Evidence-Based Conservation and Management

Catalog description

This course will explore theories and concepts that are fundamental to applied conservation management and evaluation. There is increasing need to justify and evaluate conservation and management actions, and this course will provide students with the insight and knowledge on how to consult the best evidence in conservation planning and how to set up and evaluate a conservation action plan. This course also provides insight into systems thinking, which is needed to address the complex problems faced by conservation managers. Finally, this course teaches students a specific adaptive management framework that has been adopted by several leading conservation organizations and agencies. While this course is focused on biodiversity conservation, the concepts covered about systems thinking and applied conservation planning and management will be relevant to a broader audience interested in environmental and natural resources management or stewardship.