Concept Modeling

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Explain what a concept model is and how it is used in conservation.

• Identify the contributing factors that impact the direct threats and conservation target at your sites.

What is a Concept Model?

A visual description of the relationships between your conservationtargets, the direct threats to the target, and the underlying causal factors that contribute to those threats.

Why use Concept Models?

1. Understand the underlying drivers at your site, refine potential target audiences, and confirm the context of your campaign.2. Tool for engagement, transparency, clarification of assumptions, and identification of potential solutions.

Using a 'Modified' Concept Model for Pride

The Building Blocks of a Concept Model

12

3

1. Project Scope & Target•Project scope: geographic area of campaign

•Biodiversity target is specific species or ecological system/ habitats that campaign will aim to protect.

2. Direct Threats

•Direct Threats are events, situations or behaviors that affect the status of the conservation target.

•Primarily human activities

3. Contributing Factors & Relationships

Contributing factors•Key factors driving the direct threats that impact your target.•Answers “Who" does the threat and “Why” they do it.

Relationships•How threats relate to or influence one another

Distinguishing Between Direct Threats and Contributing Factors

Direct Threat or Contributing Factor?

Illegal hunting

Distinguishing Between Direct Threats and Contributing Factors

Direct Threat or Contributing Factor?

Fishers need food

Distinguishing Between Direct Threats and Contributing Factors

Direct Threat or Contributing Factor?

Weak enforcement

Distinguishing Between Direct Threats and Contributing Factors

Direct Threat or Contributing Factor?

People not aware of laws

Distinguishing Between Direct Threats and Contributing Factors

Direct Threat or Contributing Factor?

Overfishing

The Cohort Target and Direct Threats

1. You will be provided a flipchart paper with the cohort Biodiversity Target and Direct Threats.

2. In your groups, define what the direct threat of “Fishing Pressure within 500m of MPA boundaries” means at your site. (5 minutes)

3. In your groups, brainstorm all the contributing factors for these 2 direct threats. Don’t forget to draw the arrows! (20min)a. If there are contributing factors that do not relate to

ALL of your sites, then mark the names of the Municipalities they do relate to in the corner of the paper.

b. REMEMBER: good contributing factors identify the WHO and the WHY

Building a Concept Model (30 min)