A preponderance of scientific data show that fisheries, forests, freshwater, and other natural resources continue to decline across most of the world, and that conservation projects usually fail to accomplish their goals. This course addresses both of these complex 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 practice, especially through learning 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.