It is time to mention monitoring.
Monitoring is often an expensive exercise, but it does not have to be.
For example, a regional council may need to collect data that stand up under scientific attack in Environment Court, which may well be expensive, but a community group’s aim may be different. For instance, monitoring data can be used to persuade authorities to take action locally.
Or, it might be used to show the effectiveness of local action at restoring and enhancing the environment, which is good ammunition for seeking further support to broaden those actions. Simple and cheap monitoring methods may suffice in these cases.
Useful guides for monitoring by community groups of sedimentation and mangrove spread are available in the PDF below.
Estuary monitoring by communities (PDF 852 KB)
