Improving management of a Mid-Atlantic coastal barrier island through assessment of habitat condition

To achieve desired environmental outcomes, conditions and trends need to be measured and communicated. However, there is often a disconnect between responsive ecosystem monitoring and decision-making for strategic long-term management. Recently published in Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, this paper demonstrates how historical monitoring data can be used to inform integrated resource management decision-making at Assateague Island National Seashore by using ecological reference conditions to identify monitoring needs, areas of high vulnerability, and areas with potential for improved management. This approach provides a framework that can be applied to assess the effectiveness of these management decisions on the condition of island habitats, and demonstrates effective incorporation of diverse monitoring datasets into an adaptive management cycle.

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