Course Dates & Live Sessions:
The next date for this course is:
5 May-20 June 2025
3 November-19 December 2025
Registration closes one month before the start date.
Course Introduction:
Of the more than 157,000 species assessed through the global Red List, 28% are considered threatened with extinction (IUCN, 2024). Well-resourced, effectively implemented species conservation plans will play a key role in reversing this situation and improving the status of threatened species worldwide. To achieve this change at scale requires a significant increase in the number of competent planners able to support governments, non-government organizations, zoos, aquariums, botanic gardens, and civil society groups to plan for threatened species recovery.
Planning can be complex. Often multiple stakeholders and their interests need to be considered. Facilitation skills provide us with the confidence and competence needed to lead groups through the process.
The IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) has developed and facilitated many hundreds of multi-stakeholder species conservation planning processes that have been ‘pivot points’ in recovery efforts for threatened wildlife globally. In 2020 CPSG published it's Species Conservation Planning Principles and Steps, a resource for those seeking guidance on how to design collaborative species conservation planning processes. This online course explains how to put these principles and steps into practice.
Learning Outcomes:
This is an introductory course to species conservation planning.
By the end participants will be able to:
-Apply the CPSG Species Conservation Planning Principles and Steps to the design and facilitation of species conservation planning processes.
-Demonstrate the role of the facilitator in consensus-based decision making.
-Select facilitation tools to help groups solve problems, make decisions, and develop plans.
Course Format:
This online course (delivered through www.conservationtraining.org/) consists of pre- recorded lectures, reading materials, and problem solving activities along with ‘live’ webinars and discussions. You will interact with some of the world’s leading authorities on species conservation planning, share in their experiences, and develop your own understanding of the skills involved.
Pre- recorded sessions can be listened to in your own time. Live webinars will be repeated each week to accommodate different time zones.
Costs:
This course is available at no cost, partly thanks to the Institute of Museum and Library Services Award: MG-253401-OMS-23.
Course Duration:
The course lasts for seven weeks and involves 4-6hrs work per week, depending on how quickly you work through the materials.
Certification:
Participants successfully completing the course will receive a Certificate of Completion. Those going further to apply the skills to their work can be considered for a Certificate of Reflective Practice (additional assessment criteria apply).
Continuing Professional Development Opportunities for AZA Trainees:
Trainees successfully completing the IMLS-funded FSCPW course are eligible for additional professional development opportunities with CPSG. These include scholarships for additional training courses, targeted mentorship development, and access to additional CPSG resources.
Application:
Applicants must meet specific criteria to access the grant-funded course. CPSG staff will confirm eligibility and contact all applicants with further information.
To apply, please fill out the application form found on the left by clicking ‘Apply Here’
For further information contact:
Christina Dembiec at christina@cpsg.org