This chapter examines the methods for ecological survey that are required when evaluating sites for conservation. These methods are used for four main reasons: for base-line survey when choosing sites; for monitoring changes; for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before developments; and for assessment of management methods – an evaluation before and after management will help detect and interpret changes due to that management. There are a number of basic principles and methods of ecological survey which must be understood in order to interpret survey results and reports. We will also examine the selection and use of indicator groups to give rapid assessment of sites, expanding concepts discussed in Sections 3.2 and 3.4.

The subject of this chapter is one of the most important to successful conservation, and is essential to those doing or interpreting field surveys. Similarly rigorous methods have been developed by social scientists, which can be used to obtain data on public opinion, local activities and local knowledge, as required in determining policy and management (Chapter 9). To avoid biases, questionnaires and interviews (including ‘participatory rural appraisal’) require careful design, piloting and distribution, and specialist texts should be consulted for such methods.

Aims and requirements

The aims of any survey must be very clearly defined, given the inevitable subjectivity of setting priorities. It must be absolutely clear from the start what will be considered a high-quality site.