Implementation Of Management Plans Research Articles

El paisaje cultural almadrabero y el ejemplo de la costa de Cádiz. Aproximación desde una perspectiva patrimonialista

The aim of this work is twofold: on the one hand, to analyse the figure of cultural landscape in the contemporary context of cultural heritage, and on the other hand, to reflect on the case that we call Almadrabero cultural landscape. The recognition of cultural goods as cultural landscape began twenty-five years ago from UNESCO. However, even today there is no international charter on cultural landscapes, so we find multiple disagreements to identify, analyze and implement management plans such as tourism. This article describes the values of the potential cultural landscape on the coast of Cadiz, where the historical fishing activity of the traps is an extraordinarily significant manifestation, including the social agents linked to this area, the actions already carried out or the impacts of the potential recognition on tourism, the local population and the relationship of their quality of life with the preservation and management of the values of the landscape.

Comparative Analysis of the Long-term Management Plan of Natural Parks - A Focus on Jeollabuk-do Provincial Parks -

The purpose of the present study was to compare the long-term management objectives, policy objectives, implementation plans, and detailed plans of four provincial parks established in 2013 using various analysis frameworks. Through this, the study aimed to identify the characteristics of the management plan and extract the implementation plan important to each park by analyzing the priorities in the detailed plan. The long-term management objectives of most parks were to maintain recreational functions by utilizing all the resources of the park, rather than merely preserving the ecosystem. From an ecological perspective, information on major plants and legal protection species are included for most parks, and geological and topographic features considered a major resource. For sustainable forests, it is important to induce the dispersion of concentrated use space. Efficient management systems are distinctively differentiated among the parks. For regional revitalization, the management of programs to link provincial parks and their surrounding areas has become most important. From an ecological perspective, priorities differed for the parks according to their ecological characteristics. For sustainable forests, Moaksan Provincial Park prioritized the visitor reservation system related to the overall park, while the other three parks prioritized alleviating the concentrated use of specific areas. From an efficient management perspective, Daedunsan Provincial Park prioritized aspects related to the cableway. Maisan Provincial Park prioritized inducing the linkage between the use of natural and cultural resources, and Seonunsan Provincial Park prioritized establishing an ecological and cultural commentary operating system. For the base-type leisure activity space, Moaksan Provincial Park prioritized the systematic management and operation of the pilgrimage route, Maisan Provincial Park the connection between the Maisan geography and residents’ income, and Seonunsan Provincial Park providing a space for ecological education.

Changes in aquatic communities recently invaded by a top predator: evidence of American bullfrogs in Aceguá, Uruguay

Effects caused by the invasive American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) are poorly understood at the community level. This study assessed the effects of a small feral bullfrog population (at lag invasion phase) on the different components of native aquatic communities (phytoplankton, zooplankton, invertebrates, fish and amphibians) of Acegua, Uruguay. Our interest focused on exploring the early local effects of this invasion. We explored whether there existed any difference in taxa richness, abundances and size structure in association to bullfrog invasion, using four seasonal sampling of all the lentic system around the foci (two invaded and five non-invaded ponds). We analysed the occurrence of differences between the invaded and the non-invaded communities: for the taxa richness we used rarefaction, for the abundances and body sizes we used mean tests, and for the tadpole developmental stages we used G-test. We only found statistically significant bullfrog effects, in fish and anuran larvae. The fish assemblage was favoured, reaching greater abundance and body size in the bullfrog invaded ponds. In these ponds, the nektonic tadpoles diminished their abundances, and the benthic tadpoles also reached greater body sizes, but decreasing their recruitment. Our results suggest that bullfrog invasion could have complex effects, acting asymmetrically, affecting different trophic paths, and depending on native species’ habits and attributes. Understanding these effects, in early invasion foci, has a great relevance to awareness of local environmental authorities and the implementation of management plans.

Genetic characterization of the artisanal mud crab fishery in Myanmar.

