1. IUCN Guidelines for Planning and Monitoring Corporate Biodiversity Performance

The IUCN SSC Species Monitoring Specialist Group and the IUCN Global Business and Biodiversity Programme have produced Guidelines for Planning and Monitoring Corporate Biodiversity Performance. The Guidelines were developed by IUCN teams in collaboration with business partners, especially Nespresso, Boskalis and Alcoa.
 
The Guidelines provide a four-stage, science-based approach for developing a corporate biodiversity strategic plan and measuring biodiversity performance across company operations and supply chains. The approach enables companies to be more targeted in their biodiversity focus by identifying the species and habitats important to them and understanding the benefits they provide to people.
 
The Guidelines can be freely downloaded from the IUCN website HERE.

Also see the IUCN press release HERE.

Monitoring Tools:
A Selection of Manuals, Guidelines and Methods Reviews

 
General
 
Borges, P.A.V., Cardoso, P., Kreft, H., Whittaker, R.J., Fattorini, S., Emerson, B.C., Gil, A., Gillespie, R.G., Matthews, T.J., Santos, A.M.C. et al. 2018. Global Island Monitoring Scheme (GIMS): a proposal for the long‑term coordinated survey and monitoring of native island forest biota. Biodiversity and Conservation, 27(10): 2567-2586.
 
Gitzen, R.A., Millspaugh, J.J., Cooper, A.B. and Licht, D.S. eds., 2012. Design and Analysis of Long-Term Ecological Monitoring Studies. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Hill, D., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. & Shaw, P. (eds.) 2005. Handbook of Biodiversity Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

Henderson, P.A. & Southwood, T.R.E. 2016. Ecological Methods. Fourth Edition. John Wiley & Sons, London, UK. 

Likens, G. and Lindenmayer, D., 2018. Effective Ecological Monitoring. CSIRO publishing, Clayton South, Australia.
 
Sutherland W.J. (ed.) 2006. Ecological Census Techniques. 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Walters, M. & Scholes, R.J. 2017. The GEO Handbook on Biodiversity Observation Networks. Springer Nature, Cham, Switzerland.
 
Amphibians and Reptiles
 
Blomberg, S. & Shine, R. 2006. Reptiles. Pp 297-307 in Sutherland W.J. (ed.), Ecological Census Techniques. 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Graeter, G.J., Buhlmann, K.A., Wilkinson, L.R. & Whitfield Gibbons, J. (eds.) 2013. Inventory and Monitoring: Recommended Techniques for Reptiles and Amphibians: with Application to the United States and Canada. Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
 
Halliday, T.R. 2006. Amphibians. Pp 278-296 in Sutherland W.J. (ed.), Ecological Census Techniques. 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Heyer, W.R., Donnelly, M.A., McDiarmid, R,  Hayek, L.-A.C., Foster, M.S. (eds.) 1994. Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity: Standard Methods for Amphibians. Smithsonian, Washington, USA.
 
Latham, D., Jones, E. & Fasham, M. 2005. Amphibians. Pp. 387-403 in Hill, D., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. & Shaw, P. (eds.), Handbook of Biodiversity Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Latham, D., Jones, E. & Fasham, M. 2005. Reptiles. Pp. 404-411 in Hill, D., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. & Shaw, P. (eds.), Handbook of Biodiversity Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
McDiarmid, R.W., Foster, M.S., Guyer, C.,  Whitfield Gibbons, J. & Chernoff, N. (eds.) 2012. Reptile Biodiversity. Standard Methods for Inventory and Monitoring. University of California Press, Berkeley, USA.
 
Richardson, E., Nimmo, D.G., Avitabile, S., Tworkowski, L., Watson, S.J., Welbourne, D. & Leonard, S.W. 2018. Camera traps and pitfalls: an evaluation of two methods for surveying reptiles in a semiarid ecosystem. Wildlife Research, 44(8): 637-647.
 
Wilkinson, J.W. 2015. Amphibian Survey and Monitoring Handbook. Pelagic Publishing Ltd, Exeter, UK.
 
