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EVALUATING CONSERVATION INITIATIVES
Conservation initiatives, in general, suffer from a lack of systematic evaluation.
As a result, the opportunity to learn from and integrate the lessons from these
efforts is squandered. To demonstrate how this problem can be addressed, the
papers in this chapter assess several conservation initiatives, finding varying
degrees of success at achieving initial goals. The papers show that failure to
perform contextual integration of social factors in conservation initiatives
often leads to problems. Conversely, those initiatives that successfully integrate
social and political realities often enjoy relative success. Consideration of the
social context and decision-making process in the present analyses, in particular, allows for comprehensive treatment of the various programs evaluated.
This section features the work of four individuals, demonstrating the
importance of evaluation as a key activity in the policy process. The first of the
four papers is presented in its entirety, along with an appendix showing the
visual aids used in the oral presentation of the paper to the class. The remaining
three papers are presented in one-page abstract format.
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