Viability reduce, reuse, recycle… Conservation Coaches Network Coach Training

How much is enough? What are the minimum conditions for the long-term persistence and adaptation of a species or population in a given place? What is the probability of persistence over the long- term? How many individuals are needed to achieve a 95% probability of persistence for 100 years? Viability What is the question?

Key Ecological Attributes – important characteristics Indicators – what you actually measure “Reduce, reuse, recycle” KEAs if one will work for more than one target Ranking (especially Good versus Fair) Iterative, if in doubt, just try it... Viability Key Points to Introduce this Step

Is each Key Ecological Attribute really key? Do the rating thresholds look right? Do they claim to know more than they really do? Climate change – are there targets with poor viability that are not favored by future climate(s)? Critical Questions to Ask the Team Viability

Issue: KEAs framed in terms of “stress” o KEAs should be framed in terms of natural characteristics and dynamics - the inverse of stresses o e.g. “miles of free flowing river,” not “presence of dams” o e.g. “population growth rate,” not “poaching mortality” Common Issues & Recommendations Viability

Issue: Relating key attributes to size, condition, and landscape context o Each key attribute can be assigned to size, condition, or landscape context, but don’t get too bogged down in figuring out which one o Size, condition and landscape context are just there to help organize the discussion Viability Common Issues & Recommendations

Issue: Ratings based on “the best that is left” o Ratings should be based on “objective” standards for long- term persistence not on conservation feasibility or the best that remains o “Good” should persist for a century or more o Probe “poor” ratings – poor means “about to be lost” Viability Common Issues & Recommendations

Issue: Real data versus expert opinion o Ultimately the goal is to collect actual data on each indicator and rate it accordingly. However, most projects will use expert opinion and will gradually phase in more precise information over time. Viability Common Issues & Recommendations

Work into viability slowly -- it’s complex Proceed one target at a time – develop 1-3 KEAs & their associated indicators Sometimes talking about KEA’s using medical metaphors - can really help teams to “get it.” Helpful Hints Viability

Don’t try to fill in all indicator ratings immediately - the current status and Good (i.e. viable) are all that is needed initially Use informed expert opinion and qualitative descriptive language for ratings if numbers are not available o e.g. Poor = “Lots of in-stream barriers” Urge the teams to document their sources and thinking Viability Helpful Hints

“Minimum dynamic area” is a helpful concept for size thresholds (i.e. Good). It is typically based on two factors: severe historic disturbance regime & home range for wide-ranging nested animal species Nested targets may also provide insights into key attributes or indicators Be wary of “Connectivity” as a key attribute without considering “connectivity for what…” Viability Helpful Hints

While historical information can provide a useful benchmark, don’t get hung up on the system’s historical condition (e.g. pre-settlement) -- instead consider what species & communities we care about today, and what is needed for them to persist Viability Helpful Hints

A decision support worksheet exists to assist. Encourage free thinking and general discussion about viability in the workshop. Capture the big ideas and observations and don’t worry about getting details right. Consider convening a smaller “science” subgroup before the whole team meets – otherwise you may lose the attention of less scientific members of the team. Assign the targets to more scientific members of the teams to follow-up after the workshop by interviewing experts or reviewing the literature to gain more precision. Look to TNC’s ConPro system online for similar targets, KEAs, indicators. Viability Helpful Hints