PhD Scholar
Towards improved theory and practice in evaluation of conservation projects
E-mail: arianne.lowe@anu.edu.au

Globally, significant effort and investment is committed to environmental conservation. This investment is increasing due to heightened public recognition of the impacts of climate change. How much conservation projects can achieve will be determined by the efficacy of this investment. Rigorous comparison of projects using robust evaluation methods is critical to establishing priorities and ranking expenditure options. This research initially reviewed the recent status of project evaluation in the published, peer-reviewed conservation literature. In vivo, "live" case studies were then utilised to investigate current methods and develop further understanding of the evaluation process and effective implementation and outcomes. The first case study involved the Southern Rivers Bush Incentives, an Australian government initiative of the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority. The pilot program aims to protect native flora and fauna across privately owned land within the catchment area. It is an auction-based approach with landholders funded to conserve land over five to ten years. The second, contrasting case study involved collaboration with an international non-government organisation, The Nature Conservancy, on a review of a peer-learning network in the Pacific, 'Micronesians in Conservation'. This program was established to increase collaboration and effectiveness of conservation leaders across the region. Findings distilled from the case studies highlight important principles and a framework for evaluation in environmental conservation.