Fish are important for food supply, especially in developing countries. In Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, the mud crab fishery is an important livelihood that represents a valuable source of income and food to coastal communities. However, the increasing demand for mud crab in domestic and international markets and poor management has generated concern about the status of this fishery across Southeast Asia. In this region, at least four species of mud crab in the genus Scylla are recognised but their correct identification and occurrence remain to be fully explained. Relying on accurate taxonomic identification of mud crab species represents the cornerstone of the successful implementation of management plans as life history biology and relative exploitation rates may vary by species due to gear susceptibility. Toward this aim, tissue samples from mud crabs were collected from four fishing communities of the Mergui archipelago, in the Tanintharyi region of southern Myanmar. All crab samples were DNA barcoded for species identification through sequencing. This study is the first genetic characterization of the mud crab fishery in Myanmar and revealed that Scylla olivacea was the only species found in the sampled fisheries of the Tanintharyi region. The populations studied across the Mergui archipelago did not show evidence of genetic structure, but gene flow appeared to be limited among conspecifics from neighbouring countries.

Developmental neurotoxicity study of zeta-cypermethrin

Caves are old features of the landscape and record clues to past climatological conditions, store signs of prehistoric animal and human inhabitation, and provide habitat for species that are adapted to live in subterranean environments. Protecting caves implies protecting both surface and subsurface features and associated species in such a way that systems are resilient to naturally occurring stochastic effects. Cave protection requires an understanding of any factors or threats causing deterioration before steps can be taken to reduce or reverse the damage. Threats originate directly or indirectly from human activities and cause highly localized impacts or more widespread effects. Effective cave protection requires understanding the casual factors, developing and implementing management plans at an appropriate scale to moderate those impacts, monitoring the effects of implementation tasks, and periodically updating plans based on new information. Strategies for protecting caves may be broad in scope, such as international treaties and government legislation, or they may be narrowly defined, such as installing a cave gate to stop illegal artifact excavation. In order to conserve and protect caves, appropriate management tools should be used and may involve closures, access restrictions, and the design of cave preserves through acquisition or management agreement. Management strategies and conservation activities that protect caves are enhanced through educational programs and materials that identify the important of conserving caves and their resources.

Protecting threatened species from coastal infrastructure upgrades: The importance of evidence-based conservation

Increased coastal development and rising sea levels as a result of continuing climate-change put coastal regions at risk from flooding and inundation. A common mitigation response is the construction and upgrade of hard coastal protection structures, such as breakwaters, seawalls, and groynes. The alteration of the coast, together with the introduction of novel materials into coastal waters can negatively impact adjacent habitats and associated organisms. The implementation of management plans that involve scientists, as well as a variety of other stakeholders offer an opportunity to minimise adverse effects to biodiversity or even enhance it, while still protecting infrastructure and people. This study examines the management of an Australian breakwater upgrade and the progressive design finding process, including stakeholder engagement, determination of assessment criteria, and environmental impact assessment. In the course of the latter, scientific research led to the rediscovery of a presumed extinct algal species, Nereia lophocladia, which created an additional challenge and temporarily halted the upgrade. To accommodate this, the breakwater design solution was modified to avoid any impacts on the algal population and, in order to maximise the species' survival, novel ecological engineering approaches were proposed as mitigation strategies. Our case study underpins the value of evidence-based conservation and cooperation among stakeholders as important tools for minimising ecological impacts from coastal infrastructure upgrades.

Population dynamics of an endemic cyprinid (Hypselobarbus kurali): Insights from an exploited reservoir fishery in the Western Ghats of India

AbstractThe Western Ghats of India harbours an exceptional diversity of endemic freshwater fishes, which are threatened because of various anthropogenic stressors, including biological resource use. Lack of organized studies on the population dynamics and exploitation levels of endemic species, however, has hindered the development and implementation of systematic conservation action plans in this region. This is especially true for large cyprinid fishes threatened because of overharvest. This study examined length–weight relationships and length‐structured population dynamics of an endemic large cyprinid (Hypselobarbus kurali), based on data obtained from an artisanal gill‐net fishery in Malampuzha Reservoir. Length–weight analysis suggested the fish exhibited significantly lower exponents than expected under isometry, indicating the growth of H. kurali in the reservoir was negative allometric. The von Bertalanffy growth formula fitted to the length‐frequency data indicated H. kurali grew relatively slower than other large cyprinids in this region. Statistical analysis of recruitment revealed two peaks, implying the fish have two spawning bouts each year. Analysis of mortality and exploitation of the species revealed large‐sized individuals were targeted by the fishers, resulting in an exponential decline in the survivors in the virtual population analysis. Relative yield‐per‐recruit and relative biomass‐per‐recruit analysis indicated the current exploitation rate for the population was greater than the exploitation rate under which the stock would be reduced to half its unexploited biomass. Further, the current exploitation level was more than 60% of the expected maximum exploitation above which the population could collapse. The results of this study identify a serious need to develop and implement management plans to guide the future sustainability of the reservoir fishery of H. kurali.

