Communities and conservation
This MOOC addresses the topic of community-centred conservation: understanding who communities are, how their knowledge and livelihoods influence conservation, how to encourage favourable behaviours, how to engage them in the management of protected areas, and how to evaluate their contribution. A clear learning framework for working with communities for conservation.
MOOC Syllabus
Module 1: Historical Perspectives on Conservation
1.1 Historical overview
1.2 The evolution toward more inclusive conservation models
1.3 Living landscapes
Module 2: What are Communities?
2.1 Diversity and change within communities
2.2 Indigenous and local knowledge
2.3 Relationships and power within communities
2.4 Considering community well-being
2.5 Equity in conservation
Module 3: How to Influence Community Conservation Behaviour?
3.1 What is human behaviour?
3.2 How to change behaviours for better biodiversity conservation?
Module 4: Local Livelihoods and Protected Areas
4.1 Economic and cultural interconnections with natural resources
4.2 Protected areas and resource-dependent communities
4.3 Supporting livelihoods by adapting protected area rules
4.4 Supporting livelihoods through local economic development
4.5 Supporting livelihoods through other incentives
Module 5: How to Engage Communities in Protected Area Management?
5.1 The benefits of community engagement
5.2 Levels of community participation
5.3 Ways to engage communities
Module 6: How to Assess the Role of Communities in Protected Areas?
6.1 Overview of participatory tools
6.2 Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT)
6.3 Elinor Data Tool and System
6.4 IIED monitoring tools
Course Designers
This course was developed by:
- Mark Andrachuk, PhD, a specialist in environmental social sciences with over 15 years of experience in Canada and internationally.
- Graham Epstein, PhD, assistant professor and researcher at the University of Waterloo (Canada), specialising in the human dimensions of conservation and natural resource management.
Practical Information
The MOOC is delivered online, on this platform, and at your own pace.
Duration: 40 hours of online and offline work (this is an estimate; actual time may vary for each learner)
Cost: free (including the certificate upon successful completion)