Planning and Managing Effective Conservation Projects

Learn how to plan and manage effective conservation projects using Conservation Standards. 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?

This course is open to all persons and organisations interested in improving the practice of conservation, both internally within their organisations and externally across the global conservation community. This includes practitioners, researchers, students, consultants, policy makers, funders, and government officials. We especially encourage conservation practitioners based in areas of high biodiversity value to participate in this course. The skills and tools we will cover are applicable to all conservation interventions at all scales.  

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.

The Conservation Standards are a set of tools, guidance, and associated software, developed to help practitioners design and run effective conservation projects. The framework uses a five-step cycle to help adaptively manage any type of conservation project.

How will you benefit?

At the end of the course, participants will be able to apply the Conservation Standards to plan and adaptively manage your own projects. This includes being able to:

• Define the scope and vision of your project, and identify and assess the conservation targets (species and ecosystems of interest)
• Assess the current situation, including identifying direct threats to targets and the primary drivers, and human wellbeing benefits provided through ecosystem services
• Identify and prioritise conservation strategies
• Develop and test theories of change for chosen conservation strategies and develop a monitoring plan that enables you to test your assumptions and measure your impact
• Develop a strategy-oriented work plan and budget
• Use your project results to reflect, learn, and adapt your conservation plan to ensure you are being effective

How will the course be run?

This is an in-person course run in Jersey, over five full days (Monday to Friday). The course will offer a mix of theory, practice, reflection, and peer review. Sessions will be fully facilitated by trained coaches. This course is interactive and engaging, allowing participants to put what they have learnt into practice though breakout group exercises.

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

A limited amount of optional full board accommodation is available in our on-site hostel for £70 per person per night (2024 rates). 

Optional lunches are available for non-residents at £10 per person per day.

Please see leaflet for additional information.

To book a place, please complete the application form and email to academy@durrell.org 
For information please call +44 (0)1534 860037.