Ecological monitoring (EM) offers a means of gathering information for comprehensive and accurate ecosystem assessments within integrated approaches to reveal the effects of Ecological Redline Policy (ERP).  

Despite increasing political and scientific interest in EM, the amount of EM information available for assessments remains quite limited. There is a fundamental lack of monitoring frameworks applying EM standards for policy evaluation and management optimization. 

In a study published in Ecological Indicators, researchers developed a transdisciplinary framework to build up the ecological redline monitoring network in Shanghai metropolitan area. 

The researchers proposed four main indicators to standardize the effectiveness of ERP evaluation processes: (i) biodiversity inventory (i.e., species numbers and distribution), (ii) landscape structure (i.e., composition and configuration), (iii) ecosystem function (i.e., biomass, net primary productivity, and vegetation coverage), and (iv) stakeholder opinions. 

They suggested that standard monitoring should be based on remote sensing monitoring, supplemented by ground truth monitoring, to form a standard ‘Space-Sky-Ground’ integrated monitoring network. 

By using Shanghai’s efforts and experience in ERAs monitoring and supervision, the researchers provided new insights on integrating EM into ERP implementation and ecosystem management on city scale. 

“We hope our new framework and standards for ER monitoring that is designed to work in continuous mode, featuring openness and ability to work in real time, can advance domestic efforts in China and similar efforts internationally,” said Dr. BAI Yang of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG). 

Contact 

BAI Yang Ph.D   

Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China