What type of monitoring would focus on landscape or reef level metrics?

The concept of universal metrics is centered around assessing the broader impacts of coral restoration efforts on entire ecosystems, rather than focusing solely on specific population dynamics or individual species. This monitoring approach examines landscape or reef-level metrics, such as overall coral cover, biodiversity indices, and the health of associated marine life. By looking at these comprehensive indicators, universal metrics can provide valuable insights into the condition of the reef system as a whole and help determine the effectiveness of restoration strategies across large areas.

In contrast, other types of monitoring may focus more narrowly on specific projects or individual species rather than the overarching health and dynamics of the ecosystem. For instance, implementation monitoring typically evaluates whether the activities of a project are being carried out as planned, while effectiveness monitoring assesses whether the specific goals of a project are being achieved. Ecosystem impact monitoring might focus on particular interactions within the ecosystem but not capture the overall landscape-level changes that universal metrics aim to address.