Community, Conservation, and Collaboration

Thought Leadership and Internal Reports

A Framework for Success

Nov
12
2019

In the face of unprecedented threats to our planet, the active engagement and leadership of local communities is a critical component of securing a healthy future for all beings, human and wild. This essential framework, developed from the experience of over 50 organizations and in partnership with the National Geographic Society, provides lessons, strategies, and best practices to anyone working to engage and empower communities in the process of enhanced conservation and natural resource management. The framework and its associated toolkit go beyond theory to address the very important question of “how.”

Community, Conservation, and Collaboration document cover
Community, Conservation, and Collaboration document cover
Community, Conservation, and Collaboration document cover
Community, Conservation, and Collaboration document cover
Community, Conservation, and Collaboration document cover
Community, Conservation, and Collaboration document cover
Community, Conservation, and Collaboration document cover

Key Takeaways

Community

Local communities must be creators of programs, owners of environmental enterprises, and catalysts for change rather than simple beneficiaries of programming.

Maasai Warrior for Wildlife using a GPS unit
©
African People & Wildlife
Maasai Warrior for Wildlife using a GPS unit

Conservation

NGOs should pursue conservation goals that address both the environmental and social concerns of partner communities.

Two cheetahs in Northern Tanzania
©
Laly Lichtenfeld
Two cheetahs in Northern Tanzania

Collaboration

Environmental initiatives must be designed in collaboration with communities to ensure relevance, program sustainability, and sound cause-and-effect logic.

Tanzanian women in a community seminar
©
African People & Wildlife
Tanzanian women in a community seminar

Access Individual Tools

Note: These tools are listed in the order they appear in the framework text which does not necessarily reflect the order in which they may be used.

Today, in the face of unprecedented threats to our planet’s wildlife and ecosystems, collaborating with and empowering local communities is fundamental to the success of biodiversity conservation. Together, I believe we can accelerate meaningful solutions to protect the great diversity of life and build a brighter future for all.

Jonathan Baillie, Ph.D., Former Executive Vice President and Chief Scientist of National Geographic Society