Conservation Coaches Network
Workshop Presentation
2A. Develop a Formal Action
Plan: Goals and Objectives
Adaptive Management Workshop
Presentations
1A-1B. Team, Scope, Vision
1B. Conservation Targets
1B. Viability Assessment
2A-1. Strategy Selection
2A-2. Results Chains
2A-3. Goals and Objectives
1C. Threat Rating
1D. Conceptual Models
2B. Monitoring
Plan
Plan Your Actions &
Monitoring
Goals &
Objectives
This Presentation
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Goals &
Objectives
What is a goal?
How to define goals
What are objectives?
How to define objectives
How to determine if strategies (with results
chains and objectives) are sufficient to achieve
goals
What is a Goal?
Goals &
Objectives
Goal: A formal statement detailing a desired
impact of a project, such as the desired future
status of a target.
Criteria for Goals
Goals &
Objectives
A Good Goal Meets the Criteria:
Linked to targets: Directly associated with one or more of
your conservation targets.
Should be phrased in terms of the Key Ecological
Attribute(s) of the target that you are trying to conserve
Size – Geographic extent (ecosystem or habitat);
Abundance &/or demographics of the
population/community (species)
Condition – Composition, structure, & biotic interactions
Landscape Context – Landscape-scale ecological
processes, adjacency and connectivity
Criteria for Goals
Goals &
Objectives
Impact oriented: Represents the desired future
status of the conservation target over the longterm.
A preview of Results Chains:
Criteria for Goals
Goals &
Objectives
Time Limited: Achievable within a specific period
of time, generally 10 or more years.
Measurable: Definable in relation to some
standard scale (numbers, percentage, fractions,
or all/nothing states).
Specific: Clearly defined so that all people
involved in the project have the same
understanding of what the terms in the goal
mean.
This Presentation
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Goals &
Objectives
What is a goal?
How to define goals
What are objectives?
How to define objectives
How to determine if strategies (with results
chains and objectives) are sufficient to achieve
goals
How to Define Goals
Goals &
Objectives
1. Choose a conservation target
2. Select key ecological attributes of the target to
represent in the goal
3. Write a draft description of the future desired
condition of the target
4. Apply criteria
5. Modify the goal as needed
6. Analyze whether all relevant strategies / results
chains should be sufficient to achieve the goal
Our Example –
Swan Coastal Plain Wetlands
Adapted from WWF Australia’s WetlandsWatch Project
Goals &
Objectives
1. Choose a Conservation
Target
Seasonally Flooded Wetlands
Goals &
Objectives
2. Select Key Ecological
Attributes of the Target
to Represent in the Goal
Goals &
Objectives
From the Viability Assessment…
Indicator Ratings
Target
Seasonally
flooded
wetlands
Category
KEA
Indicator
Poor
Fair
Good
Very
Good
Size
Area of
seasonally
flooded
wetlands
# of
hectares
<1,000
ha.
1,000 –
2,000 ha.
2,001 –
3,000
ha.
>3,000
ha.
2. Select Key Ecological
Attributes of the Target
to Represent in the Goal
Goals &
Objectives
From the Viability Assessment…
Indicator Ratings
Target
Seasonally
flooded
wetlands
Category
Landscape
Context
KEA
Water level
fluctuations
Indicator
Hydroperiod
Poor
Fair
Good
12+ weeks
<12 weeks
fully
fully flooded
flooded
and/or 17+
and ≤16
weeks
weeks
completely
completely
dry
dry
Very
Good
2. Select Key Ecological
Attributes of the Target
to Represent in the Goal
• Target: Seasonally flooded wetlands
• Key Ecological Attributes:
– Area
– Water level fluctuations
Goals &
Objectives
3. Write a Draft Goal
Goals &
Objectives
• Target: Seasonally flooded wetlands
• Key Ecological Attributes:
– Area
– Water level fluctuations
• Draft Goal: By 2025, the area of seasonally
flooded wetlands are restored to historic levels
Goals &
Objectives
4. Apply Criteria
• Target: Seasonally
flooded wetlands
• Key Ecological
Attributes:
– Area
– Water level fluctuations
• Draft Goal: By 2025,
the area of seasonally
flooded wetlands are
restored to historic levels
• Criteria:
–
–
–
–
–
Linked to target?
Impact-oriented?
Time-bound?
Specific?
Measurable?
5. Modify the Goal as
Needed
• Target: Seasonally
flooded wetlands
• Key Ecological
Attributes:
– Area
– Water level fluctuations
• Draft Goal: By 2025,
the area of seasonally
flooded wetlands are
restored to historic levels
Goals &
Objectives
• Criteria:
–
–
–
–
–
Linked to target?
Impact-oriented?
Time-bound?
Specific?
Measurable?
