National Parks & Biodiversity on Paths
Stage 5: Using the results
Now assume that the belt-transect method has been accepted and submitted to the National Park conservationists for consideration.
Make up a list of questions that the conservation team might ask themselves when using your set of data.
Here are some ideas:
- Do the results?
- Show a significant loss in biodiversity across the path?
- If they do, how do you know when the loss is significant.
- Does it matter if there is a loss of biodiversity on the path?
- Show the cause of the observed differences?
- What might have caused the change – any suggestions?
- If there is a significant difference across the path, does it matter?
- If there is a significant difference across the path, who is responsible for any action that needs to take place?
- What action needs to take place?
- What might happen if action is not taken?
Now produce an action list that they might recommend.
Consider the following actions:
- Set up a study to find out what might have caused the observed changes in plant species across the path.
- Widen the investigation to include more of the area sampled.
- Monitor the area over the next few months to see seasonal changes. Repeat investigation in same area.
- Monitor the area over the next few years. Repeat investigation in same area.
- Set up a list of actions to prevent further damage or allow recovery of the path.
- Depending on the cause, the list might include –
- Roping off the area.
- Providing a proper ‘path’ surface.
- Restricting access at key times of the year.
- A list of possible objections from those the actions might affect.
Acting local
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