Inventory protocols are generally used to determine what species are present in a project area or in specific habitat types. An intended objective of these survey protocols posted on our website is to provide standard survey methodology, which can be used by field personnel to determine presence/lack-of-detection for target species, and to document species locations and habitats in a consistent format. These methodologies can be used during project design to collect information about what species are present and may be affected by such projects. Protocols can also be used during general inventories or for other efforts to determine distribution or habitat associations. Following these survey protocols will assure consistent, standardized surveys in order to have comparable and credible survey effort and data quality standards; and to assist in future protocol refinement.

Before planning or implementing any survey, it is important to determine what the objectives of the survey are and what type of information is needed from the survey in order to design a feasible and safe sampling method that will provide the best results.

Whenever possible, use published inventory and monitoring protocols for specific species, taxa group, or habitat types. When such protocols do not exist, agency personnel should work with the Interagency Special Status/Sensitive Species Program (ISSSSP) personnel to develop a protocol to meet the sensitive and special status program objectives and needs.

Some Special Status/Sensitive species are also Survey and Manage species. A resource for inventory protocols for these species can be found at the Northwest Forest PLan - Survey & Manage.