Words of Wisdom
What would you say to someone who is trying to develop a conservation network in a urban region?
What would you say to someone who is trying to develop a conservation network in a urban region?
I think networking is key. For example, the Southern California Urban Wildlife Management Council was set up to facilitate, coordinate and establish leadership, relationships and information transfer between stakeholders who have interests in research and the applied management of urban wildlife. The influence and impact that management of urban wildlife has on natural populations is also considered.
I think networking is key. For example, the Southern California Urban Wildlife Management Council was set up to facilitate, coordinate and establish leadership, relationships and information transfer between stakeholders who have interests in research and the applied management of urban wildlife. The influence and impact that management of urban wildlife has on natural populations is also considered.
Find that first maverick planner developer and create that first wildlife-friendly community.
Find that first maverick planner developer and create that first wildlife-friendly community.
For scientists, one crucial requirement is to Lead By Serving. Providing brilliant science, or even a brilliant plan, will not move the conservation needle. To contribute, a scientist must work with managers, stakeholders, and science users to co-produce the science and guidance on the use of that science. This idea is described in ... Beier P, Hansen L, Hellbrecht LJ, Behar D. 2016. A how to guide for co-production of actionable science. Conservation Letters: doi: 10.1111/conl.12300.
For scientists, one crucial requirement is to Lead By Serving. Providing brilliant science, or even a brilliant plan, will not move the conservation needle. To contribute, a scientist must work with managers, stakeholders, and science users to co-produce the science and guidance on the use of that science. This idea is described in ... Beier P, Hansen L, Hellbrecht LJ, Behar D. 2016. A how to guide for co-production of actionable science. Conservation Letters: doi: 10.1111/conl.12300.
Create a partnership of local government, non-profit, and citizen groups to help steer goals and promote to wider audience. Involve many different wildlife interest groups (birding, native plants, etc) as well as county and state level organizations. Reach out to developers about connectivity and the economics of property values increasing around parks and open spaces. This kind of collaboration results in funding partnerships as well as finding the best fit for property acquisition and management within the network.
Create a partnership of local government, non-profit, and citizen groups to help steer goals and promote to wider audience. Involve many different wildlife interest groups (birding, native plants, etc) as well as county and state level organizations. Reach out to developers about connectivity and the economics of property values increasing around parks and open spaces. This kind of collaboration results in funding partnerships as well as finding the best fit for property acquisition and management within the network.
Engage with communities - scientists, academics, planners, politicians, designers, tech geeks, kids, older people, immigrants, queer people, people who are homeless, communities of color, tireless neighborhood advocates, skeptics, bicycle advocates, hippies, conservatives, and everyone else. Cultivate enough empathy within yourself to try to truly uncover what those people are trying to communicate to you about their values (even when they conflict with your own), their life, and why or why not to conserve networked spaces in the place they call home.
Engage with communities - scientists, academics, planners, politicians, designers, tech geeks, kids, older people, immigrants, queer people, people who are homeless, communities of color, tireless neighborhood advocates, skeptics, bicycle advocates, hippies, conservatives, and everyone else. Cultivate enough empathy within yourself to try to truly uncover what those people are trying to communicate to you about their values (even when they conflict with your own), their life, and why or why not to conserve networked spaces in the place they call home.
Engage ALL potential implementers from the inception.
Engage ALL potential implementers from the inception.
You must have support from local governments who have the land use authority to make decisions, as well as support from local land managers who can help balance recreational needs with wildlife needs.
You must have support from local governments who have the land use authority to make decisions, as well as support from local land managers who can help balance recreational needs with wildlife needs.
Don’t do your work in a vacuum. Partnerships, collaboration are key to getting your message across, building support and making progress.
Don’t do your work in a vacuum. Partnerships, collaboration are key to getting your message across, building support and making progress.
Keep it simple. It can easily get too complicated and bureaucratic. It’s a network, not a single organization. The simpler the better. It’s not helpful if your organization only works as a non-profit on its own, the coalition needs to be straightforward and simple and allow the members to get into the specifics of how to conserve wildlife and open space locally. Be simple and strategic.
Keep it simple. It can easily get too complicated and bureaucratic. It’s a network, not a single organization. The simpler the better. It’s not helpful if your organization only works as a non-profit on its own, the coalition needs to be straightforward and simple and allow the members to get into the specifics of how to conserve wildlife and open space locally. Be simple and strategic.
Recognize that building relationships and trust and partnerships takes time. Celebrate the small successes but always be mindful of the longer-term vision for your region. While it may be hard to see the big successes early on, they will come. Just keep at it, every partnership and project builds towards large-scale, long-term trust and success.
Recognize that building relationships and trust and partnerships takes time. Celebrate the small successes but always be mindful of the longer-term vision for your region. While it may be hard to see the big successes early on, they will come. Just keep at it, every partnership and project builds towards large-scale, long-term trust and success.