Birds
 
Bibby C.J., Burgess N.D., Hillis, D.M., Hill, D.A. & Mustoe, S. 2000. Bird Census Techniques. Second Edition. Academic Press, London, UK.
 
BirdLife International 2006. Monitoring Important Bird Areas: a global framework. Version 1.2. Cambridge: BirdLife International.
 
Gilbert, G., Gibbons, D. W. & Evans, J. 1998. Bird Monitoring Methods. RSPB, Sandy, UK.
 
Groom, G., Stjernholm, M., Nielsen, R.D. et al. 2013. Remote sensing image data and automated analysis to describe marine bird distributions and abundances. Ecological Informatics, 14: 2–8.
 
Hardey, J., Crick, H., Wernham, C., Riley, H., Etheridge, B., & Thompson, D. 2013. Raptors: A Field Guide for Surveys and Monitoring. Third Edition. Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverness, Scotland.
 
Komdeur, J., J. Bertelsen & G. Cracknell (eds.) 1992. Manual for Aeroplane and Ship Surveys of Waterfowl and Seabirds. IWRB Special Publication No.19. IWRB, Slimbridge, U.K.
 
Lewis, M. & Dunn, T.E. 2020. Volunteer Seabirds at Sea Survey Methods. JNCC Report No. 63. JNCC, Peterborough, UK
 
Mustoe, S., Hill, D, Frost, D. & Tucker, G., 2005. Birds. Pp 412-432 in D. Hill, M. Fasham, G. Tucker, M. Shewry and P. Shaw (eds.), Handbook of Biodiversity Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Tasker, M. L., Jones, P. H., Dixon, T. I. M., & Blake, B. F. 1984. Counting seabirds at sea from ships: a review of methods employed and a suggestion for a standardized approach. The Auk, 101(3): 567-577.
 
Voříšek, P. Klvaňová, A., Wotton, S. & Gregory, R.D. 2008. A Best Practice Guide for Wild Bird Monitoring Schemes. First edition. CSO/RSPB, Prague, Czech Republic.
 
Walsh, P. M., Halley, D. J., Harris, M.P. et al. 1995. Seabird Monitoring Handbook for Britain and Ireland. JNCC/RSPB/ITE/Seabird Group, Peterborough, UK.
 
Wetlands International 2010. Diversity and Abundance of Bird Species: Field Protocol for Waterbird Counting. Wetlands International, The Hague, The Netherlands.
 
Invertebrates
 
Ausden, M., & Drake, M. 2006. Invertebrates. Pp 214-249 in Sutherland W.J. (ed.), Ecological Census Techniques. 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Cardoso, P. 2009. Standardization and optimization of arthropod inventories – the case of Iberian spiders. Biodiversity and Conservation, 18: 3949-3962.
 
Kerrison, P., Norman, T. & Fasham, M. 2005. Aquatic invertebrates. Pp. 359-367 in Hill, D., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. & Shaw, P. (eds.), Handbook of Biodiversity Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
New, T.R. 1998. Invertebrate surveys for conservation. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
 
O'Connor, R.S., Kunin, W.E., Garratt, M.P., Potts, S.G., Roy, H.E., Andrews, C., Jones, C.M., Peyton, J.M., Savage, J., Harvey, M.C. & Morris, R.K., 2019. Monitoring insect pollinators and flower visitation: The effectiveness and feasibility of different survey methods. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 10(12): 2129-2140.
 
Otero, M., Cebrian, E., Francour, P., Galil, B. & Savini, D. 2013. Monitoring Marine Invasive Species in Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): A strategy and practical guide for managers. IUCN, Malaga, Spain.
 
Peters, K., Sink, K.J., & Robinson, T.B. 2019. Sampling methods and approaches to inform standardized detection of marine alien fouling species on recreational vessels. Journal of Environmental Management, 230: 159-167.
 
