Fire Monitoring Protocols

Choosing and implementing the appropriate monitoring protocols is a critical step in the execution of a fire monitoring program. The appropriate monitoring methods and measures must be determined prior before management prescriptions are undertaken. Doing so allows the development of a monitoring program that can be designed to assess the achievement of specific management objectives and address the specific hypotheses outlined in the adaptive management action. There are myriad monitoring methods which can be employed by fire management professionals. The criteria for method selection includes: complexity of methodology, prospects for long-term consistency, and time and funding available for implementation. To make the best use limited time and financial resources, available monitoring alternatives should be thoroughly researched prior to selecting and implementing any protocol.

Protocol Approval Process

Again, the primary source of guidance for managers dealing with fire monitoring is NPS Wildland Fire Reference Manual 18 (RM-18). RM-18 states that "Monitoring protocols must be reviewed and approved at the regional office level before receiving funding." Currently, written protocols should be submitted to the Regional Fire Ecology Program Manager for review and approval. Consulting with local scientists and others who may be familiar with the proposed protocol is highly recommended prior to submitting any protocol for approval.

Fire Monitoring Protocol References:

NPS Fire Monitoring Handbook (4.33 MB)

FIREMON USFS Fire Effects Monitoring and Inventory Protocol.

National Burn Severity Mapping Program

NASA's Land Cover Land Use Change Program

Landscape-scale and Remote Sensing Resources for Monitoring Programs

Measuring and Monitoring Plant Populations (5.12 MB) Interagency technical reference

Monitoring Protocol Clearinghouse NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program

Invasive Species Monitoring Resources NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program.

invasivespecies.gov - Monitoring Federal and State Invasive Species Activities and Programs.

Guide to Monitoring Exotic and Invasive Plants Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network, Environment Canada

Fire Monitoring Handbook
This handbook is intended to facilitate and standardize monitoring where appropriate for NPS units that are subject to burning by wildland or prescribed fire.

FFI (FEAT/FIREMON Integrated)
FFI is a relational database management system developed to support immediate and long-term monitoring and reporting of fire effects.

NPS/USGS National Burn Severity Mapping Project
The Joint NPS-USGS National Burn Severity Mapping Project addresses the need to quantify fire effects over large, often-remote regions and long time intervals.