1. © Foundations of Success
5. Conceptual Models
© Foundations of Success

2. Adaptive Management Course Outline
Team, Scope, Vision
Conservation Targets
Viability Assessment
Goals
Determining Strategies
Results Chains
Objectives and Activities
Threat Rating
Conceptual Model
CMP’s
Open Standards Project Cycle
Monitoring Plan

3. Step 1
Conceptualize

4. This Presentation What Are Situation Analysis and Conceptual Models
How to Develop Conceptual Models
Examples
How Project Teams Have Used Conceptual Models

5. A Common Challenge in Conservation
How can people from many different perspectives involved in a project productively discuss the problems that they face?
There are problems of:
Inconsistent use of terms
Different goals
Varying assumptions
Sometimes people think they are speaking a common language and operating under the same goals and assumptions, but how can they really be sure if they have not explicitly agreed on these with other team members?

6. A Solution...
Conceptual models

7. What is Situation Analysis?
A process that will help your project team create together a common understanding of your project’s context – including the biological, environment and the social, economic, political, and institutional systems that affect the conservation targets you want to conserve.
Can be in-depth, formal study or less formal description based on available information and/or knowledge of key informants

8. What is a Conceptual Model?
A diagram that portrays what is happening at a project site (tool for documenting situation analysis). It shows the major forces (threats and opportunities) that are influencing biodiversity and lays out the causal relationships among those forces.
A good conceptual model…
Conceptual model is a tool for documenting your situation analysis

9. 1. Presents a picture of the situation at the project site
It should include your:

10. 2. Shows assumed linkages between factors

11. 3. Shows major direct threats and indirect threats and opportunities
Indirect Threats & Opportunities (Root Causes): Factors that contribute (positively or negatively) to direct threats

12. 4. Presents only relevant factors

13. 4. Presents only relevant factors

14. 4. Presents only relevant factors
But, how relevant are these other factors to what you can do at your project site?

15. 4. Presents only relevant factors
But, how relevant are these other factors to what you can do at your project site?

16. 4. Presents only relevant factors
But, how relevant are these other factors to what you can do at your project site?

17. 4. Presents only relevant factors
But, how relevant are these other factors to what you can do at your project site?

18. 4. Presents only relevant factors
But, how relevant are these other factors to what you can do at your project site?

19. 5. Is based on sound data and information
Existing Information
Primary Information
Existing Information: Data that have already been collected for some other purpose than designing and monitoring your project
Primary Information: Data that you specifically collect while designing and monitoring your project

20. 6. Results from a team effort

21. A Good Conceptual Model:
Presents a picture of your site
Shows assumed relationships between factors
Shows major direct threats and indirect threats and opportunities
Presents only relevant factors
Based on sound data and information
Results from a team effort

22. This Presentation What Are Situation Analysis and Conceptual Models
How to Develop Conceptual Models
Examples
How Project Teams Have Used Conceptual Models

23. 1. Place Your Project Scope, Targets and Direct Threats
Mention:
Opportunities
Showing uncertainty in relationships (with a ?)

24. 2. Add Indirect Threats and Opportunities
Limited awareness of sustainable land management
Weak law enforcement
Mention:
Opportunities
Showing uncertainty in relationships (with a ?)

25. 2. Add Indirect Threats and Opportunities
Ineffective policies for wetland management
Mention:
Opportunities
Showing uncertainty in relationships (with a ?)

26. 2. Add Indirect Threats and Opportunities
A growing population that is putting increased pressure on food, water, and land resources
Mention:
Opportunities
Showing uncertainty in relationships (with a ?)

27. 2. Add Indirect Threats and Opportunities
Mention:
Opportunities
Showing uncertainty in relationships (with a ?)
Economic disincentive for pesticide-free farming

28. 2. Add Indirect Threats and Opportunities
Mention:
Opportunities
Showing uncertainty in relationships (with a ?)

29. This Presentation What Are Situation Analysis and Conceptual Models
How to Develop Conceptual Models
Examples
How Project Teams Have Used Conceptual Models

30. Example: Watershed Site
Mention:
Opportunities
Showing uncertainty in relationships (with a ?)

31. Example: Watershed Site
Mention:
Opportunities
Showing uncertainty in relationships (with a ?)

32. Example: Watershed Site
Mention:
Opportunities
Showing uncertainty in relationships (with a ?)

33. Example: Watershed Site
Mention:
Opportunities
Showing uncertainty in relationships (with a ?)

34. This Presentation What Are Situation Analysis and Conceptual Models
How to Develop Conceptual Models
Examples
How Project Teams Have Used Conceptual Models

35. How Have Teams Used Conceptual Models?
To help team members agree on what is happening at their site
Hudson River – large group of stakeholders – approximately 70 people from 35 different organizations. Came together and agreed on the targets and threats. For each of high priority threats, developed more detailed conceptual model

36. How Have Teams Used Conceptual Models?
To communicate with and engage donors, partners and stakeholders
Hudson River – large group of stakeholders – approximately 70 people from 25 different organizations. Came together and agreed on the targets and threats. For each of high priority threats, developed more detailed conceptual model

37. How Have Teams Used Conceptual Models?
To provide a framework for strategic planning
Example of the factors leading to threat of incompatible development. Chose 2 that were important leverage points and also areas where there was existing expertise within the group.

38. How Have Teams Used Conceptual Models?
To develop monitoring & evaluation plans
Knowing what factors they are trying to influence – at a minimum, need to monitor those factors in the model related to the areas where they are taking action.

39. How Have Teams Used Conceptual Models?
To develop monitoring & evaluation plans
Might also want to measure a few other key factors that might influence the extent to which they can be successful with their strategy.

40. Instructions Assignment - Develop a Conceptual Model
Develop a Conceptual Model based on your team’s current knowledge of your site
Assemble your project team
Place your project scope, conservation targets and direct threats
Add indirect threats and opportunities
Document your work in the Diagram view of Miradi
Prepare a 15-minute presentation of your conceptual model. During the presentation, we suggest describing the model from the right (conservation targets) to the left (direct threats and then indirect threats and opportunities). Since you already described your conservation targets and direct threats during previous classes, you can just mention them briefly here.