2A-1. Develop a Formal Action Plan: Strategy Selection Conservation Coaches Network Workshop Presentation

Attribution Product of the Conservation Coaches Network, 2012 These presentations were developed based on materials from Foundations of Success (FOS), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). CCNet strongly recommends that this presentation is given by experts familiar with the adaptive management process presented by the Conservation Measures Partnership’s Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation.Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation You are free to share this presentation and adapt it for your use. Please attribute the work to CCNet or FOS, TNC and WWF. If you significantly alter, transform, or build upon this work, it may be appropriate to remove the CCNet logo.

Adaptive Management Workshop Presentations 1A-1B. Team, Scope, Vision 1B. Conservation Targets 1B. Viability Assessment 2A-1. Strategy Selection 2A-2. Results Chains 2A-3. Goals and Objectives 2B. Monitoring Plan 1C. Threat Rating 1D. Conceptual Models

Plan Your Actions & Monitoring Strategy Selection

Brainstorm & Select Strategies Strategy Selection

X X Brainstorm & Select Strategies Strategy Selection

This Presentation 1.What Are Strategies 2.How to Brainstorm & Select Strategies 3.Example Strategy Selection

What are Strategies? Strategy: A group of actions with a common focus that work together to reduce threats, capitalize on opportunities, and/or restore natural systems.  designed to achieve specific objectives and goals  includes one or more activities  generally developed to influence key intervention points in your conceptual model Strategy Selection

Difference Between a Strategy and an Activity Within a Strategy (a group of actions with a common focus)… e.g., create markets in sustainably harvested fish Activity – A specific action or set of tasks, within an overall strategy e.g., conduct feasibility tests, train fishermen in new techniques, identify markets for fish… Strategy Selection

Define Your Strategies A Good Strategy Meets the Criteria: Linked to Critical Factors: Directly affects one or more critical factors in your conceptual model Focused: Outlines specific courses of action that need to be carried out Feasible: Accomplishable in light of the project's resources and constraints. Appropriate: Acceptable to and fitting within project- specific cultural, social, and biological norms. Strategy Selection

General Types of Strategies Threat Abatement Strategy Restoration Strategy (to enhance viability) Strategy Selection

Hints for Naming Strategies Start with a verb If useful, specify who Clearly describing the strategy may require a longer name - or (better) a description in “details” (in Miradi) Certification WCS will change forest code to permit certification Complete legal analysis and work with Forest Department to change forest code to permit certification Change forest code to permit certification VS. Strategy Selection

Examples of Strategies Obtain legal protection for vernal pool grasslands Manage dredging activity to maximize habitat creation for Reddish Egrets Build awareness of agricultural best management practices Work with hydropower company to manage flows and increase fish passage Strengthen fishing regulations Identify, detect and control invasives Strategy Selection

This Presentation 1.What Are Strategies 2.How to Brainstorm & Prioritize Strategies 3.Example Strategy Selection

How to Brainstorm & Prioritize Strategies 1.Select a direct threat and target(s) and review contributing factors 2.Select key intervention points 3.Brainstorm potential strategies to influence key intervention points 4.Rate strategies 5.Select final strategies 6.Apply criteria for strategies Strategy Selection

Our Example- Swan Coastal Plain Wetlands Adapted from WWF Australia’s Wetlands Watch Project Strategy Selection

1. Select a Threat and Target, Review Contributing Factors Illegal clearing by landowners Eucalyptus woodlands Seasonally flooded wetlands Strategy Selection

In Miradi, select the direct threat, right- click & select “Brainstorm mode” 1. Select a Threat and Target, Review Contributing Factors

Brainstorm Mode in Miradi Strategy Selection

Questions to Keep in Mind In reviewing the factors contributing to this threat, make sure that you can answer these questions: –What is causing this threat to happen? What social, economic, cultural, political and institutional factors are contributing to the threat? –Who is involved – directly or indirectly? –Why are they doing it? –Are there opportunities – factors that could contribute to reducing the threat? Strategy Selection

If Necessary, Add Missing Factors Strategy Selection

2. Select Key Intervention Points Strategy Selection Select “key intervention points” – factors that need to be changed to reduce the threat

2. Select Key Intervention Points Strategy Selection Select “key intervention points” – factors that need to be changed to reduce the threat

