Action 5.4 Priority research
There are a large number of ecological issues that need to be better understood in the MMNR that neither the KWS Research Station nor MMNR management have staff or the resources to address. However, the MMNR is a highly desirable research location, and the demand for carrying out research in the MMNR by external researchers and scientists is unlikely to diminish over the implementation period of this plan. If properly targeted, and reported back to management (in line with the protocol developed under the previous action), the information generated by these external researchers has the potential to play an important role in informing the ecological management of the area. Therefore, while not seeking to exclude non-management orientated research in the MMNR, priority areas that MMNR management would like information on will be identified and publicised. Any subsequent applications to carry out research addressing these areas will be given priority, especially if there are a high number of applications for research at a given time. A preliminary list of studies that have already been identified as research priorities during the development of this management programme is shown in the table below. Once finalised, this list will be made available, along with the MMNR Research Protocol, from MMNR management, the Research Station, and on the Internet.
graphic