The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management and FOS Europe have developed a framework and a 10-step method for tackling the big challenges in marine conservation. The framework contains ​definitions, guiding principles, and a methodology for design and management of networks of marine protected areas. Together with the step-by-step guidance, it helps to systematically reason through how much of what to protect, and how to protect it, in order to achieve the desired results within MPA networks. It provides tools for setting objectives for threat reduction based on the sensitivity of the targets to different threats, as well as for…

This draft “Toolkit” provides a series of “recipes” for “lighter” Conservation Standards (CS) approaches to different scenarios that teams typically encounter. The recipes link to tip sheets that offer practical ideas for how to develop key CS products using a lighter approach. The Toolkit and associated products are part of CMP’s Lighter Conservation Standards Initiative, which seeks to answer long-standing community requests for lighter, more accessible ways to get involved with the Conservation Standards. The full CS provides you with the best recipe for project management. However, teams don’t…

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) is an approach to addressing environmental and development challenges through protecting, maintaining, and enhancing ecosystem services. As part of CMP’s Collaborative Learning Initiatives, Australian NGO TierraMar researched how effectively NbS can benefit people and the environment. They interviewed people working in the NbS space, including many CMP members. Among other recommendations, the report highlights the need for more coordination and collaboration between NbS practitioners and donors.

Phase I of this learning initiative highlighted the need for the conservation community to continue learning about how to incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) principles into their conservation efforts. Because this is a relatively new conversation within the community, it was difficult to determine which tools or products would best serve CMP. After consulting with experts, it became clear that the first step needs to be an internal strategic plan that will provide direction to our efforts and galvanize CMP’s broad membership base, who may be in different stages of thinking about this topic. The DEIJ survey conducted…

The purpose of the PHE Learning Initiative was to improve CMP’s and, more broadly, the conservation sector’s understanding of PHE and its value to biodiversity conservation, to identify barriers that prevent uptake of this type of approach, and to identify recommended actions the PHE community and others can do to remove those barriers. Specific objectives were to: Provide clarity for CMP and similar conservation-focused organizations and actors on PHE and its value to conservation; Identify barriers to PHE adoption by CMP members and other similar organizations. The purpose of this report is to present key findings from the CMP-Moore PHE…

These factsheets are intended to provide a high-level summary of what situation models / results chains are, how they are developed and how to read them. The target audience is individuals not familiar with the Conservation Standards (CS) (e.g., managers, partners, individuals new to the CS),  but they may also be useful for folks familiar with the CS as well. Please find versions in both English and French available for download below.

CapeNature, the conservation authority for the Western Cape Province, South Africa, initiated a process in 2017 to strengthen adaptive management of the protected areas under its management.  Management plans strive for adaptive management, yet few are structured in a way that enables the adaptive management cycle to function fully. To facilitate adaptive management, the planning process must be founded upon clearly articulated goals and measures of success. The GEF-5 Protected Area Project, Improving the Management Effectiveness of the Protected Areas Network, presented an opportunity for CapeNature to pilot the application of the Conservation Standards, a strategic adaptive management framework designed…