3. Brainstorm Potential Strategies to Influence Key Intervention Points Strategy Selection

Advice for Strategy Brainstorming Consider the scale at which you are working and whether your strategies should be broader or more specific (e.g., a strategy at the site level could be an activity at the ecoregional level) Don’t limit yourself to typical strategies or what you are already doing – think broadly! Consider what your team will do vs. what other organizations/partners will do Strategy Selection

3. Brainstorm Potential Strategies to Influence Key Intervention Points Not all strategies have to link directly to a key intervention point. This strategy is designed to increase landowner awareness of laws by involving them in land use planning Strategy Selection

3. Brainstorm Potential Strategies to Influence Key Intervention Points Strategy Selection

4. Rate Strategies – 2 Criteria Potential Impact – Degree to which the strategy (if implemented) will lead to desired changes in the situation at your project site Very High – The strategy is very likely to completely mitigate a threat or restore a target. High – The strategy is likely to help mitigate a threat or restore a target. Medium – The strategy could possibly help mitigate a threat or restore a target. Low – The strategy will probably not contribute to meaningful threat mitigation or target restoration. I break this into 2 steps: Rate & weed out Strategy Selection

4. Rate Strategies – 2 criteria Feasibility – Degree to which your project team could implement the strategy within likely time, financial, staffing, ethical, and other constraints Very High – The strategy is ethically, technically, AND financially feasible. High – The strategy is ethically and technically feasible, but may require some additional financial resources. Medium – The strategy is ethically feasible, but either technically OR financially difficult without substantial additional resources. Low – The strategy is not ethically, technically, OR financially feasible. Strategy Selection

4. Rate Strategies in Miradi Strategy Selection

Miradi Roll-up Rules for Strategy Ratings Very HighHighMediumLow Very High Very Effective EffectiveLess Effective Not Effective High Effective Less Effective Not Effective Medium Less Effective Not Effective Low Not Effective Feasibility Potential Impact Minimum of the 2 scores always wins Strategy Selection

4. Rate Strategies in Miradi Strategy Selection

4. Rate Strategies in Miradi Strategy Selection

5. Select Final Strategies Strategy Selection Weed out strategies not likely to be the most effective X X

5. Select Final Strategies Strategy Selection Weed out strategies not likely to be the most effective ? X X

5. Select Final Strategies Strategy Selection

5. Select Final Strategies Strategy Selection

Final Strategies in the Conceptual Model Strategy Selection

6. Apply Criteria for Strategies Linked to Critical Factors: Directly affects one or more critical factors in your conceptual model Focused: Outlines specific courses of action that need to be carried out Feasible: Accomplishable in light of the project's resources and constraints. Appropriate: Acceptable to and fitting within site-specific cultural, social, and biological norms. Strategy Selection

This Presentation 1.What Are Strategies 2.How to Brainstorm & Select Strategies 3.Example Strategy Selection

Example of a Strategy Brainstorm San Luis Obispo Science and Ecosystem Alliance (SLOSEA, California, USA) Strategy Selection

Conservation strategies are a group of actions designed to enhance viability of a target (GOAL) and/or abate a critical threat (OBJECTIVE). Goals & Objectives – What you want to accomplish Strategies – How you are going to get there Complex projects & problems require suite of strategies. The job is to get the “colors” in the Viability and Threat tables from Red & Yellow to Green – often a life’s work. 3 to 5 well-crafted strategies is a lot of work!!! Key Points Strategies

Relationship Between a Goal, Strategy and Activities Goal (restoration) Within five years replace 20 % of the lost mangrove population Strategy4. Establish a replanting program. Activity #14.1 Collect seedlings Activity #24.2 Cultivate plants Activity #34.3 Organize volunteers Activity #44.4 Prepare site and plant mangrove seedlings Activity #54.5 Provide maintenance until seedlings are well established Strategy Selection

Breakout Instructions Select Your Conservation Strategies 1.Select a priority threat 2.In Miradi, right-click on this threat and select “Brainstorm mode.” Miradi will transfer the direct threat and all factors linked to it to a new workspace. 3.If necessary, add more contributing factors 4.Select key intervention points 5.Brainstorm draft strategies 6.Rate your draft strategies in Miradi 7.Select final strategies 8.Repeat Steps 1-6 for a second priority threat, if time permits. Strategy Selection