Conservation Project Design and Evaluation

Overwhelming scientific data indicates that fisheries, forests, freshwater and other natural resources continue to decline and most biodiversity conservation projects fail to accomplish their goals. This course addresses both problems. It delivers state of the art techniques for designing conservation projects that have the strongest possible chance of success and evaluating the extent of that success. Examples include: knowing the conservation project cycle, assessing site conditions, developing management plans, and creating monitoring and evaluation plans. This "learn by doing" course emphasizes hands-on practice, especially through a conservation project management software program called Miradi. Although the course emphasizes site specific, in situ biodiversity conservation (i.e. protected natural areas), the skills and knowledge can apply to a wide range of environmental projects and programs.