2.2 Part 2 Prescriptive
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;
    • describing the objective;
    • devising projects to achieve the objective;
    • scheduling the work for each project;
    • recording the outputs and outcomes of the work;
    • operating a system of reporting on the outcomes on a ‘need to know’ basis.
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
2.2.1 Objectives and operational factors
Describe objective
Objectives are basically a qualified statement of what an organisation wants to achieve in the long run.  They are the measurable targets of work schedules.  The activities directed at reaching set of objectives constitute the conservation management plan.
State the desired condition of habitat or species
Each objective defines the condition (state) of a habitat or species that is favourable for its long-term maintenance.  For example: 'to maintain species x in a favourable condition where the numbers in any year range between a and b'.
Say how the condition is to be measured
The condition of a habitat or species is checked out by choosing one of its attributes that is easily measured.  For example, the obvious attribute of a species is its population size.
What factors affect the condition?
A factor is anything that affects the condition of the habitat or species in either a positive or negative direction.  For example, rainfall and rabbits will affect the condition of a grassland habitat.
2.2.2 Projects
1 Devise projects
A project describes the work that has to be carried out in order to meet an objective.  All activities are the subjects of projects.
Define the major controlling factors
Most of the day-to-day work on a nature site involves projects organised to control the major factors, positive or negative that influence the ability of management to reach its objectives.  For example, addition or removal of farm livestock will affect the condition of grassland. The integrity of fencing is a vital related factor.
Monitor the plan
Monitoring projects are organised to chart the year on year progress of the plan. They yield performance indicators that can be used to assess progress and efficiency of the plan by:-
Measuring condition of habitat/species
The most important role of monitoring projects is to assess the condition of a habitat or species by measuring one or more of its attributes so that the proximity to the objective may be assessed. For example, a
monitoring project for a grassland habitat would be to measure sward height at a particular time of year.
Checking progress with milestones
A milestone is basically a check on progress to be carried out at a particular time or stage of a plan.  For example, a milestone could be set at a particular date in order to check that a particular job had been done according to plan.
Measuring condition of factors
Since objectives are reached by controlling factors it is important to keep a check on the most important factors that affect the condition of the habitat or species.  For example, even though it cannot be controlled, rainfall would be a suitable factor to record to produce a year on year base line for grassland. Where rabbits are controlled to establish a favourable condition of grassland, counting them would measure their condition as a limiting negative factor.
2 Schedule the work
A work schedule describes the resources needed, the methods to be used, and when they are required, to control a factor or monitor a plan.  This work plan is produced by answering 9 questions about resources, methods and timing.  It describes the inputs to the project.
What is the project?
How important is it?
What has to be done?
How will it be done?
Who will do it?
When will they do it?
What resources are needed?
Where will it be done?
How much will it cost?

3 Record what happens
As a project is carried out its progress is charted by answering six questions that summarise the outputs of the work.
What was done?
When was it done?
Who did it?
Any problems?
What did it cost?
Where was it done?

4 Report what has happened
Reports on the state of the habitat or species in relation to the conservation plan and the plan’s progress/performance against its long-term objectives, are produced according to who requires information at a strategic level.  These reports normally involve making available the following information.
Plan overview
Desired condition of habitats/species?
Actual condition of habitats/species?
Resource inputs (work plans)
Decription of site
The above logic is appropriate for estabalishing a a paper system, with event recording cards and a diary. 
It can also be organised on various types of commonly used software, such as an office suite (e.g. MS Works), a topic outliner (e.g. Maple or MindManager), or a simple relational database (e.g. SoftKey’s Project Manager).  
2.2.3 Public access
(a) Bye-laws
(b) Public right of way
(c) Permits
(d) Any other rights or privileges
2.2.4 Wardening
Details of the present position and the likely demand for wardening facilities.
2.2.5 Division of responsibilities
This section lays down the responsibility for implementing the whole plan and/or specific parts of it.
2.2.6 Advice and records
Statements of any committee responsible for management advice, and of organizations or individuals from whom specific information can be obtained. The records will include periodic or progress reports, as well as records of research activity designed to monitor the effects of management practice. It is also important to record detailed statements of management decisions that have been taken, paying particular attention to recording the reasons why that decision was taken.
2.2.7 Renewal, authorship of the plan and references
A date will be specified for the renewal of the plan.
The references will include all literature quoted in the plan.
Authorship of each section (where the plan has been written by several people) should be given. Acknowledgments may also be included.