Project Planning
For your project plan, we recommend the internationally-adopted Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation (or “Conservation Standards”). The Conservation Standards are used worldwide to set science-based priorities for action at multiple scales. They encourage rigorous thinking about the problems you are tackling, with measurable and adaptable work plans. Although originally developed for conservation planning, the Conservation Standard’s rigor is applicable to any project team tackling urgent and complex problems.
The Conservation Standards Framework:
1. Assess
- Purpose & project
- Scope, vision, & focal values
- Critical threats
- Conservation situation
2. Plan
- Goals, strategies, assumptions, & objectives
- Monitoring plan
- Operational plan
3. Implement
- Work plan & timetable
- Budget
- Implement plan
4. Analyze & Adapt
- Prepare data
- Analyze results
- Adapt plans
5. Share
- Document learning
- Share learning
- Foster learning
The Conservation Standards are scalable, and can form the basis of plans for projects of all types and sizes. These project plans can inform policy, advocacy, organizing, capital investment, staff recruitment, and fundraising. We work with clients to use logic models, such as situation analysis and results chains, to promote critical thinking about your community and your work. These tools facilitate shared learning and systems-level thinking.
Note that this framework prepares you to analyze and adapt your work in the subsequent months and years after completing your project plan. Monitoring your work, outputs, and outcomes may be an important component of your plan, which may be a new area for you and your team to consider.
We often use Miradi, a desktop-based conservation planning tool, with you and your team to document your conceptual thinking, your goals, and your proposed work. Some teams might find the visual representation of the plan a powerful way to understand your shared thinking, while others may prefer written or tabular information. We are happy to document your thinking and your plan in a format that your team is most likely to use and apply in their work.
We can go as deep with you into the planning cycle (e.g. into timelines and budgets) as you require. Click the “Contact Us” link to start the conversation about your project and your needs. No matter your challenges or opportunities, we promise you will develop a clear path forward that demonstrates results in your community.