1. Conservation Action Planning
Conservation Strategies

3. Conservation Strategies
A conservation strategy is a broad course of action intended to achieve a specific objective (outcome) that abates a threat and/or enhances the viability of a conservation target.
There are 5 major strategic approaches that TNC typically implements.
Review slide.
The site conservation planning process helps us determine which of these actions are appropriate for the site.

4. Conservation Strategies – 3 “parts”
Objective (Outcome)
Strategic Actions
Action Steps

5. the outcomes you wish to achieve
Objectives
the outcomes you wish to achieve

6. Why do we do this?
This step shifts thinking from problem-centered to solution-focused
Objective!!
New ideas are more likely to “bubble up” when you lift your eyes toward your vision of success not when you are face-down in the grim details of the problem

7. Conservation Objectives
Each objective is designed to……
Abate a critical threat and/or…
Enhance the viability of a target
Each objective is linked to a
Red or Yellow cell
or cells in the Excel workbook

8. Threat Objective
Objective: No golf courses on valley floor or perimeter in perpetuity
Sierra Valley
Threat Summary

9. Restoration Objective
Objective: By 2025, ensure “Good” base flows in summer (Aug-Oct) so that no sections of river go dry
Carson River
Viability Summary

10. Use Key Attributes and Benchmarks to Set Viability Objectives
Objective: By 2025, ensure “Good” base flows in summer (Aug-Oct) so that no sections of river go dry (~50 to 75 CFS in dry years)
Key Attribute = Hydrologic regime

11. Sample Objectives
By 2015, Ensure 10,000 acres of prairie dog complexes exist in the Chico Basin and are connected throughout the Chico Basin core area.

12. Sample Objectives
Eliminate human disturbances (fishing, birding, jogging, dog walking) at key feeding locations (see map) during 4-week bird migration time period

13. Objectives - Be Specific!!!
SMART
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time Bound
What?
Where?
How much?
What time frame?
All tied to specific threats….specific targets

14. what you DO to achieve the outcome
Strategic Actions
what you DO to achieve the outcome

15. Types of strategic action
Acquisition of interest in land or water
Protective Designation of land or water
Management of lands or waters
Restoration of lands or waters
Establishment of new policies

16. Types of Strategies (cont.)
Development of new land or water use activities that demonstrate more sustainable practices (Compatible Economic Development)
Establishment of new funding sources to accomplish additional conservation activities
Development of targeted information and education programs encouraging specific actions

17. Strategic Actions What to look for?
Clarity and enough content that you can
reasonably envision how……
if these actions are implemented…..
substantive progress will be made toward your objective!

18. Action Steps The first things you will do to move forward…
Detailed “tasks” vs. high-impact strategic actions

19. Illustrative Strategies Objectives, Strategic Actions
and Action Steps

20. Sample Restoration Strategy
Objective
4.Within five years replace 20 % of the lost mangrove population
Strategic action
Establish a replanting program.
Action step #1
Collect seedlings
Action step #2
Cultivate plants
Action step #3
Organize volunteers
Action step #4
Site preparation
Action step #5
Plant them

21. Sample Strategy Objective
By 2010, Prevent introduction and establishment of any new non-native, invasive species to Bay waters. Also, mitigate and slow the spread of harmful invasive species in the Bay waters and tributaries
Strategic action
Create mechanisms (MOUs, funding, etc.) for regional coordination and cooperation on approaches to develop early detection and prevention programs for Bay through active participation in the Chesapeake Bay Program Exotic Species Task Force.
Action step #1
Determine what Bay Exotic Species Task Force had done to date.
Action step #2
Determine who from each of the key states needs to be involved with the task force
Work with state Invasive Species Councils to determine scope of the current invasive species problem in the Chesapeake Bay.
Research existing data to demonstrate potential economic and ecological threats

22. Any Questions?
Strategy =
Objective +
Strategic Actions +
Action Steps

23. Steps in developing a Strategic Approach to abate a threat

24. Start with a critical threat

25. 1. Define your OBJECTIVE The desired Outcome that will abate the critical threat at sufficient scale

26. 2. “Probe” – Analyze the situation surrounding/driving the threat

27. Analyze the situation Why?
Evaluate the strategic importance of factors that are driving the threats
Identify key constituencies
Identify opportunities, not just problems
Find the logical points of intervention

28. Ask and discuss your answers to “Probing Questions”

29. Inquiring minds want to know...
Is there an underlying cause (driver) of the threat -- social, cultural, economic?
Who is involved?
What are their needs?
Who else is likely to be effected +/- ?
What motivates the key players?
Who will determine the outcome?
Etc.?

