2A. Develop a Formal Action Plan: Goals and Objectives

2A. Develop a Formal Action Plan: Goals and Objectives

Conservation Coaches Network Workshop Presentation

Adaptive Management Workshop Presentations

1A-1B. Team, Scope, Vision1B. Conservation Targets1B. Viability Assessment

2A-1. Strategy Selection2A-2. Results Chains2A-3. Goals and Objectives

2B. Monitoring Plan

1C. Threat Rating

1D. Conceptual Models

Plan Your Actions & Monitoring

Goals & Objectives

This Presentation

• 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

Goals & Objectives

What is a Goal?

Goal: A formal statement detailing a desired impact of a project, such as the desired future status of a target.

Goals & Objectives

Criteria for Goals

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 interactionsLandscape Context – Landscape-scale ecological

processes, adjacency and connectivity

Goals & Objectives

Criteria for Goals

Impact oriented: Represents the desired future status of the conservation target over the long-term.

A preview of Results Chains:

Goals & Objectives

Criteria for Goals

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.

Goals & Objectives

This Presentation



Goals & Objectives

How to Define Goals

1. Choose a conservation target 2. Select key ecological attributes of the target to

represent in the goal3. Write a draft description of the future desired

condition of the target4. Apply criteria 5. Modify the goal as needed6. Analyze whether all relevant strategies / results

chains should be sufficient to achieve the goal

Goals & Objectives

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

From the Viability Assessment…

Indicator Ratings

Target Category KEA Indicator Poor Fair Good Very Good

Seasonally flooded

wetlandsSize

Area of seasonally

flooded wetlands

# of hectares

<1,000 ha.

1,000 – 2,000 ha.

2,001 – 3,000

ha.

>3,000 ha.

Goals & Objectives


From the Viability Assessment…

Indicator Ratings

Target Category KEA Indicator Poor Fair Good Very Good

Seasonally flooded

wetlands

Landscape Context

Water level fluctuations Hydroperiod

<12 weeks fully flooded and/or 17+

weeks completely

dry

12+ weeks fully

flooded and ≤16 weeks

completely dry

Goals & Objectives


• Target: Seasonally flooded wetlands• Key Ecological Attributes:

– Area– Water level fluctuations

Goals & Objectives

3. Write a Draft Goal

• 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


• Criteria:– Linked to target?– Impact-oriented?– Time-bound?– Specific?– Measurable?

Goals & Objectives

5. Modify the Goal as Needed





Modified Goal:

Goals & Objectives

5. Modify the Goal as Needed





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.

Goals & Objectives

Final Goal

• 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 & Objectives

Goals in Miradi Goals & Objectives

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

Bold = Current Italics = Desired

Poor Fair Good Very Good

6 Great Basin Riverine Aquatic System

Landscape Context

hydrological regime

Base flow No base flow in summer

Low base flow in summer (including drying up in sections)

Moderate base flow in summer (no sections go dry)

High base flow in summer Fair

Current RatingConservation Target

Enter # of Target Category Key Attribute Indicator

Indicator Ratings

Example of a Goal Goals & Objectives

Careful…A Goal is NOT a Threat Reduction Objective

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.

Goals & Objectives

Example Goal

• 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.

Goals & Objectives

Example Goal

• 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)

Goals & Objectives

Which of the Following Comply with the Criteria for a Good Goal?

• 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.

Goals & Objectives

This Presentation



Goals & Objectives

Develop Your 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

Goals & Objectives

What Does Outcome Oriented Mean?

A basic results chain:

Goals & 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.

Goals & Objectives

This Presentation



Goals & Objectives

How Do You Write a Good Objective?

1. Select a result in your results chain where you want an objective

2. Write a draft objective for that resultDraft 1: “More landowners are implementing BMPs on

their properties”

3. Apply the criteria to modify and refine your draft objective - Outcome oriented - Specific- Measureable - Time limited- Practical

Landowners implement best mgmt practices

Goals & Objectives

How Do You Write a Good 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”

Goals & Objectives


OBJ. C2: By 2015 and thereafter, at least 90% of Eucalyptus-

Melaleuca woodlands and 75% of the seasonally-flooded wetlands

remain invasives-free

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

OBJ. C1: By 2015 and thereafter, no new invasive plant species are

detected in the Eucalyptus-Melaleuca woodlands and

seasonally flooded wetlands

Goals & Objectives

Objectives in Miradi Goals & Objectives

Which of These Comply with the Criteria for a Good 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%.

Goals & Objectives

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

OBJ. A2: By 2011, permits for NPDES

include limits for nonylphenol

OBJ. A1: At least once/year starting in 2008, SLOSEA

provides a synthesis of pollutant data to public and policy makers

Real World Examples of Objectives

OBJ. A4: During next cycle, stormwater plans are updated to

reflect findings from the pollutant monitoring strategy

Adapted from SLOSEA 2008, Morro Bay, California

Goals & Objectives

OBJ.: By 2015, 2.78 million acres in WUI treated annually by federal agencies

OBJ.: By 2012, 60% of American population understands the need for ecological fire management (including rxfire, thinning, letting natural fires burn)

Real World Examples of Objectives

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

Goals & Objectives

This Presentation



Goals & Objectives

Determining If Strategies Are Sufficient to Achieve Goal

• 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

Goals & Objectives


Goal: By 2025, at least 2,100 ha of high conservation value* wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain maintain a “good” hydroperiod…

Viability results (optional) are included to clarify which strategies contribute to which aspects of viability

Goals & Objectives


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…

Include strategies that other organizations are implementing


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.

Key Points Goals & Objectives

2A. Develop a Formal Action Plan: Goals and Objectives

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