Adaptive Management for Conservation Success

Adaptive management is a powerful tool conservation researchers, practitioners, and managers use to organize the development and implementation of projects and programs. Yet while many conservation organizations seek adaptive management skills in prospective employees, few conservation graduate programs offer adaptive management training. This course is given in partnership with Foundations of Success (FOS), a nonprofit organization whose conservation training activities focus on expanding the use of adaptive management principles in conservation.

FOS is a founding member of the Conservation Measures Partnership (CMP), whose member organizations are committed to devising better ways to design, manage, and measure the impacts of their conservation actions. During this course, participants use the CMP’s Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation and Miradi adaptive management software to explore how conservation projects can be planned and designed to advance towards their goals in an organized and efficient manner. The techniques taught in this course are applicable to a range of conservation issues and are readily adapted to course participants’ own work.

Working in teams, course participants apply the adaptive management skills they are learning to real-world conservation projects—projects recruited from participants, course coaches and conservation organizations. Structuring the training course (including the daily lecture/discussion sessions) around these team projects provides a realistic view of the intricacies of conservation endeavors. Course applicants are encouraged to propose conservation-related projects they are working on as possible course teamwork projects.

During each day’s sessions, course instructors introduce the appropriate tools and guide project teams in applying these to their assigned conservation-related projects. Experienced course coaches facilitate the teamwork. Computer use is an integral part of this course. Participant teams access written and online project resources to help inform their teamwork assignments, and also interact with project representatives and resource persons, sometimes virtually, through collaborative Internet tools (for example, WebEx and GoToMeeting). Participants use Miradi software to document and revise the products from each course module, and each project team prepares and presents for group discussion a brief summary of the products developed during that module. At the end of the course, each team prepares in writing and presents as a group their project’s complete draft adaptive management plan.

Dates

June 11-22, 2012

Location

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia

Application Procedures and Course Costs

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Adaptive Management for Conservation Success is offered through the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation. Applications may be submitted for either Continuing Education Units (professional training) or for graduate credits (graduate training), as described below. Those applying for graduate credit must complete additional course requirements before credit is awarded.

For professional training (non-credit) application and registration:

Please download and complete the application form and send the completed form along with the necessary supporting materials (CV, reference letter, personal statement) as attachments to SCBITraining@si.edu. Use the subject line: "Adaptive Management: Professional Training."

Further instructions for registration and payment will follow for those accepted to attend the course.

This professional training course costs $2,500. The fee includes instruction and most course materials, plus meals and lodging. Participants must purchase a one-year Miradi software student license ($25), which comes with access to upgrades within one year. All other travel costs and incidental expenses are the participant’s responsibility. If possible, participants should bring a personal laptop computer with them to the training.

Professional training course participants earn six Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

For graduate training application and registration (George Mason University graduate credit):

Please download and complete the application form and send the completed form along with your CV and personal statement as attachments to SCBITraining@si.edu.

Further instructions for graduate registration and payment will follow for those accepted to attend the course.

This three-credit graduate course costs $2,750 for in-state (Virginia) students and $3,800.75 for out-of-state students. The fee includes instruction and most course materials, plus meals and lodging. Participants must purchase a one-year Miradi software student license ($25), which comes with access to upgrades within one year. All other travel costs and incidental expenses are the participant’s responsibility. If possible, participants should bring a personal laptop computer with them to the training.

For More Information

Email SCBItraining@si.edu