Introduction to Conservation Standards

Stop writing conservation plans that have low buy-in and become obsolete after a few years. Learn how to create a unified vision and a strategic, adaptable plan for addressing the greatest threats to natural resources at your project site—even if team members don’t always see eye to eye!

Join us for this highly interactive course that explores the philosophy, core principles, and systematic steps of the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation (Conservation Standards). This is not your typical learn at your own pace virtual course, but instead this live course is built on experiential learning through professionally facilitated, hands-on application in teams. We will work together on real-world case studies provided by fellow students to identify key and desired conservation and human well-being outcomes, develop ecological models, construct situation diagrams, incorporate empirical data, integrate monitoring and adaptive management, and develop effective action plans for our changing world. These skills will not only improve your impact as a conservation practitioners and planners, but also provide invaluable tools for developing grant applications, evaluating project plans, communicating with funders, and integrating stakeholders. You’ll come away from the class with more than just new skills - you’ll have new friends, colleagues, and future collaborators.

This is a live, hands-on, experiential learning course where you work for 3.5 consecutive weeks in teams with minimal lectures. Homework will entail watching one or two ~20-minute instructional videos prior to each class. We will meet 7 times for 3 hours per day. Each day, instructors will lead small breakout teams in applying new Conservation Standards concepts and tools to case studies. At the end of each day, the breakout teams will convene in plenary to compare notes, discuss findings, and provide group feedback. By the end of the course, each team will have developed the core elements of a conservation action plan.

• Spring: Course opens April 7th and closes June 29th (early bird ends March 9th) *Early bird saves $75

• Live meetings (recorded): Wednesdays 12:30-3:30 ET (April 9 - May 21)

• Summer & Fall: The course will also be offered in July and October 2025. Add you name to our waiting list by registering for the month you are interested in attending! Go to Dates and Select July or October.

Understanding of the basic principles of conservation biology.

Day 1 (3 hours):

Welcome; practice with Mural software; introduction to Conservation Standards; introduction of case studies; case study visualization exercise in breakout teams; Teams identify team, scope and vision.

Day 2 (3 hours):

Teams work in breakout groups to identify Focal Targets and describe quantitatively what “healthy” targets look like.

Day 3 (3 hours):

Teams identify threats to focal targets and prioritize them to understand which are most critical to address.

Day 4 (3 hours):

In breakout groups, teams describe the ecological and social context that allow the most critical threats to persist.

Teams brainstorm and prioritize strategies designed to reduce threats and restore focal targets.

Day 5 (3 hours):

In breakout groups, teams articulate their assumptions about how implementation of a high-priority strategy will result in threat reduction and target improvement.

Teams identify SMART objectives, goals, and indicators to track progress.

Day 6 (3 hours):

Teams consider future climate scenarios and adapt their plan to be climate-smart.

Day 7 (3 hours):

Teams learn and practice how to get an action plan ready for implementation.

Reflections on, and personalizing of, the Conservation Standards; course wrap up.

Students will need to register for free accounts with Mural.co.

FORMAT:

• 3 months of access to course materials as you work at your own pace and attend live meetings 

• Get instructor support for the 3-month term via email, discussion threads, group meetings, and one-on-one appointments

• After working through the course materials, set up an optional meeting with the instructor to discuss your own personal project from work or school

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

• 16 CEUs with The Wildlife Society (go to our Continuing Education Page for more details)

FORMAT:

• 12 months of access to course materials as you work at your own pace and attend live meetings

• Get instructor support for the 3-month term via email, discussion threads, group meetings, and one-on-one appointments

• After working through the course materials, set up an optional meeting with the instructor to discuss your own personal project from work or school

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

• 16 CEUs with The Wildlife Society (go to our Continuing Education Page for more details)

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Earn 1 credit towards a professional certificate in Conservation Planning with CWS

ACADEMIC CREDIT:

• Earn 1 academic credit (go to our Academic Credit Page for details)

• Earn an additional 1-2 academic credits with an Applied Project