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Tawake, A., Meo, S., Cakacaka, A. and Aalbersberg, W.G.L. 2004. Institute of Applied Sciences,  USP

The paper describes the process used by the Fiji Locally Managed Marine-Area (FLMMA) Network to train communities in simple biological monitoring and data presentation and to develop a biological monitoring plan for their projects. The contents of each session and tools used in this training manual have previously been tested in several other FLMMA sites and further refinement has been applied through the community biological monitoring training for five FLMMA project sites at Tagaqe village in 2003.

This document could be useful to those wanting to work with communities to develop community-based monitoring. Examples are provided from activities that were carried out with participants from FLMMA sites during the workshop. There are also useful examples of how to explain good and bad sampling design to a community using activities with visual illustrations and guidance on discussing the importance of paired sampling. Three monitoring methods are discussed (belt transect, line transect and timed count) with clear instructions and sample data sheets