Wind Project Siting & Environ. Compliance 2018

POSTER: The Conservation Opportunity Cost of Monitoring Programs – Are Available Funds Put to the Best Use for the Species?

20 Mar 18
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Tracks: Permitting and Environmental Considerations, Poster Presentation

Speaker(s): Amanda Aurora, Senior Scientist/Project Manager, SWCA Environmental Consultants

The USFWS guidelines outline an integrated process for evaluating impacts to wildlife that relies on data-driven decision making and adaptive management. While improving the precision and accuracy of predictions and estimates of impact, the data needed is costly and time-consuming to collect. Data collection extends the permitting process creating challenges for the fast-paced industry, and dollars spent on studies divert limited funds away from conservation. Given the large and growing body of research now available, is extensive monitoring the best use of limited resources available for conservation? In light of the substantial need for landscape-scale habitat conservation, SWCA explores how wildlife and the wind industry could benefit from reallocating resources from lengthy permitting processes and extensive monitoring programs to on-the-ground conservation.