conservation action planning conservation strategies
TRANSCRIPT
Conservation Action Planning
Conservation Strategies
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.
Conservation Strategies – 3 “parts”
• Objective (Outcome)
• Strategic Actions
• Action Steps
Objectives
the outcomes you wish to achieve
Why do we do this?
This step shifts thinking from problem-centered to
solution-focused Objective!!
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
1 High High Medium High Medium Low Low - High
2 Medium High Medium High Medium Medium Low - High
3 Low Medium Medium - - Low Low - Medium
4 - - Medium - - Medium - - Medium
5 Medium Medium - - - - - - Medium
6 Medium Medium - - - - - - Medium
7 - - - Medium Medium - - - Medium
8 - Medium - - - - Medium - Medium
9 - Medium - - - - Low - Low
10 Low Medium - - - - - - Low
11 - Medium Low - - - - - Low
Threats Across Systems
golf resort development
overallocation by the decree itself
incompatible agricultural water diversion (for irrigated pasture & alfalfa)
incompatible residential development
incompatible grazing
fire suppression
Project-specific threats
new residents who don't connect to the community (2nd homeowners and absentees)
conversion to crop production
groundwater pumping for crops
channel dredging
invasive plant species
Permanent wetlands
Seasonal wetlands /
wet meadows
Deer herds &
associated systems
Rural, agricultural,
scenic character of
valley
Overall Threat Rank
Native Am. & other
cultural & historical
sites
Diverse forest
communities around
valley
Raptors (wintering habitat)
Economic & community
vitality
Objective: No golf courses on valley floor or perimeter in perpetuity
Threat Objective
Sierra ValleyThreat Summary
Weight Weight Weight
1Sierra NV Alluvial Riparian & Wet Meadows System
1 1 1
2Great Basin Riparian Woodlands System
1 1 1
3Sierra Nevada Riverine Aquatic System
1 1 1
4Sierra Nevada Montane Forest System
1 1 1
5 Great Basin Terrestrial System 1 1 1
6Great Basin Riverine Aquatic System
1 1 1
7Great Basin Riverine Wetland Complex System
1 1 1
8Great Basin Seep & Spring Systems
1 1 1
Fair
-
Good
Fair
Fair
Good
Fair
Good
Fair
Poor
Good
Fair
Grade
Fair
Fair Good
-
-
Good
Fair
Fair
Conservation TargetsLandscape Context Condition Size
GradeGrade
Fair
Poor
Fair
Fair
Objective: By 2025, ensure “Good” base flows in summer (Aug-Oct) so that no sections of river go dry
Restoration Objective
Carson RiverViability Summary
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
Use Key Attributes and Benchmarks to Set Viability Objectives
Bold = CurrentItalics = Desired
Poor Fair Good Very Good
6 Great Basin Riverine Aquatic System
Landscape Context
hydrological regime
Base flow No base flow in summer
Low base flow in summer (including drying up in sections)
Moderate base flow in summer (no sections go dry)
High base flow in summer Fair
Current RatingConservation Target
Enter # of TargetCategory
Key Attribute
IndicatorIndicator Ratings
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.
Sample Objectives
Eliminate human disturbances (fishing, birding, jogging, dog walking) at key feeding locations (see map) during 4-week bird migration time period
Objectives - Be Specific!!!
• What?
• Where?
• How much?
• What time frame?
All tied to specific threats….specific targets
SMART
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time Bound
Strategic Actions
what you DO to achieve the outcome
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
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
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!
Action Steps
The first things you will do to move forward…
Detailed “tasks” vs. high-impact strategic actions
Illustrative Strategies
Objectives, Strategic Actions
and Action Steps
Sample Restoration Strategy
Objective 4.Within five years replace 20 % of the lost mangrove population
Strategic action 4.1. Establish a replanting program.
Action step #1 4.1.1. Collect seedlings
Action step #2 4.1.2. Cultivate plants
Action step #3 4.1.3. Organize volunteers
Action step #4 4.1.4. Site preparation
Action step #5 4.1.5. Plant them
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
Strategic action
Work with state Invasive Species Councils to determine scope of the current invasive species problem in the Chesapeake Bay.
Action step #1 Research existing data to demonstrate potential economic and ecological threats
Any Questions?
Strategy =
Objective + Strategic Actions + Action Steps
Steps in developing a
Strategic Approach to abate a threat
Start with a critical threat
1. Define your OBJECTIVE
The desired Outcome that will abate the critical threat at sufficient scale
2. “Probe” – Analyze the situation surrounding/driving the threat
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
Ask and discuss your answers to“Probing Questions”
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.?
Three Magic QuestionsFor 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
Simple diagram
No Moorings
DiveTourBoats
OffshoreReefs
Anchor Damage
TourismAssoc
DirectThreat
What is causingthis threat?
Who is involve
d?Who else
cares?
Why? Target
A boxes and arrow diagram that helps capture your analysis
Situation Diagram
3. Brainstorm some possible strategic actionsHint: “Brainstorm” and “action” are the operative words
4. Evaluate Strategic Actions
choosing from among the
“brainstormed” options
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
Evaluating Strategic Actions
Benefits = Very High
Very High High Medium Low
Very High Good Fair Fair PoorHigh Very Good Good Fair FairMedium Very Good Very Good Good FairLow Very Good Very Good Very Good Good
<------------------ Feasibility ------------------>
< C
ost
>
Benefits = High
Very High High Medium Low
Very High Fair Fair Poor PoorHigh Good Fair Fair PoorMedium Very Good Good Fair FairLow Very Good Very Good Good Fair
<------------------ Feasibility ------------------>
< C
ost
>
Benefits = Medium
Very High High Medium Low
Very High Fair Poor Poor PoorHigh Fair Fair Poor PoorMedium Good Fair Fair PoorLow Very Good Good Fair Fair
<------------------ Feasibility ------------------>
< C
ost >
Benefits = Low
Very High High Medium Low
Very High Poor Poor Poor PoorHigh Fair Poor Poor PoorMedium Fair Fair Poor PoorLow Good Fair Fair Poor
<------------------ Feasibility ------------------><
Cos
t >
The overall Strategy Opportunity Rank is a function of Benefits, Feasibility & Costs
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
Illustrative Strategy
With your strategic actions defined…..
5. Identify a few next “action steps” you can and will take and who will take them
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
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
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 2 - 3 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.
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
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.
What is a Situation Analysis?
A good analysis does the following:
1. Provides a clear “picture” of the situation at the project site
2. Clarifies assumed linkages between your target, threat, and driving factors
3. Identifies the KEY stakeholders
4. Makes your thinking explicit
5. Guides the team to identify where action is needed and likely to have impact.
Analysis of relationships between the targets and the human “environment” that can guide action