Implementing principles, criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management in Gabon

ABSTRACTSustainable forest management is the process of managing forest to achieve one or more clearly specified objectives without diminishing the forest’s ability to continue providing goods and services in perpetuity. In this paper, we show how the African Timber Organization/International Tropical Timber Organization principles, criteria and indicators for the sustainable management of African forests can help timber companies assess their progress towards this goal in Gabon. Through a partnership between International Tropical Timber Organization project PD 124/01 Rev. 2(M), the World Wildlife Fund, and the ministry responsible for forests in Gabon, audits were conducted between 2012 and 2014 to evaluate the implementation of sustainable forest management in 14 forest concessions in Gabon. In general, results show that Principle 4, linked to the well-being of workers and local populations, proved the most difficult principle to implement, while Principle 3, dealing with maintaining ecological functions, was the least problematic. A number of companies were found to be experiencing significant difficulties in implementing management plans. It is also clear that independent forest certification has become a key element for ensuring the successful implementation of sustainable forest management.

Monitoring soil creep landsliding in an urban area using persistent scatterer interferometry (El Papiol, Catalonia, Spain)

Soil creep is characterised by slow displacement, with depths of a few meters and loosely defined limits. Buildings and infrastructure located on slopes affected by such landslides may suffer significant damages if their foundations are poorly dimensioned. The presence of soil creep in urban areas makes it necessary to develop landslide activity maps, derive hazard maps, and implement risk management plans. Even though both geological and geomorphological analyses can provide basic information, it is often necessary to use additional techniques to obtain information about ground displacements. This paper proposes a method to derive a soil creep activity map using a multi-approach analysis based on geological, geomorphological, and persistent scatterer interferometry (PSI) data. PSI is a satellite-based technique to estimate land displacement velocity. The work described in this paper was carried out in the town of El Papiol, in the metropolitan area of Barcelona (Spain). This is an urban area that has been heavily affected by soil creep over the past decades. The results achieved show that PSI data substantially improve the information provided by the geological and geomorphological analyses and make it possible to accurately define the landslide area and estimate its activity.

Implementation Plan in Response to the Board-Endorsed Recommendations for the IEO Evaluation Report-"The IMF and Fragile States"

This management implementation plan (MIP) proposes actions to advance the Board-endorsed recommendations of the IEO evaluation “The IMF and Fragile States.” The actions outlined below would have resource implications. While some can be covered by reallocating resources or are already in the Work Program, others may require temporary funding; a review of staffing allocations to countries in fragile and conflict situations (FCS) might call for new permanent resources. The actions are broad in scope and self-reinforcing in effect if adopted as a package. They include: - Message of high-level commitment: Reflecting the actions of this MIP, a Management statement underscoring a strengthened institutional commitment to support FCS accompanies the MIP for Executive Board and IMFC endorsement. - An effective institutional mechanism: A high-level interdepartmental FCS Committee that reports to and seeks guidance in a formal meeting with management twice a year, will be established. The Committee will be tasked to analyze internal and external coordination issues in FCS and propose new ways tostrengthen engagement. An interdepartmental Technical Taskforce will support the Committee and report on progress in implementing this MIP, including through a Board paper on Review of FCS Engagement at end-2020. - Country engagement strategies: FCS teams will develop country engagement strategies that, drawing on relevant external expertise, will explicitly allow for thesocial and political context and the factors underpinning fragility; and lay the basis for full integration of capacity development (CD) with surveillance and lending. - Providing more sustained financial support: Staff is reviewing the lending toolkit for low-income countries to provide more tailored and flexible support, including for FCS, while ensuring uniformity of treatment. Staff will report on efforts to support FCS with protracted arrears to the Fund in the upcoming reviews of overdue financial obligations. - Practical steps to increase the impact of its CD support: Measures already in train will be complemented by the forthcoming Capacity Development (CD) Strategy Review’s assessment of initiatives to better integrate CD and Surveillance, including in FCS. Staff will also review the experience with provision of statistical and financial CD in FCS. And consideration will be given to establishing a FCS multi-donor trust fund or another suitable financing vehicle to address unmet needs for long-term experts. - Human Resources (HR) issues: The forthcoming phase of the HR Strategy will look into strategic workforce and career planning, including recruitment, and will consider actions to ensure that the Fund has appropriate staff expertise and experience to work effectively in fragile states. This will include the introduction of a “career” playbook that provides incentives for staff to be more responsive to the needs of the Fund in FCS. Adequacy of staffing allocations to FCS missions will be reviewed to ensure evenhanded treatment of the membership. Staff training on FCS will also be stepped up.

