Although there is a broad assumption that using an adaptive management framework in conservation  leads to improved conservation efficiency, effectiveness, and impact, there is little robust and  consolidated evidence supporting this hypothesis. The Conservation Standards Effectiveness & Impact  Learning Initiative aimed to investigate what evidence exists to verify that increased adoption of “good”  conservation practice leads to more successful conservation projects. We developed a theory of change  documenting the intermediate results we were expecting to be achieved following the successful adoption of an adaptive management framework. Data collected in an…

Over the last few years, as the CMP Climate Guidance Working Group has developed Climate-Smart Conservation Practice, a few organizations in the Conservation Standards community have applied different parts of the guidance. Several organizations have experimented with different approaches to incorporating climate change into their situation models and using these models to brainstorm climate adaptation strategies. A few have tried to conduct climate scenario planning. The Climate Guidance Working Group has spent some time learning from their experiences through case studies development and learning group sessions. Here are the products that came from this initiative : Case Study 1 :…

The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management and FOS Europe have developed a framework and a 10-step method for tackling the big challenges in marine conservation. The framework contains ​definitions, guiding principles, and a methodology for design and management of networks of marine protected areas. Together with the step-by-step guidance, it helps to systematically reason through how much of what to protect, and how to protect it, in order to achieve the desired results within MPA networks. It provides tools for setting objectives for threat reduction based on the sensitivity of the targets to different threats, as well as for…

This draft “Cookbook” provides a series of “recipes” for “lighter” Conservation Standards (CS) approaches to different scenarios that teams typically encounter. The recipes link to tipsheets that offer practical ideas for how to develop key CS products using a lighter approach. The Cookbook and associated products are part of CMP’s Lighter Conservation Standards Initiative, which seeks to answer long-standing community requests for lighter, more accessible ways to get involved with the Conservation Standards. The full CS provides you with the best recipe for project management. However, teams don’t always…

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) is an approach to addressing environmental and development challenges through protecting, maintaining, and enhancing ecosystem services. As part of CMP’s Collaborative Learning Initiatives, Australian NGO TierraMar researched how effectively NbS can benefit people and the environment. They interviewed people working in the NbS space, including many CMP members. Among other recommendations, the report highlights the need for more coordination and collaboration between NbS practitioners and donors.

Phase I of this learning initiative highlighted the need for the conservation community to continue learning about how to incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) principles into their conservation efforts. Because this is a relatively new conversation within the community, it was difficult to determine which tools or products would best serve CMP. After consulting with experts, it became clear that the first step needs to be an internal strategic plan that will provide direction to our efforts and galvanize CMP’s broad membership base, who may be in different stages of thinking about this topic. The DEIJ survey conducted…

The purpose of the PHE Learning Initiative was to improve CMP’s and, more broadly, the conservation sector’s understanding of PHE and its value to biodiversity conservation, to identify barriers that prevent uptake of this type of approach, and to identify recommended actions the PHE community and others can do to remove those barriers. Specific objectives were to: Provide clarity for CMP and similar conservation-focused organizations and actors on PHE and its value to conservation; Identify barriers to PHE adoption by CMP members and other similar organizations. The purpose of this report is to present key findings from the CMP-Moore PHE…