Monitoring and reporting in the NSW natural area management industry:
A review of the pros, cons and applications

Last year, the RBIA ran three industry forums that were well attended by a good cross section of the industry. Various issues and challenges relating to monitoring and performance measurement of restoration projects and bushland contracts were consistently raised.

In April 2010, the RBIA Committee hosted a small forum with approx 30 people specialising in different kinds systems and tools to monitor ecological restoration work.  Some of these tools and guidelines are listed on our “Resources and Links” page.

The workshop, entitled “Proving Performance. Improving Performance”, discussed the many various ways we collect and use information, how to best use this information over time to prove our industry's performance and progress of ecological restoration efforts.

The workshop was attended by people from ecological restoration companies, local government, DECCW, TAFE, Catchment Management Authorities and non-government organisations.

The workshop discussion focused on the pros and cons of a number of tools and methods, and where there may be opportunities to encourage consistency and build skills across the industry.

The RBIA Committee is currently collating the information from the workshop and reviewing the best possible way to distribute this information to RBIA members and the industry.