Landscape Planning

Conservation planning happens at multiple scales from site-specific to transcontinental. While all conservation actions on the ground must eventually be applied at the site scale, the “landscape-scale” has been recommended for decades as a suitable scale for planning. The landscape scale brings ecological and socioeconomic context to inform decisions by understanding ecological connections and flows, population-level information about species, human stressors affecting sites but originating outside of them, and policy. This course will explore the key concepts and some tricky challenges of conducting conservation planning at the landscape scale, including how site-scale implementing actions can flow from a landscape-scale plan.  The course will draw on the Conservation Standards and other frameworks but will address the multi-disciplinary needs and tools of landscape planning, including spatial analyses and optimization, incorporating socioeconomic factors and community input, the importance of partners, and how to sustain what must be a dynamic effort into the future. Ten guest instructors (live or pre-recorded) from multiple organizations around the world will augment the course with their specific expertise and experience.

Course materials available starting September 22, 2025.

STANDARD and PREMIUM formats also include:

• Live (recorded) meetings September 24 – October 22, 2025; 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesdays and Fridays each week (except October 8). Exact dates are: 9/24, 9/26, 10/1, 10/3, 10/10, 10/15, 10/17, and 10/22.

• Instructor support September 22 – 5 November 5.

See TOPICS & LEARNING OUTCOMES below for the details about guest lecturers each week!

• Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation course, equivalent course, or practical experience applying the standards is preferred but students may review the Open Standards in advance.

Module 1: Introduction to Landscape-Scale Conservation Planning and Key Planning Frameworks

1. Define landscape planning

2. Identify available landscape planning frameworks

Guest instructor:  Tom Miewald, Program Director 1000 Landscapes for 1 Billion People (Ecoagricultural Partners)

Module 2: Choosing an Appropriate Landscape Boundary

1. Identify important factors in defining a landscape boundary

2. Define appropriate landscape boundaries given specific biogeophysical and sociopolitical context

Guest instructor: Hannah Grice, Operations Manager, LandScale (Rainforest Alliance)

Module 3: Key Processes in Landscape Planning & Integrating Interested Parties

1. Identify the key processes for conducting landscape planning

2. Translate the Conservation Standards processes for setting the scope, vision, and conservation targets suitable to a landscape’s needs and context

3. Plan for the integration of interested parties and grassroots organizations

Guest instructors: Maya Machamer, Principal - Community Resilience, ISET-International; Kevin Essington, Founder, City Greener Strategies.

Module 4: Incorporating Socioeconomic Considerations in Multi-Objective Landscape Planning

1. Identify key socioeconomic considerations in landscape planning

2. Plan for achieving multiple objectives across environmental and socioeconomic needs

Guest instructor: Willem Ferwerda, Founder, Commonland

Module 5: Identifying Appropriate Targets, Data, and Tools for Your Needs and Capacity

1. Identify factors influencing target selection at a landscape scale

2. Define data needs for targets and useful tools

3. Select ecological and cultural targets appropriate for a landscape

Guest instructors: Dr. Jen McGowan; and Jamie Faselt, Conservation Science Specialist, Center for Large Landscape Conservation

Module 6: Technical Approaches for Assessing Current Conditions and Future Trends

1. Identify processes, data, and tools for assessing current conditions and future trends

2. Define how outputs of these assessments influence planning

3. Guest instructors: Pat Comer, Founder, Comer Ecology;  Dr. Pete Cutter, Director of Program Coordination and Technical Services, RECOFT

Module 7: What’s in a Plan and How is it Implemented?

1. Identify the key components of a landscape plan

2. Define requisites for landscape plans to facilitate implementation

Guest instructors: Dr. Jen McGowan

Module 8: Building Partnerships and Creating a Dynamic Assessment & Planning Process

1. Identify key partners and communicate the value of landscape planning

2. Define a partnership model to help maintain a dynamic assessment and planning process

Guest instructors: Hannah Grice, Operations Manager, LandScale (Rainforest Alliance); and John Buchanan, Vice President Sustainable Production, Conservation International

FORMAT:

• 3 months of access to course materials

• Recordings of live meetings posted

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

• 16 CEUs with The Wildlife Society (go to our Continuing Education Page for more details)

FORMAT:

• 3 months of access to course materials as you work at your own pace 

• Get instructor support for the 3-month term via email, discussion threads, group meetings, and one-on-one appointments

• After working through the course materials, set up an optional meeting with the instructor to discuss your own personal project from work or school

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

• 16 CEUs with The Wildlife Society

• Go to our Continuing Education Page for more details

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Earn 1 credit toward certification as an Associate/Certified Wildlife Biologist® (at any level) with The Wildlife Society

• Course qualifies as a core-curriculum credit in the Conservation Planning Certification program.

Learn at your own pace (watch prerecorded lectures and videos, read papers, and participate in discussions) with instructor support as needed.

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

• 16 CEUs with The Wildlife Society (go to our Continuing Education Page for more details)

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Earn 1 credit towards a professional certificate in Conservation Planning with CWS

ACADEMIC CREDIT:

• Earn 1 academic credit (go to our Academic Credit Page for details)

• Earn an additional 1-2 academic credits with an Applied Project

Learn at your own pace (watch prerecorded lectures and videos, read papers, and participate in discussions) with instructor support as needed.