I think that one of the most important issue is to discuss use and protection of natural values and wildlife communities early in the process of acquisition and management planning for a property. Once use patterns are established and the population is used to a certain level of access, it is very difficult to reduce or change. For example, if the residents become accustomed to off-leash dog access everywhere on a property, it becomes very difficult to manage this use and focus it in areas of low sensitivity. Thus, if there are important natural resources, taking these into consideration prior to allowing public access is crucial.
I think that one of the most important issue is to discuss use and protection of natural values and wildlife communities early in the process of acquisition and management planning for a property. Once use patterns are established and the population is used to a certain level of access, it is very difficult to reduce or change. For example, if the residents become accustomed to off-leash dog access everywhere on a property, it becomes very difficult to manage this use and focus it in areas of low sensitivity. Thus, if there are important natural resources, taking these into consideration prior to allowing public access is crucial.
Learn as much as you can about the science and biological attributes of what you are trying to conserve. But also learn how to communicate with other community members. A success is only as good as community buy-in. Learn the art of being impatient and eternally patient at the same time.
Learn as much as you can about the science and biological attributes of what you are trying to conserve. But also learn how to communicate with other community members. A success is only as good as community buy-in. Learn the art of being impatient and eternally patient at the same time.
Start with a Vision and a Map – ground them in science and conduct that process without the influence of political interests. Determine whether all the places targeted for conservation have the same biological value. If they don’t, don’t use a one-size-fits-all strategy. Acknowledge and embrace the differences, especially if regulatory or policy tools will be employed to achieve conservation. Conservation networks, almost by definition, take a landscape level perspective but effective implementation demands that you work at multiple scales and find the nexus between the landscape level network and the contributions possible from a single project. Be patient and above all, be persistent.
Start with a Vision and a Map – ground them in science and conduct that process without the influence of political interests. Determine whether all the places targeted for conservation have the same biological value. If they don’t, don’t use a one-size-fits-all strategy. Acknowledge and embrace the differences, especially if regulatory or policy tools will be employed to achieve conservation. Conservation networks, almost by definition, take a landscape level perspective but effective implementation demands that you work at multiple scales and find the nexus between the landscape level network and the contributions possible from a single project. Be patient and above all, be persistent.
It is important to cultivate a common understanding of the effort and its goals among partners. Likewise, it is important to get creative and consider ways to bring in interest groups that are not traditionally invested in conservation efforts. Broad-based support and an ongoing commitment are two of the most important factors for success.
It is important to cultivate a common understanding of the effort and its goals among partners. Likewise, it is important to get creative and consider ways to bring in interest groups that are not traditionally invested in conservation efforts. Broad-based support and an ongoing commitment are two of the most important factors for success.
As an advocate and organizer at heart, I recommend the following:
As an advocate and organizer at heart, I recommend the following:
1) Find allies and organize them as a coalition toward supporting very specific policy changes from among environmental groups, animal rights groups, scientists and students at local universities, schoolchildren, homeowner associations, neighborhood councils, communities of faith, open space and park advocates, and within government, especially down to the department level.
1) Find allies and organize them as a coalition toward supporting very specific policy changes from among environmental groups, animal rights groups, scientists and students at local universities, schoolchildren, homeowner associations, neighborhood councils, communities of faith, open space and park advocates, and within government, especially down to the department level.
2) Lead a pointed educational effort by this coalition of your local, county and state elected officials, your local city and county departments, your neighborhoods and homeowner associations, your local media and your schools. Include climate change as a vital part of your talking points.
2) Lead a pointed educational effort by this coalition of your local, county and state elected officials, your local city and county departments, your neighborhoods and homeowner associations, your local media and your schools. Include climate change as a vital part of your talking points.
3) Include in the educational effort information that will appeal to a wide swath of political opinions, e.g., not only the vital importance of biodiversity to the survival of the human species, but the fact that home values rise in proximity to parks.
3) Include in the educational effort information that will appeal to a wide swath of political opinions, e.g., not only the vital importance of biodiversity to the survival of the human species, but the fact that home values rise in proximity to parks.
4) Change city, county and state policy. Keep going. Build upon your successes.
4) Change city, county and state policy. Keep going. Build upon your successes.
5) Cumulatively, change the world, reverse climate change, widespread species extinction, and land, soil and plant degradation, and thereby protect the future for the human species.
5) Cumulatively, change the world, reverse climate change, widespread species extinction, and land, soil and plant degradation, and thereby protect the future for the human species.
Image Credits
Image Credits
Choices - George Hess
WakeNature Preserves Partnership training session - George Hess
Turnipseed Nature Preserve government officials tour - George Hess
Pima County Natural Resources , Parks, & Recreation - George Hess