Implementation Plan in Response to the Board-Endorsed Recommendations for the IEO Evaluation Report - "The IMF and Social Protection"

This paper sets out Management’s response to the Independent Evaluation Office’s (IEO) report on “The IMF and Social Protection.” The management implementation plan (MIP) proposes specific actions to address the IEO recommendations endorsed by the Executive Board in its discussion on July 19, 2017, specifically to: (i) establish a clear strategic framework to guide Fund involvement in social protection; (ii) provide tailored advice based on in-depth analysis of the particular country situation; (iii) find more realistic and effective approaches to program design and conditionality to ensure that adverse impacts of program measures on the most vulnerable are mitigated; (iv) realistically explain in external communications the IMF’s approach to social protection issues; and (v) engage actively in inter-institutional cooperation on social protection to find ways to work constructively with development partners, particularly institutions with different mandates and policy priorities. The MIP notes that the Board underscored the need to be mindful of the Fund’s mandate to engage only in macro-critical areas while bearing in mind its resource constraints and comparative expertise in implementing these recommendations. Implementation of some of these proposed actions is already underway. The paper also explains how implementation will be monitored and the MIP’s resource implications.

Impact of Wari-Maro classified forest management plan implementation on the structure and specific diversity of vegetation types in Benin (West Africa)

Impact of Wari-Maro classified forest management plan implementation on the structure and specific diversity of vegetation types in Benin (West Africa)

Mapping soil salinity in 3‐dimensions using an EM38 and EM4Soil inversion modelling at the reconnaissance scale in central Morocco

AbstractLarge areas of Morocco require irrigation and although good quality water is available in dams, farmers augment river water with poorer quality ground water, resulting in salt build‐up without a sufficient leaching fraction. Implementation of management plans requires baseline reconnaissance maps of salinity. We developed a method to map the distribution of salinity profiles by establishing a linear regression (LR) between calculated true electrical conductivity (σ, mS/m) and electrical conductivity of the saturated soil‐paste extract (ECe, dS/m). Estimates of σ were obtained by inverting the apparent electrical conductivity (ECa, mS/m) collected from a 500‐m grid survey using an EM38. Spherical variograms were developed to interpolate ECa data onto a 100 m grid using residual maximum likelihood. Inversion was carried out on kriged ECa data using a quasi‐3d model (EM4Soil software), selecting the cumulative function (CF) forward modelling and S2 inversion algorithm with a damping factor of 3.0. Using a ‘leave‐one‐out cross‐validation' (LOOCV), of one in 12 of the calibration sites, the use of the q‐3d model yielded a high accuracy (RMSE = 0.42 dS/m), small bias (ME = −0.02 dS/m) and Lin's concordance (0.91). Slightly worse results were obtained using individual LR established at each depth increment overall (i.e. RMSE = 0.45 dS/m; ME = 0.00 dS/m; Lin's = 0.89) with the raw EM38 ECa. Inversion required a single LR (ECe = 0.679 + 0.041 × σ), enabling efficiencies in estimating ECe at any depth across the irrigation district. Final maps of ECe, along with information on water used for irrigation (ECw) and the characterization of properties of the two main soil types, enabled better understanding of causes of secondary soil salinity. The approach can be applied to problematic saline areas with saline water tables.

