ONE Monitoring Framework

In September, 2006 the Niagara Escarpment Commission adopted a revised Framework for the ONE monitoring program. This current Framework builds on earlier attempts to design and implement a cumulative effects monitoring framework for the Plan area.  

A set of basic principles have guided the development of the new Framework. They include:

• keeping the framework “simple” “cost effective” “affordable” and “practical”  
• identifying monitoring indicators that can be supported by available data  
• ensuring that monitoring results can be “rolled-up” from local units to Plan Area reporting  
• ensuring that there is long-term consistency in reporting relating indicators directly to Plan objectives and Plan implementation ensuring that it is useful for all partners  
• collecting data, analyzing it, and reporting results over a range of time-scales  
• adopting an “adaptive” approach that continuously improves the Framework over time  

Structure

The ONE Framework is structured to focus monitoring activity on indicators that provide clear insights into Plan effectiveness and implementation.

• Effectiveness- measurement of specified indicators to assess Plan policies, programs or activities in terms of their progress towards desired outcomes (e.g. Plan goals and objectives). The intent is to detect short and long term trends.  
• Implementation – an assessment to determine the extent to which policy direction in the Plan has been met in terms of activities completed, conditions, standards or targets complied with or resources expended.  

The framework has been designed to determine the extent to which results have been achieved relative to implementation or specified objectives in the Niagara Escarpment Plan. The selected indicators are designed to detect change in order to assist the NEC and other decision-makers in communicating results, directing changes in plan policies or management practices or maintaining the status quo.

The ONE Framework was developed as follows:  

Theme Areas & Resource Categories  

The framework is organized into six theme areas (Natural Heritage, Water, Land Use, Tourism & Recreation, Niagara Escarpment Parks & Open Space System and Landscape Character).  Theme areas were defined by developing a comprehensive list of objectives stemming from the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act and the Niagara Escarpment Plan (2005).  

Spatial Scale

The ONE Monitoring Program examines change over time using both landscape level and site level analysis.  Landscape level monitoring (mainly remote sensing/GIS-based) provides a broad overview of how the Escarpment environment has changed over time. Site level (e.g. plot based) monitoring can build on the results of landscape level analysis by examining whether the Escarpment's natural environments are healthy and functioning the way they should be. For example, landscape level forest cover analysis may show that forests are increasing, but only field investigations can provide insight into whether these forests are healthy (e.g. supporting native species, providing habitat for species at risk etc.) or showing signs of degradation (e.g. ridden with exotic invasive flora). Integrated analysis of data collected at a range of scales provides the best information possible for policy review and decision-making.

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