Modified Goal:
5. Modify the Goal as
Needed
• Target: Seasonally
flooded wetlands
• Key Ecological
Attributes:
– Area
– Water level fluctuations
• Draft Goal: By 2025,
the area of seasonally
flooded wetlands are
restored to historic levels
Goals &
Objectives
• Criteria:
–
–
–
–
–
Linked to target?
Impact-oriented?
Time-bound?
Specific?
Measurable?
Modified Goal: By 2025,
there are at least 2,100 ha. of
seasonally flooded wetlands
with good annual water level
fluctuations and representative
native species.
Final Goal
Goals &
Objectives
• By 2025, at least 2,100 ha of high conservation
value* wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain
maintain a “good” hydroperiod** and contain
viable populations of key native flora and fauna,
as listed by the Department of Environment and
Conservation.
* High conservation value wetlands = wetlands assigned ‘Conservation’
management category by the Department of Environment and
Conservation, Western Australia.
** “Good” hydroperiod is defined as 12-16 weeks in fully flooded
condition and no more than 16 weeks in completely dry condition (no
standing water)
Goals in Miradi
Goals &
Objectives
Goals &
Objectives
Example of a Goal
Goal: By 2025, ensure “Good” base flows in summer (Aug-Oct)
so that no sections of river go dry (~50 to 75 CFS in dry years)
Key Attribute = Hydrologic regime
Conservation Target
Enter # of Target
Category
6 Great Basin Riverine Landscape
Aquatic System
Context
Key
Attribute
Bold = Current
Indicator Ratings
Indicator
hydrological Base flow
regime
Poor
No base
flow in
summer
Fair
Low base flow in
summer
(including drying
up in sections)
Good
Italics =
Desired
Current Rating
Very Good
Moderate High base
base flow in flow in
summer (no summer
sections go
dry)
Fair
Careful…A Goal is NOT a
Threat Reduction Objective
Goals &
Objectives
Conservation target: Seasonally flooded
wetlands
Goal: By 2025…high conservation value*
wetlands…
Threat to target: Clearing for residential
development and infrastructure
Threat reduction objective: Beginning in 2012,
there is no further clearing of high conservation
value wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain.
Example Goal
Goals &
Objectives
• Target: Coral Reefs
• Goal: By 2025, at least 80% of the coral reef
habitat in the northern bioregion will have live
coral coverage of at least 20% and will contain
healthy populations of key species*
* Healthy populations of species at the top of the food
chain, such as sharks, and an abundance of other
key species, such as parrot fish and spiny lobster.
Whether a population is “healthy” will be based on
the latest scientific understanding. See viability
assessment for population numbers for different
species.
Example Goal
Goals &
Objectives
• Target: Montane forest (in Eastern Arcs)
• Goal: By 2017, 100% of remaining montane
forest* is effectively conserved** and
connectivity among major forest patches*** is
created.
* Based on baseline data from 1999 -2003 (total is around
2,000,529 ha)
** Effectively conserved = Intact tree canopy with full set of
species including representative endemic species
*** Ulugurus (Bunduki, Kitumbaku Hills), East Usambaras
(Derema, Nilo-Kambai/Segoma), Udzungwa (Scarp to
Matundu/Iyonde)
Which of the Following
Comply with the Criteria
for a Good Goal?
Goals &
Objectives
• In 10 years, eliminate mangrove harvesting in all
of Ban Don Bay, Thailand.
• By 2022, more than 80 pairs of quetzales will
successfully nest and reproduce each year in
the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve.
• Within 12 years of the start of the project, Katani
Nature Preserve will serve as an effective
ecological corridor for tigers traveling between
Karimara and Sulaken National Parks.
• By 2015, the population of Golden Lion
Tamarins has increased.
This Presentation
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Goals &
Objectives
What is a goal?
How to define goals
What are objectives?
How to define objectives
How to determine if strategies (with results
chains and objectives) are sufficient to achieve
goals
Develop Your
Goals &
Objectives Objectives
Objective: A formal statement detailing a desired
outcome of a project such as reducing a critical
threat.
A good objective should meet the following criteria:
Outcome Oriented: Specifies necessary changes
in critical threats and other factors that affect one
or more project goals
What Does Outcome
Oriented Mean?
A basic results chain:
Goals &
Objectives
Develop Your
Goals &
Objectives Objectives
Specific: Clearly defined so that all people
involved in the project have the same
understanding of what the terms in the objective
mean.
Measurable: Definable in relation to some
standard scale (numbers, percentage, fractions,
or all/nothing states).
Time Limited: Achievable within a specific period
of time. (Necessarily less than the timeframe of
the associated goal.)
Practical: Achievable and appropriate within the
context of the project.
This Presentation
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Goals &
Objectives
What is a goal?
How to define goals
What are objectives?
How to define objectives
How to determine if strategies (with results
chains and objectives) are sufficient to achieve
goals
How Do You Write a Good Goals &
Objectives
Objective?