The psychometric properties of the Life History of Aggression evaluated in patients from a psychiatric emergency setting

Aggression is a major concern in psychiatric units even more so in emergency settings and is prevalent across many mental disorders. Since a prior history of aggression remains a crucial predictor of violence in hospitalized patients, appropriate tools assessing the history of violence are essential to implement management plans. The Life History of Aggression (LHA) is a widely-utilized instrument. Yet, its psychometric properties have not been thoroughly evaluated and it has neither been validated in a variety of psychiatric illnesses nor in psychiatric emergency settings. To fill this gap, the properties of a French version of the LHA administered to 1097 psychiatric patients in this setting were examined. The internal consistency, construct validity, test-retest reliability and convergent validity were analysed. Regarding the internal consistency, the Cronbach's alpha varied between 0.83 and 0.89. The confirmatory factor analysis showed that it had one underlying factor, though gender invariance was not observed. Amid 148 patients reassessed within 30 days, the test-retest reliability produced a strong correlation coefficient above 0.80. Lastly, as for convergent validity, the scale was significantly correlated with a validated drug misuse scale. Hence, the LHA retains very good psychometric properties even when evaluated in a psychiatric emergency setting, justifying its clinical pertinence.

Ciclo reproductivo de la ascidia Pyura chilensis (Urochordata: Ascidiacea) procedente de líneas de cultivo de mitílidos

The solitary sea squirt Pyura chilensis , is considered a resource of economic importance in the artisanal fisheries sector. This organism has a great capability to colonize artificial substrates, taking part in the encrusting fauna in long-line culture systems of ostreid and mussel, affecting the growth efficiency of these resources. For this reason, is necessary to know biological - reproductive aspects of P. chilensis in order to generate new information for future implementation of management plan, conservation and cultivation of this resource in the Region de Los Lagos, Chile. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reproductive cycle and settlement patterns of P. chilensis, analyzing the condition index and gonadal histology of organisms which come from a mussel farming system in Estero Huito, Calbuco (41°43’S;73°09’W) during 12 months. In addition, the settlement substrate preference of P. chilensis larvae was examined, using two artificial surfaces. The condition index (wet mass-siphonal distance) showed an increase between June and September, coinciding with low temperatures period and the spawning season (organisms in stage IV). However, recruit presence between November and June shows possible spawning events in other seasons. It was observed between 40 and 100% to gonadal stages II and/or III in the sampled organisms during the study period, which suggest a continuous gametogenesis. In addition, the larval settlement was higher in rough-dark substrate ( raschel mesh) than in plastic surface. In conclusion, the study area may be recruiting throughout the year, but at different intensity levels. This information would allow planning the collectors location to attract the seasquirts recruits, generating a continuous production of P. chilensis and decreasing the infestation in others crops.

The Land Ethic of Ranchers: A Core Value Despite Divergent Views of Government

In the western United States, the management and use of public lands for livestock grazing is a frequent source of conflict among environmentalists, federal agencies, and ranchers. Since at least the early 1980s, the rhetoric of the “sagebrush rebellion” has reinforced a public perception that ranchers are both antigovernment and anticonservation. Sustainable management of public lands used for livestock grazing depends on both federal agency personnel, who enforce regulations, and ranchers, who use the land and implement management plans on a day-to-day basis. As a result, the attitudes of ranchers toward conservation can have a significant impact on the overall ecological health of public rangelands. We conducted a study of ranchers in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico using Q Methodology to understand their views and motivations about ranching, conservation, and the government. Our results show three complex viewpoints, which we term radical center ranchers (20% of variance), innovative conservationists (19% of variance), and traditional ranchers (12% of variance). A commitment to conservation and corresponding lack of anticonservation sentiment is held across these viewpoints. Mistrust of government coexists with conservation values for two groups. This information is useful for finding common ground between ranchers and government officials, conservationists, and extension agents on range management and conservation goals.

Eighth Periodic Monitoring Report on the Status of Implementation Plans in Response to Board-Endorsed IEO Recommendations

