This section of the plan is prescriptive, in which the aims of management are interpreted
in a
practical manner bearing in mind the locality, environmental and human factors. The formulation
of the management strategy requires experience to be drawn from many disciplines, since
there are not only the biological aspects of the reserve to consider but also the sociological and
economic factors.
The following topic outline is practical centrepiece of management. It is based on
the logic and
operation of the Conservation Management System, developed and promoted by the UK
Conservation Management Consortium.
It is a statement of operational planning to aid the production of a project based
management
system with the minimum words and maximum operational structure.
Planning as a prescriptive process consists of the following five operations;
One other aspect of this section of the plan is of importance. Wildlife conservation
is a long-
term form of land-use. Although the management plan is written for only a limited period of time
(often five years, less often 10 years), the implications of management practice will not always
be felt within the period of time covered by the plan. For example, an operation such as scrub
clearance may result in a changed ecosystem for half a century. Thus, during the time taken
for the effects of a management decision to follow through the various was rejected. After taking
a decision it is invaluable to study its implementation by periodic recording. For example, two
or three permanent quadrats could be unobtrusively marked by corner posts, and a system of
annual recording of the vegetation clearly specified in the management plan. The amount of
work required for this is minimal, but the effect of the management prescription can be
assessed provided that some form of control recording is also specified. stages of an
ecological succession the men responsible for making those decisions may have nothing
further to do with the management of the reserve. It is therefore essential that there is good
documentation. The minimum that is required is a statement of the reasons why a
management decision was taken. Why, for example, were sessile oaks to be planted instead
of any other species? It is, however, better to document both sides of a decision, stating why
the opposite view