Plant, C., Sands, R. & Fasham, M. 2005. Butterflies. Pp. 328-334 in Hill, D., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. & Shaw, P. (eds.), Handbook of Biodiversity Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Plant, C., Sands, R. & Fasham, M. 2005. Dragonflies and damselflies. Pp. 322-327 in Hill, D., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. & Shaw, P. (eds.), Handbook of Biodiversity Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Plant, C., Sands, R. & Fasham, M. 2005. Moths. Pp. 335-340 in Hill, D., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. & Shaw, P. (eds.), Handbook of Biodiversity Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Van Swaay, C., Regan, E., Ling, M., Bozhinovska, E., Fernandez, M., Marini-Filho, O.J., Huertas, B., Phon, C.K., Korösi, A., Meerman, J. & Pe’er, G. 2015. Guidelines for Standardised Global Butterfly Monitoring. GEO BON Technical Series 1. Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network, Leipzig, Germany
 
Westphal, C., Bommarco, R., Carré, G., Lamborn, E., Morison, N., Petanidou, T., Potts, S.G., Roberts, S.P., Szentgyörgyi, H., Tscheulin, T. & Vaissière, B.E. 2008. Measuring bee diversity in different European habitats and biogeographical regions. Ecological Monographs, 78(4): 653-671.
 
Fish
 
Bouchet, P., Meeuwig, J., Huveneers, C. er al. (2018). Marine sampling field manual for pelagic BRUVS (Baited Remote Underwater Videos). Pp 105-132 in Field Manuals for Marine Sampling to Monitor Australian Waters, Przeslawski, R. & Foster, S. (eds). National Environmental Science Programme (NESP), Canberra, Australia.
 
Côté, I.M. & Perrow, M.R. 2006. Fish. Pp 250-277 in Sutherland W.J. (ed.), Ecological Census Techniques. 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Edgar, G.J. & Stuart-Smith, R.D. (2014). Systematic global assessment of reef fish communities by the Reef Life Survey program. Scientific Data, 1(1): 1-8.
 
Giles, N., Sands, R. & Fasham, M. 2005. Fish. Pp. 368-386 in Hill, D., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. & Shaw, P. (eds.), Handbook of Biodiversity Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
HELCOM 2015. Guidelines for Coastal Fish Monitoring.  HELCOM, Helsinki, Finland. Available at https://helcom.fi/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Guidelines-for-Coastal-fish-Monitoring-of-HELCOM.pdf
 
Léopold, M., Cakacaka, A., Meo, S., Sikolia, J., & Lecchini, D. 2009. Evaluation of the effectiveness of three underwater reef fish monitoring methods in Fiji. Biodiversity and Conservation, 18(13): 3367-3382.
 
Radinger, J., Britton, J. R., Carlson, S. M., Magurran, A. E., Alcaraz‐Hernández, J. D., Almodóvar, A. et al. 2019. Effective monitoring of freshwater fish. Fish and Fisheries, 20(4): 729-747.
 
Reef Life Survey (2019). Standardised Survey Procedures for Monitoring Rocky & Coral Reef Ecological Communities. Reef Life Survey, Hobart, Australia. 
 
van Bleijswijk, J.D.L., Engelmann, J.C., Klunder, L. et al. (2020). Analysis of a coastal North Sea fish community: Comparison of aquatic environmental DNA concentrations to fish catches. Environmental DNA, 2(4): 429-445.
 
Mammals
 
Boyd, I.L., Bowen, W.D. & Iverson, S.J. (eds.) 2010. Marine Mammal Ecology and Conservation: A Handbook of Techniques. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
 
Davies, G. & Howell, K. 2002. Small mammals: bats, rodents and insectivores. Pp 45-68 in G. Davies (ed.), African Forest Biodiversity: A Field Survey Manual for Vertebrates. Earthwatch, Oxford, UK.
 
Evans, P.G.H. & Hammond, P.S. 2004. Monitoring cetaceans in European waters. Mammal Review, 34(1): 131-156.
 
Garner, G.W., Amstrup, S.C., Laake, J.L., Manly, B.F.J., McDonald, L.L., & Robertson, D.G. 1999.  Marine Mammal Survey and Assessment Methods. CRC Press/Balkema, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
 
Gurnell, J. & Flowerdew, J.R. 2019. Live Trapping of Small Mammals: A Practical Guide. Fifth Edition. The Mammal Society, London, UK.  
 
