A new publication in Conservation Science and Practice by Conservation Innovation Lab graduate Dr. Camila Guerrero Pineda, current PhD candidate Paola Sangolqui, Galapagos National Park director Javier Chafla, and Center directors Leah Gerber and Gwen Iacona explores the connections between the costs and outcomes of conservation interventions to help conservation managers identify ways to minimize cost, justify budgets, and compare strategies over time to make better decisions.
Conservation scientist Mark Schwartz reviewed the paper with conservation interventions expert Annette Stewart on his podcast. They explain the background of why this is important for conservation, namely that with limited funding and capacity, being able to accurately analyze and assess the cost and trade-offs of conservation actions in an accessible way helps inform conservation decision-making.
This project, funded by Lenfest Ocean Program, has meant working closely with the Galapagos National Park staff. An important product of this collaboration is a structured decision-making handbook. Using case studies in the Galápagos National Park, this handbook aims to help environmental managers refine management objectives and apply data analyses to inform adaptive management and decision-making. The handbook outlines the application of structured decision-making (SDM) as a rigorous foundation for evaluating decisions in a transparent manner. By guiding environmental managers through the SDM process with examples, the handbook gives them a practical, hands-on method to effectively target resources, then pursue objectives, prioritize interventions, and implement decisions, all while building trust among stakeholders. It’s available in English and Spanish.