2A-1. Develop a Formal Action Plan: Strategy Selection

Conservation Coaches Network Workshop Presentation 2A-1. Develop a Formal Action Plan: Strategy Selection

Adaptive Management Workshop Presentations 1A-1B. Team, Scope, Vision 1B. Conservation Targets 1B. Viability Assessment 2A-1. Strategy Selection 2A-2. Results Chains 2A-3. Goals and Objectives 1C. Threat Rating 1D. Conceptual Models 2B. Monitoring Plan

Plan Your Actions & Monitoring Strategy Selection

Brainstorm & Select Strategies Strategy Selection

Brainstorm & Select Strategies Strategy Selection X X

This Presentation Strategy Selection • What Are Strategies • How to Brainstorm & Select Strategies • Example

What are Strategies? Strategy Selection Strategy:A group of actions with a common focus that work together to reduce threats, capitalize on opportunities, and/or restore natural systems. • designed to achieve specific objectives and goals • includes one or more activities • generally developed to influence key intervention points in your conceptual model

Difference Between a Strategy and an Activity Strategy Selection Within a Strategy (agroup of actions with a common focus)… e.g., create markets in sustainably harvested fish Activity – A specific action or set of tasks, within an overall strategy e.g., conduct feasibility tests, train fishermen in new techniques, identify markets for fish…

Define Your Strategies Strategy Selection A Good Strategy Meets the Criteria: Linked to Critical Factors: Directly affects one or more critical factors in your conceptual model Focused: Outlines specific courses of action that need to be carried out Feasible: Accomplishable in light of the project's resources and constraints. Appropriate: Acceptable to and fitting within project-specific cultural, social, and biological norms.

General Types of Strategies Strategy Selection Threat Abatement Strategy Restoration Strategy (to enhance viability)

Hints for Naming Strategies Strategy Selection • Start with a verb • If useful, specify who • Clearly describing the strategy may require a longer name - or (better) a description in “details” (in Miradi) Certification Change forest code to permit certification VS. WCS will change forest code to permit certification Complete legal analysis and work with Forest Department to change forest code to permit certification

Examples of Strategies Strategy Selection • Obtain legal protection for vernal pool grasslands • Manage dredging activity to maximize habitat creation for Reddish Egrets • Build awareness of agricultural best management practices • Work with hydropower company to manage flows and increase fish passage • Strengthen fishing regulations • Identify, detect and control invasives

This Presentation Strategy Selection • What Are Strategies • How to Brainstorm & Prioritize Strategies • Example

How to Brainstorm & Prioritize Strategies Strategy Selection • Select a direct threat and target(s) and review contributing factors • Select key intervention points • Brainstorm potential strategies to influence key intervention points • Rate strategies • Select final strategies • Apply criteria for strategies

Our Example-Swan Coastal Plain Wetlands Strategy Selection Adapted from WWF Australia’s Wetlands Watch Project

1. Select a Threat and Target, Review Contributing Factors Strategy Selection Eucalyptuswoodlands Illegal clearing by landowners Seasonally flooded wetlands

1. Select a Threat and Target, Review Contributing Factors Strategy Selection In Miradi, select the direct threat, right-click & select “Brainstorm mode”

Brainstorm Mode in Miradi Strategy Selection

Questions to Keep in Mind Strategy Selection • In reviewing the factors contributing to this threat, make sure that you can answer these questions: • What is causing this threat to happen? What social, economic, cultural, political and institutional factors are contributing to the threat? • Who is involved – directly or indirectly? • Why are they doing it? • Are there opportunities – factors that could contribute to reducing the threat?

If Necessary, Add Missing Factors Strategy Selection

2. Select Key Intervention Points Strategy Selection Select “key intervention points” – factors that need to be changed to reduce the threat

3. Brainstorm Potential Strategies to Influence Key Intervention Points Strategy Selection

Advice for Strategy Brainstorming Strategy Selection • Consider the scale at which you are working and whether your strategies should be broader or more specific (e.g., a strategy at the site level could be an activity at the ecoregional level) • Don’t limit yourself to typical strategies or what you are already doing – think broadly! • Consider what your team will do vs. what other organizations/partners will do

3. Brainstorm Potential Strategies to Influence Key Intervention Points Strategy Selection Not all strategies have to link directly to a key intervention point. This strategy is designed to increase landowner awareness of laws by involving them in land use planning

3. Brainstorm Potential Strategies to Influence Key Intervention Points Strategy Selection

4. Rate Strategies – 2 Criteria Strategy Selection Potential Impact – Degree to which the strategy (if implemented) will lead to desired changes in the situation at your project site • Very High– The strategy is very likely to completely mitigate a threat or restore a target. • High– The strategy is likely to help mitigate a threat or restore a target. • Medium– The strategy could possibly help mitigate a threat or restore a target. • Low– The strategy will probably not contribute to meaningful threat mitigation or target restoration. I break this into 2 steps: Rate & weed out

4. Rate Strategies – 2 criteria Strategy Selection Feasibility – Degree to which your project team could implement the strategy within likely time, financial, staffing, ethical, and other constraints • Very High– The strategy is ethically, technically, AND financially feasible. • High– The strategy is ethically and technically feasible, but may require some additional financial resources. • Medium– The strategy is ethically feasible, but either technically OR financially difficult without substantial additional resources. • Low– The strategy is not ethically, technically, OR financially feasible.

4. Rate Strategies in Miradi Strategy Selection

5. Select Final Strategies Strategy Selection Weed out strategies not likely to be the most effective X X

5. Select Final Strategies Strategy Selection Weed out strategies not likely to be the most effective ? X X

5. Select Final Strategies Strategy Selection

Final Strategies in the Conceptual Model Strategy Selection

6. Apply Criteria for Strategies Strategy Selection • LinkedtoCriticalFactors: Directly affectsoneor more criticalfactors in your conceptual model • Focused: Outlines specific courses of action that need to be carried out • Feasible: Accomplishable in light of theproject's resources and constraints. • Appropriate: Acceptable to and fitting within site-specific cultural, social, and biological norms.

This Presentation Strategy Selection • What Are Strategies • How to Brainstorm & Select Strategies • Example

Example of a Strategy Brainstorm Strategy Selection San Luis Obispo Science and Ecosystem Alliance (SLOSEA, California, USA)

Key Points Strategies Conservation strategies are a group of actions designed to enhance viability of a target (GOAL) and/or abate a critical threat (OBJECTIVE). Goals & Objectives – What you want to accomplish Strategies –How you are going to get there Complex projects & problems require suiteof strategies. The job is to get the “colors” in the Viability and Threat tables from Red & Yellow to Green – often a life’s work. 3 to 5 well-crafted strategies is a lot of work!!!

Relationship Between a Goal, Strategy and Activities Strategy Selection

2A-1. Develop a Formal Action Plan: Strategy Selection