Hoffmann, A., Decher, J., Rovero, F., Schaer, J., Voigt, C. and Wibbelt, G., 2010. Field methods and techniques for monitoring mammals. Pp 482-529 in Manual on field recording techniques and protocols for all taxa biodiversity inventories and monitoring, 8. ABC Taxa.
 
Krebs, C. 2006. Mammals. Pp 351-369 in Sutherland W.J. (ed.), Ecological Census Techniques. 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Kühl, H., Maisels, F., Ancrenaz, M. & Williamson, E.A. 2008. Best Practice Guidelines for Surveys and Monitoring of Great Ape Populations. IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG), Gland, Switzerland.
 
Munari, D.P., Keller, C., & Venticinque, E.M. 2011. An evaluation of field techniques for monitoring terrestrial mammal populations in Amazonia. Mammalian Biology, 76(4): 401-408.
 
Stebbings, R., Mansfield, H. & Fasham, M. 2005. Bats. Pp. 433-449 in Hill, D., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. & Shaw, P. (eds.), Handbook of Biodiversity Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Wilson, D.E., Cole, F.R., Nichols, J.D., Rudran, R. & Foster, M.S. 1996. Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity: Standard Methods for Mammals. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC, USA.
 
Plants and Fungi
 
Bullock, J.M. 2006. Plants. Pp 186-307 in Sutherland W.J. (ed.), Ecological Census Techniques. 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Elzinga, C. L., & Salzer, D. W. 1998. Measuring & Monitoring Plant Populations. US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management.
 
Godínez-Alvarez, H., Herrick, J. E., Mattocks, M., Toledo, D., & Van Zee, J. 2009. Comparison of three vegetation monitoring methods: Their relative utility for ecological assessment and monitoring. Ecological Indicators, 9(5): 1001-1008.
 
Halme, P., Heilmann-Clausen, J., Rämä, T., Kosonen, T., & Kunttu, P. 2012. Monitoring fungal biodiversity – towards an integrated approach. Fungal Ecology, 5(6): 750-758.
 
Kirby, K., & Hall, J. 2019. Woodland Survey Handbook: Collecting Data for Conservation in British Woodland. Pelagic Publishing Ltd, Exeter, UK.
 
Madsen, J. D., & Wersal, R. M. 2017. A review of aquatic plant monitoring and assessment methods. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management, 55(1): 1-12.
 
Mueller, G.M., Bills, G.F. & Foster, M.S. 2004. Biodiversity of Fungi: Inventory and Monitoring Methods. Elsevier Academic Press, San Diego, California, USA.
 
Ovaskainen, O., Abrego, N., Somervuo, P., Palorinne, I., Hardwick, B., Pitkänen, J.M., Andrew, N.R., Niklaus, P.A., Schmidt, N.M., Seibold, S. & Vogt, J. 2020. Monitoring fungal communities with the global spore sampling project. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 7: 511.
 
Rich, T., Hack. V. & McMeechan, F. 2005. Vascular plants. Pp. 303-321 in Hill, D., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. & Shaw, P. (eds.), Handbook of Biodiversity Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Schmit, J. P., & Lodge, D. J. 2005. Classical methods and modern analysis for studying fungal diversity. Mycology Series, 23: 193.

Schnell, S., Kleinn, C., & Ståhl, G. 2015. Monitoring trees outside forests: a review. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187(9): 1-17.
 
Stewart, S. & Wade, M. 2005. Aquatic macrophytes and algae. Pp. 295-302 in Hill, D., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. & Shaw, P. (eds.), Handbook of Biodiversity Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
 
Suz, L.M., Barsoum, N., Benham, S., Cheffings, C., Cox, F., Hackett, L., Jones, A.G., Mueller, G.M., Orme, D., Seidling, W. & Van Der Linde, S. 2015. Monitoring ectomycorrhizal fungi at large scales for science, forest management, fungal conservation and environmental policy. Annals of Forest Science, 72(7): 877-885.