PRRIP Purposes and Overview Draft (2)

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a. Habitat and Species Baseline. The Program uses a 1997 starting point, where possible, to assess its effects. This baseline (`Baseline Documentl" ntt-aehmeRf-3, Seetien-Include Proper Reference) provides a summary of information available prior to the Program about the target species and their habitat. Where data are sufficient and methodologies are replicable, this information may be used to assess First Increment activities and criteria. The information available at Program inception did not provide a complete summary of the condition of the species or a comprehensive summary of the habitat available for the target species. Where data were not sufficient or replicable or disagreement exists as to then-current hypotheses regarding the species and their habitats, the Integrated Monitoring and Research Plan (Attachment 3, Section V) includes measures to fill data gaps and assess trends in species and habitat conditions. Historic information, models, and conceptions of the species and their habitat will be rigorously evaluated and modified as data and information become available. b. Integrated Monitoring and Research Plan and Protocols. Adaptive management requires systematic observation and evaluation of the target species and the associated habitats to observe their response to the different Program activities. The Governance Committee will use the Integrated Monitoring and Research Plan and Protocols (Attachment 3, Section V) to monitar and evaluate the impacts of the activities implemented in the First Increment of the Program on Program lands and the associated habitats and the response of the target species to those impacts. The monitoring and research protocols may be modified by the Governance Committee per Section III.B.2 above. 2. Assessments of Activities and Criteria During the First Increment. Program activities and criteria that guide such Program activities shall be periodically evaluated by the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee evaluations will: (1) assess whether the Program activity and criteria being examined is working as originally envisioned; (2) recommend modifications justified by new information; (3) determine whether there are other or better uses for the resources committed to this activity and criteria; (4) assess whether success or failure could be determined by monitoring over the time period evaluated and (5) develop alternative activities and criteria in accordance with the Program Adaptive Management Plan. Evaluations will consider experience, new information, and the results of monitoring and/or research. Opinions of independent peer reviewers, if any, will also be compiled and summarized as part of the evaluation process. Changes to planned activities and their implementation schedule should be peer reviewed as appropriate under the Scientific Peer Septe iib?November 4-29 2005 Program Document 7 1