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SRI believes that outcome monitoring and measurement are essential, so it is committed to developing cost-effective and analytical performance metrics.
The Institute's performance measurement began with ecological monitoring on the Sun Ranch, which provides clear indications of the ranch's environmental performance and helps managers understand progress toward their goals. We begin such assessments by identifying the most important variables or indicators to assess. SRI has found that three to five monitoring programs (depending on the location, nature of potential impacts, and monitoring budgets) can provide meaningful management feedback on environmental impact.
On the Sun Ranch, where we piloted our monitoring and metrics projects, we are assessing changes in noxious weed infestation, bear behavior, and water quality in areas surrounding new impacts. In each monitoring project, we have engaged well-established protocols or have designed them with independent academic and conservation groups. We will collect data, analyze information, and draw conclusions with our partners to help create integrity and monitor quality. These pilot projects inform our similar, customized monitoring projects on other properties, including the Schroeder Ranch.
All areas of our work need performance measurement. A critical area of our current focus is in developing metrics to guide land and community planning. We are currently developing a set of metrics to guide land use, so that landowners and developers will have a set of performance measures that assess developments' impact and that capture the ecological, social, and economic value preserved and created. Ultimately, we anticipate that these metrics can lead to a rating or certification system for rural real estate developments.
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