An environmental monitoring program is based on the protocolized of information in space and time, scientifically valid and responding to environmental management.
The Natural Processes Monitoring Program in Doñana belong to ICTS-RBD. It was created in the 1980s. Initially it focused on birds and endangered species such as the Iberian Lynx or the Imperial Eagle. In 2003, it was extended as part of an extensive monitoring program that included other components of biodiversity and ecological processes (marsh flooding or amphibian and reptile communities). As a summary, the monitoring program is a tool that provides information on the evolution of the conservation status of Doñana, generating continuous series of data on the distribution and abundance of species and communities both in space and time.
The time series in Doñana detect changes in ecosystems, such as the presence of invasive species, diseases and plagues, population declines or the drought of wetlands.
Data analysis and evaluation are made to take management decisions in a short period of time to minimize the impact of the local and global change. The results are reported annually to the National Park Office and regional authorities through annual reports, which can be accessed through the documentary collection. Actually, the monitoring program in Doñana contributes to international networks and programs focused on long-term monitoring of biodiversity, socio-ecosystem dynamics and ecosystem services, such as LTER-Europe and LifeWatch.
The monitoring team consisting in a main researcher leading the scientific coordination, a technical coordinator, a technician for data management, and 13 technicians responsible for collecting data on biodiversity and natural processes. View information from the monitoring team.
