This thoughtful, persuasive and comprehensive report summarizes key findings from Annette Stewart’s Fulbright project: how organizations are using the Open Standards, and specifically how they manage their conservation work. The findings focus primarily on small-to-medium sized organizations, and how the tools Miradi and Miradi Share can be used to improve the management of the business. It identifies areas for improvement and thus focuses on “issues” rather than all the wonderful things that Annette found in her study. See the first entry below as the study’s summary and a user’s ‘roadmap’ of the component reports. Individual reports have been assessed by…

Description: This is a very good overview of high-level work planning. It is a bit repetitive in the prioritization – for some this will be useful, for others this will be redundant. For more detailed work planning, more guidance would be needed. There could be greater emphasis on using results chains for work planning and how this ties into the operational plan. Citation: Foundations of Success. 2017. Developing High-Level Work Plans and Budgets Using the Open Standards: An FOS How-To Guide. Foundations of Success, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.  

Description: This is a good overview of work planning and budgeting in general. However, it is a bit dated and could use more explicit text to tie it to results chains and earlier steps in the OS process. The examples in the main body of the text are a bit simple, but good examples are available in the templates. Citation: WWF (2007) Workplans and budgets. Resources for Implementing the WWF Project & Programme Standards. WWF. Gland, Switzerland.  

Thank you to all those who shared your great stories about adaptive management in practice!  You have provided a great opportunity to learn from others around the world who are using the Open Standards! Judging Our judges narrowed down 5 cases (as below) that best meet the criteria outlined in the Adaptive Management Case Study Competition. Crowd sourced judging helped to select the top three. The final decision can be found by clicking here. Short listed Case Studies: Lessons Learnt from adaptive management in a global biodiversity hotspot Bush Heritage FitzStirling TNC Cascade Head Preserve and Salmon River Watershed (Oregon) 20 Years…

In the southeastern corner of Western Australia, the Spinifex Rangers have reviewed their progress and overall plan for the third time, adjusting of the objectives, indicators, and activities contained in the plan as needed. Developed in 2015, the Spinifex Healthy Country Plan recognises 8 targets, 10 threats and is implementing 10 projects to strengthen the targets and reduce the threats, including strategies to enhance capacity, project management and exploring joint management with the local Parks agency. Where minor (or major!) implementation issues are found, the wording is first reviewed to ensure the validity of the original intent, and if changing…

Bush Heritage Australia has been involved in the Gondwana Link connectivity project in the southwestern Western Australian biodiversity hotspot for 14 years. Over this time the management plan has cycled through a major adaptation based on implementation results. This case study outlines some experiences and learnings from an iteration of the Open Standards cycle. See the web page for Gondwana Link on this part of the Bush Heritage Australia website, and on Miradi Share. Key lessons learned are: Choose Targets carefully Ensure that crucial knowledge gaps are filled as a priority so that Targets can be confirmed or changed Ensure…

Ever wonder what happens in the intertidal zone – that area that is above water at low tide and under water at high tide? As it turns out, lots happens! And lots of people use and benefit directly or indirectly from this area teeming with life. Acadia National Park, in Maine, NE USA saw many people come together to discuss and work collaboratively to help keep the intertidal zone in this gorgeous park healthy. This workshop, organized and hosted by Acadia National Park and the Schoodic Institute, with support from Maine Sea Grant and FOS, was the second in a…