Monitoring Report (PMR) on the Status of Management Implementation Plans (MIPs) in Response to Board-Endorsed IEO Recommendations assesses the progress made over the last year on actions contained in the four MIPs arising from recent IEO evaluations, and another four for which individual management actions were classified as still “in progress” in the Seventh PMR. Overall, 34 of the 77 actions included in the eight MIPs covered in this PMR remain open. Progress on the actions envisaged in the management implementation plans has been somewhat uneven, with more progress being made on the most recent MIPs. Of the 19 actions that have been implemented over the past year, only three relate to the older management actions. Many of the older actions are more broadly worded, and in many instances have no clear timetable. The actions that are progressing more slowly also tend to involve fundamental changes to institutional culture and practices, and therefore require a continuous, long-term effort. In spite of the slower progress on the older actions, significant advances have been made in several key areas. These include: Fund-wide risk analysis and management; the mainstreaming of macro financial surveillance; training on financial sector topics and macro forecasting; acknowledgement, discussion, and dissemination of information on IMF forecasts; the shift towards increasing reliance on quota resources, relative to borrowing; and the approval of the new Statement of Principles and Best Practices in Self-Evaluation. In addition, the 2015 Staff Survey showed significant improvements in several indicators related to the Fund’s internal culture and institutional values. Overall, management and staff appear committed to ensuring that open actions remain on track. Progress on all open actions will be assessed in future PMRs.

Low effectiveness of the Natura 2000 network in preventing land-use change in bat hotspots

One of the most important issues in biodiversity conservation is an exploration of the relationships among protected areas, land-use changes and biodiversity, so we aimed to assess the performance of the Natura 2000 network (N2000) in representing the bat conservation hotspots in peninsular Spain and the Balearic Islands and to compare the rates of land-use changes within these hotspots with those observed throughout the rest of the study area. First, we applied a Combined Index that integrates various biodiversity metrics (species richness, rarity and vulnerability) to identify hotspots, and once they were identified, we used null models to assess the performance of N2000 in representing them. Finally, also using null models, we tested whether the changes in land use (“anthropization” or “naturalization”) within the hotspots occurred at a significantly higher or lower frequency than in the rest of the study area; for this, we considered two temporal windows (1980–2006 and 2006–2012) corresponding with periods before and after the official designation of the N2000 sites. Our results show that bat hotspots are effectively represented in the Iberian N2000, but although land-use changes were generally higher in Spain before 2006, hotspots have not experienced lower rates of change compared to the remainder of the territory (regardless of the period under consideration). This suggests low effectiveness of the Iberian N2000 in preventing land-use change in bat hotspots, so to preserve the Iberian bat fauna, we encourage the urgent implementation of management plans to avoid intensive changes in land use both inside and around bat hotspots.

High Level Status Report to the IEO Evaluation of Fund's Recurring Issues

This is a high-level report on progress in addressing recurring issues identified by the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO). The Board endorsed the proposal in the Chairman’s Summing Up for the Independent Evaluation Office Report on Recurring Issues from a Decade of Evaluation – Lessons for the IMF (BUFF/14/58, 6/11/14) that staff prepare a separate high-level report on the status of initiatives that address the recurring issues identified by the IEO, noting that the first staff report could be prepared within two years, followed by similar reports every five years thereafter. The September 2015 Management Implementation Plan set out the actions management would take to follow-up on the Board-endorsed recommendation. The IEO’s 2014 evaluation of Recurring Issues from a Decade of Evaluation: Lessons for the IMF identified five recurring issues: a) Executive Board guidance and oversight; b) Organizational silos; c) Attention to risks and uncertainty; d) Country and institutional context; and e) Evenhandedness. This high-level report provides a broad account of actions taken to address these recurring issues since the publication of the 2014 IEO report; it is not intended as an exhaustive account of initiatives undertaken. Takeaways. The report concludes that the Fund has made progress in addressing the recurring issues identified by the IEO, and acknowledges the need for taking actions on an ongoing basis to achieve the related objectives. The discussion of the Management Implementation Plan (MIP) left open the question of whether subsequent reports should be prepared, perhaps every five years. The Evaluation Committee concluded that the forthcoming external evaluation of the IEO could look at the monitoring mechanisms more holistically, to provide further input into considering whether or not to continue the preparation every five years of this high-level report.

Farm-level Economic and Water Quality Impacts of Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan Implementation in the Ohio River Basin

In this article, we provide an assessment of comprehensive nutrient management plans (CNMPs) as a tool for addressing nonpoint nutrient and sediment losses from the animal feeding operations (AFOs) in the Ohio River Basin. We employ a macro modeling system to determine the aggregate economic and water quality impacts of CNMP implementation on AFOs in the entire basin. Results of the study indicate that implementing CNMPs on AFOs will help reduce sediment and organic nutrient losses from their current levels at moderate cost. The flexibility inherent in CNMP designs means farmers may be able to achieve water quality and other conservation goals at less cost with CNMPs than with other less flexible policy options.