What is MERV

MERV, which stands for monitoring and evaluation of the restoration of vegetation, is a tool to help facilitate implementation of monitoring and tracking on ground works and outcomes.

MERV has been designed so it is easy to use by a range of NRM practitioners, including state and local government agencies, Landcare and other community groups, contract implementers, environmental consultants, students and private landowners.

The MERV customised Access database package allows:

• the capture, storage, display and reporting of resource management information;
• tracking of changes in the structure and floristics of vegetation associated with restoration works (e.g. bush regeneration and revegetation);
• recording of: changes in relevant faunal habitat, fauna survey information, and resources used;
• for the use of standardised settings and/or relevant user specified settings as required.
• (in progress) is portable and able to run on a pocket PC to potentially streamline data capture in the field.

The MERV desktop PC system consists of the following modules.

• Set Up - manage drop down lists / application settings etc.
• Sites & Plots - entry of details about work ‘Sites' (e.g. remnants or areas being worked on) and survey ‘Plots' (type of assessment for monitoring being undertaken)
• M & E Surveys - monitoring and evaluation data collection associated with a ‘Plot' or Area (vegetation structure, floristics, habitat indicators, fauna survey and water quality information)
• Restoration Work - entry of details on restoration works undertaken e.g. weed control using manual or chemical methods, planting etc.
• Charts - views changes in site / plot characteristics over time via graphical display
• Reports - views changes in site / plot characteristics over time via report output
• Import & Export to Pocket PC - (in progress) transfer data to/from PDA and subsequent working with imported data on the desktop.