1. Select a result in your results
chain where you want an objective
Landowners
implement
best mgmt
practices
2. Write a draft objective for that result
Draft 1: “More landowners are implementing BMPs on
their properties”
3. Apply the criteria to modify and refine your draft
objective
- Outcome oriented
- Measureable
- Practical
- Specific
- Time limited
How Do You Write a Good Goals &
Objectives
Objective?
3. Apply the criteria to modify and refine your draft
objective
Draft 2: “By 2022, at least 75% of landowners are
implementing BMPs on their properties”
Draft 3: “By 2022, at least 75% of those landowners
informed about best management practices are
implementing at least two BMPs on their properties”
Develop Your
OBJ. B: By 2011, there are no
more than 10 infractions issued
annually against landowners in
the Swan Coastal Plain for illegal
clearing of vegetation
OBJ. A: By 2013, none of the
landowners in the Swan Coastal
Plain are creating fire breaks as
part of their vegetation
management regime
Goals &
Objectives Objectives
OBJ. C1: By 2015 and thereafter,
no new invasive plant species are
detected in the EucalyptusMelaleuca woodlands and
seasonally flooded wetlands
OBJ. C2: By 2015 and thereafter,
at least 90% of EucalyptusMelaleuca woodlands and 75% of
the seasonally-flooded wetlands
remain invasives-free
Objectives in Miradi
Goals &
Objectives
Which of These Comply
Goals &
with the Criteria for a Good
Objectives
Objective?
• By 2010, no water concessions are granted in
identified critical grasslands and associated
wetlands.
• Promote community wellbeing and health in the
area surrounding the Indah Biosphere Reserve.
• To establish a sustainable enterprise-based
conservation and development project that meets
the needs of local people while protecting
biodiversity in the region surrounding Indah
Biosphere Reserve.
• By the end of the project, annual household income
for all families participating in non-timber forest
product harvesting enterprises has increased by at
least 20%.
Real World Examples of
Objectives
OBJ. A1: At least once/year
starting in 2008, SLOSEA
provides a synthesis of pollutant
data to public and policy makers
OBJ. A2: By 2011,
permits for NPDES
include limits for
nonylphenol
Goals &
Objectives
OBJ. A4: During next cycle,
stormwater plans are updated to
reflect findings from the
pollutant monitoring strategy
OBJ. HF2: By 2012, at least 80%
of samples over entire scope
meet updated State and Federal
water quality standards of
nitrates, nonylphenols, and other
potential pollutants
Adapted from SLOSEA 2008, Morro Bay, California
Real World Examples of
Objectives
Goals &
Objectives
OBJ.: By 2012, 60% of American
population understands the need for
ecological fire management (including
rxfire, thinning, letting natural fires burn)
OBJ.: By 2015 Congress and
agency leadership allocate $705
million/year for restoration of
fire-adapted ecosystems
Adapted from TNC Global Fire Initiative 2008, USA
OBJ.: By 2015, 2.78
million acres in WUI
treated annually by
federal agencies
This Presentation
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•
•
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Goals &
Objectives
What is a goal?
How to define goals
What are objectives?
How to define objectives
How to determine if strategies (with results
chains and objectives) are sufficient to
achieve goals
Determining If Strategies
Are Sufficient to Achieve
Goal
Goals &
Objectives
• Build a high-level results chain including:
–
–
–
–
–
A target and its goal(s)
All relevant threat reduction results
Viability results (optional)
All relevant strategies
For each strategy, 1-2 major intermediate results
• Analyze whether all strategies, with their
associated major results / objectives, will be
sufficient to achieve the goal
Determining If Strategies
Are Sufficient to Achieve
Goal
Viability results (optional)
are included to clarify
which strategies contribute
to which aspects of
viability
Goals &
Objectives
Goal: By 2025,
at least 2,100
ha of high
conservation
value* wetlands
on the Swan
Coastal Plain
maintain a
“good”
hydroperiod…
Determining If Strategies
Are Sufficient to Achieve
Goal
Goals &
Objectives
Determining If Strategies
Are Sufficient to Achieve
Goal
Goals &
Objectives
Determining If Strategies
Are Sufficient to Achieve
Goal
Include strategies that
other organizations are
implementing
Goals &
Objectives
Sufficient?
Goal: By 2025, at
least 2,100 ha of
high conservation
value* wetlands on
the Swan Coastal
Plain maintain a
“good”
hydroperiod…
Key Points
Goals & Objectives
Conservation strategies are a group of actions designed
to enhance viability of a target (GOAL) and/or abate a
critical threat (OBJECTIVE).
Goals & Objectives – What you want to accomplish
Strategies – How you are going to get there
A threat reduction objective is not a goal.
Objectives should be specific, measurable, time Limited,
and practical.
Be relatively sure that your strategies are really sufficient
to achieve your objective/goal.