Conservation Site Assessment and Planning

Date: September 25 - 27, 2007
Location: Disney Wilderness Preserve

The purpose of this workshop is to introduce the participant to assessment and planning techniques being successfully used in Florida.

Course Coordinator: Monica Folk, TNC

Site Assessment

• Participants will be introduced to the role information plays in developing effective natural areas management plans. They will be exposed to the types of ecological and cultural information that can be used to form the foundation of a plan. Sources of information for Florida will be made available.
• Participants will be exposed to the role ecological modeling plays in providing input and direction to the planning process.
• Participants will conduct a field site assessment for a case-study area.

Site Planning

• Using the same case-study and site assessment information as mentioned above, participants will engage in a process of setting conservation targets and defining goals for those targets
• Participants will determine threats to the existence of the stated conservation targets, prioritize the threats, and determine strategies to abate the high priority threats.
• Participants will develop a basic action plan and budget to implement strategies to abate threats.
• Participants will determine how to plan for public use of the case-study natural area using use zones can be implemented within the limits set by the needs of priority conservation targets
• Participants will outline a plan as to how to identify and involve stakeholders in the planning process
• Participants will compare their plans to the plan that is in place at the case-study site.

Lunch is included daily.

Sample Agenda

"These workshops provide an excellent opportunity to gain incites and practical knowledge from people who have real world experience."
- Stuart Jones, Volusia County Land Management