Photographing Fixed-Point Vegetation Monitoring Sites

Introduction

Fixed point photography is one of the most effective and robust method of monitoring vegetation change. It should always be supplemented with actual survey data. The real strength of photographs is that they provide an easy means for non-experts to understand and appreciate the dynamics of natural vegetation.

Basic requirements:

The most important is that each site should be permanently and clearly marked. Finding old sites is extremely difficult and this often takes up most of the field time. The use of a GPS alone is not sufficient and it is strongly recommend that a GPS be used as an addition to detailed direction / location descriptions. Try to avoid using terms like "left hand side of the road" as these depend on which direction you are travelling. Instead use "east side of the road". The use of permanent plot makers, placed in the centre of the plot, is also useful. If the exact point cannot be found years later then it is pointless photographing the site. It must be borne in mind that some type of plot markers, e.g. concrete blocks, may be removed by people and used for other purposes, so the use of markers alone is not sufficient. In some circumstances, fixed features intended for other purposes can be used instead of markers, for example boundary beacons or trig points.

Photographs can be taken in one of two ways:

- By moving a fixed distance in a fixed direction away from the plot marker, e.g. 10 metres due north, and photographing an area with the plot marker at the centre.
- By standing at the plot marker and taking photographs at the eight standard compass points (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW).

Before leaving on a field trip, ensure that you have the following:

- photographs taken of the sites in previous years
- site location descriptions
- a camera, film and the correct lens (35mm is recommended)
- Note book with all the site numbers that you will be visiting and a place to write down the photograph numbers and other details.

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