Course Information
Planning and Managing Effective Conservation Projects
4 - 8 October 2021Learn how to plan and manage effective conservation projects using the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation. This interactive and engaging course will develop your skills in adaptive management using real-life case studies from Durrell, and provide you with tools and skills that can be applied to all types of conservation action.
Who is it for?
Project planning and management is a key skill for conservation practitioners, and this course is relevant to everyone working or aspiring to work in conservation. The skills and tools we will cover are applicable to conservation interventions at all scales and will help you become more effective.
"My organisation is going to benefit enormously by using the Open Standard approach and MIRADI software. Carefully planning projects and using adaptive management will help us seek, assess and find a solution to threats on time". OPEN STANDARDS course participant.
What is the course content?
Using examples from Durrell’s project portfolio, the course provides an introduction to the practical implementation of conservation actions; an overview of the project planning cycle and project management; general principles that can be applied to planning all forms of conservation action (e.g. projects, species action plans and protected area management plans); and the importance of monitoring and evaluation and exploring the factors that can lead to the success or failure of projects.
In groups, you will have an opportunity to put what you have learnt into practice, developing problem and objective trees for an endangered species in order to come up with a project idea for which you will write a logical framework, a tool commonly used to aid project planning.
During the workshop, groups are encouraged and assisted to capture session-outcomes using Miradi, a specially designed software for using the Conservation Standards. It is recommended to bring a laptop to make the most out of the workshop.
How will you benefit?
At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to apply the Open Standards (including the supporting software Miradi) to plan and adaptively manage your own projects. This includes being able to:
- Conduct a participatory situation analysis including identification and assessment of targets (species and ecosystems of interest), direct threats to targets and the primary drivers, and human wellbeing benefits provided by the targets through ecosystem services;
- Identify conservation strategies (interventions) and their component activities, and set conservation goals and objectives;
- Develop and test theories of change for chosen conservation strategies;
- Develop a strategy-oriented monitoring plan, work plan and budget that enables testing of assumptions, learning, and adapting.
Where will the course be run?
The course will be based at the Durrell Conservation Academy at Durrell’s headquarters in Jersey. Teaching will be delivered by Durrell’s own conservation specialists and directed by Catherine Payne, Conservation Effectiveness Manager, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
How much will it cost?
The course fee is £575. This includes:
- All course materials
- Unlimited entry to Jersey Zoo during the course
- Certificate of attendance
Optional full board accommodation is available in our on-site hostel for £52.50 per person per night (2020). Optional lunches are available for non-residents at £8 per person per day.
To book a place, please complete the application form and email to academy@durrell.org
For further information please email, or call +44 (0)1534 860037.