1. Conservation Strategies Pathways to Success

2. Conservation strategy: a strategic action or set of strategic actions designed to achieve a specific objective (“Goal” in Open Source language) that… – abates a critical threat and/or –enhances the viability of a conservation target Objectives/Goals -- based on the Threat and/or the Viability scorecards Key Points to Introduce This Step

3. Goals and Objectives are key to shifting to solution-focused thinking! Key Points to Introduce This Step

4. It’s our job to get the “colors” in the Threat and Viability tables from Red & Yellow to Green -- often a life’s work 3 to 5 well-crafted Strategies = a lot of work!!! Key Points to Introduce This Step

5. In CAP: Strategies = Objective; Strategic Actions; Action Steps In Open Standards: Action Plan = Goal (target); Objectives (threat and intermediate results); strategies Key Points to Introduce This Step

6. Critical Questions Focus on the objective/goal – is it specific? Does it clearly link back to a key ecological attribute or threat? Does the objective/goal = success! not just what’s feasible? (e.g. move from “Fair” to “Good”) Does the objective/goal provide a CLEAR picture of the “destination”?

7. Will the strategic actions (or “strategies” in Open Source language) taken together accomplish the objective Many proposed strategic actions are really just preparatory steps or activities Critical Questions

8. Common Issues & Recommendations What about the lexicon (e.g. goals, objectives, etc.)? –Don’t sweat the TNC-speak… “objective” is a measurable outcome; “strategic action” is how it will be achieved Won’t some strategic actions accomplish more than one objective? –Yes! These will likely produce the highest benefits.

9. Common Issues & Recommendations What about strategies to build capacity? –Capacity elements (e.g. people, $) may be strategic actions or action steps. Building project level capacity will be addressed later. What if the best we can feasibly achieve is “Fair” viability? – team needs to decide if that is ok

10. Common Issues & Recommendations When should we focus on strategies to address “Medium” threats or to secure “Very Good” viability? 1.OK if they are “low hanging fruit” -- either easy and/or inexpensive 2.If they can lead us to another higher leveraged strategy 3.If the threat is an invasive species and we have reason to suspect it will get much worse

11. Common Issues & Recommendations Action steps evolve and build on experience. Don’t expect a team to know everything that they will need to do to complete every strategic action. But do urge teams to think about a few “next steps” to at least get “the ball rolling”

12. Helpful Hints... Develop a pretty clear objective and then brain storm Strategic Actions. Objectives are key to shifting to solution- focused thinking! Use two different time horizons for Objectives when needed –e.g. 40 years for long-term viability & 5-10 years to show progress

13. Helpful Hints... When forming Objectives and your team lacks critical information: Use “TBD” or describe in visual language the threat reduction “goal” or ecological status we hope to achieve. Finding the answer becomes Action Step #1 --a research priority

14. Helpful Hints... Do everything you can to ensure that the team includes good strategic thinkers and people with conservation experience related to the threats you face. There is no substitute for having the “right” mix of “brains” involved in the task.

15. Developing Strategic Actions….. Probe, probe, probe... the sources of stress, potential underlying causes, possible opportunities Who are the key constituencies? What motivates them? Who stands to gain or lose if you achieve this objective? Helpful Hints...

16. Encourage teams to brainstorm strategic actions and retain their list of ideas, before zeroing in on the set they will execute Encourage teams to use some systematic way to evaluate their different strategic options (CAP uses benefits, feasibility, cost criteria)

17. Helpful Hints... Results chain models can both test the logic of your team’s strategies and can show where strategic actions and activities are missing in their plan It’s easier for teams to use flip charts or Powerpoint slides to present strategies in a workshop setting. (Can make entries into the workbook or Miradi later.)