30. Three Magic Questions For Each Threat:
What is causing this threat to happen?
Who is involved -- directly or indirectly?
Why are they doing it?
+ a tip always capture your thinking in text or diagram
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?

31. Simple diagram Situation Diagram
A boxes and arrow diagram that helps capture your analysis
Who is
involved?
Who else cares?
What is causing
this threat?
Direct
Threat
Why?
Target
Dive
Tour
Boats
Tourism
Assoc No
Moorings
Offshore
Reefs
Anchor
Damage
A good conceptual model contains the target condition on one side, and a number of factors (stresses and sources) and strategies linked to this target condition.
First we create a Initial Conceptual Model, which describes the site’s target condition, factors (stresses and sources) and relationships prior to the start of you project. Later we will add project strategies (including goals and objectives) to come up with your Project Conceptual Model.
Simple diagram

32. 3. Brainstorm some possible strategic actions
Hint: “Brainstorm” and “action” are the operative words

33. 4. Evaluate Strategic Actions
choosing from among the
“brainstormed” options

34. Evaluating Strategic Actions
Benefits
Sufficiency towards achieving the threat abatement or target enhancement outcome
Duration of outcome
Leverage towards achieving another important outcome within the conservation area, or elsewhere
Feasibility
Lead individual/institution to implement strategy
Ability to motivate key constituencies
Some motivational “currencies” = easier, cheaper, recognition, fun
Degree of complexity/difficulty
Cost
Staffing & direct costs (one-time & recurring)
In discretionary dollars and human capital -- unrestricted funds and time that could be applied for some other purpose

35. Evaluating Strategic Actions
The overall Strategy Opportunity Rank is a function of Benefits, Feasibility & Costs

36. Illustrative Strategy
Critical Threat
Invasive species destroying habitat
Objective:
Eliminate feral ungulates on 90% of mesic and wet forests within 10 years.
Strategic Actions:
Demonstrate success of removal techniques on lands of lead private landowner & state lands
Catalyze and support new Watershed Alliance involving all key landowners to develop a superb watershed management plan to abate threats at scale

37. With your strategic actions defined…..
5. Identify a few next “action steps” you can and will take and who will take them

38. Sample Strategy Objective
By 2013, secure at least 80% of remaining mile buffer around protected areas in land-use compatible with conservation management.
Strategic action
Create preserve buffers around each conservation site.
Action step #1
Develop criteria for selecting fire management buffers
Action step #2
Develop presentation for executive committee, consider workshop format
Action step #3
Identify approaches (e.g. acquiring easements) for securing buffers around conservation areas
Action step #4
Indentify Division of State Land contacts
Action step #6
Indentify landowners within buffer

39. One last thought…
“If you get even two good objectives and a set of strategic actions for each that you can and will execute in five years, you will make reasonable progress.”
Greg Low

40. Breakout - Strategies Select a high or very high threat
Probe the situation that is underlying that threat
Develop 1 objective designed to abate the threat and/or restore the viability of a target that been affected by the threat
Determine feasible strategic actions that will achieve the objective
You have two hours for this exercise
Note. For this exercise we won’t have time to evaluate strategic actions or develop action steps.

41. Optional slides
We have hidden some optional slides in the presentation. You may decide to unhide them or to replace other slides with them.
And following are some slides you might want to exchange for others in the presentation

42. When you have a lot of research-backed knowledge
Sample Objectives
When you have a lot of research-backed knowledge
By 2025, ensure that base flows in summer (Aug-Oct) are not less than 65 CFS in dry years & 280 CFS in wet years; maintain the natural flow regime in other seasons.

43. What is a Situation Analysis?
Analysis of relationships between the targets and
the human “environment” that can guide action
A good analysis does the following:
Provides a clear “picture” of the situation at the project site
Clarifies assumed linkages between your target, threat, and driving factors
Identifies the KEY stakeholders
Makes your thinking explicit
Guides the team to identify where action is needed and likely to have impact.
What is a conceptual model?
A diagram that describes a set of relationships between targets and the major factors that influence the targets.
A good conceptual model successfully conveys:
1. An overall picture of the situation at the project site
2. Explicitly shows our assumptions regarding the presumed linkages between factors
3. Shows both direct and indirect threats to our conservation targets
4. Presents only relevant factors (that is, does not try to cover everything)
5. Is based on sound information – can be traced to particular sources.
6. Results from a team effort (best models are done in teams)