: 40 Approximately 952 volunteers hours were dedicated to training and installing monitoring plots Online database was a successful means of data entry for volunteers and program coordinator. Trained additional groups and contractors to perform monitoring such as the Nature Consortium, SCA, Seattle Conservation Corps, Washington Conservation Corps, Forterra , Green Cities Staff from Tacoma and Kent and Seattle Parks Staff. Recommendations: Recruit and promote the program earlier, utilizing the Marketing Plan developed in 2012 and the knowledge of EarthCorps staff. Design a more comprehensive website with access to documents, ability to sign up for trainings, and a more comprehensive explanation of the program and its accomplishments. Include in budget for 2012: additional complete set of equipment, develop an incentive program for volunteers with GSP FMT branding, additional educational opportunities in the form of speakers or plant walks, time for program coordinator and EarthCorps staff to publicize program. Three or four introductory trainings recommended in 2012 with the intent of recruiting 40+ volunteers. Provide trainings to returning volunteers to refresh their skills and re-engage in the program. Space trainings throughout the monitoring season (i.e. May, July, September), this can help ensure a “fresh” pool of volunteers to ensure active involvement in plot installations throughout the monitoring season (May-October). Purchase at least one more set of equipment to meet the growing needs of the program. Create a list of parks and plot locations to be monitored early in the season, ideally before trainings begin (March/April). The monitoring protocol should be in a more user-friendly format: booklet, color-coded or tabbed sections. Meet with SPR at beginning of season to help determine training needs, plot locations 2 and reporting requests. It is advised that the program coordinator be present for initial plot instillation of the season for contractors as they may not be up-to-date on the protocol. More coordination with contractors and the natural areas and trails crews would be desirable to help install plots in areas that are appropriate for volunteers. If the contractor or natural areas crew notified the GSP Forest Monitoring Team coordinator of their schedule and work locations, the program can arrange for volunteers to sample the area before work begins. This would be particularly desirable for the natural areas and trails crews and other park staff who do restoration work throughout Seattle but are not currently coordinating with the program. 3 2011 Forest Monitoring Team Program Recruitment A flyer was developed that briefly described the program, its goals, training dates and contact information (Appendix A ). The flyer was emailed to contacts and then forwarded on or posted in a public location. This was used to recruit to the following groups/people (See complete recruitment list in Appendix B): Green Seattle Partnership current and past Forest Stewards Washington Native Plant Society members and stewards Community Centers in South Seattle Nature Consortium Mountaineers Club Center for Urban Horticulture UWREN Seattle Audubon Society Edmonds Community College,