how to integrate human wellbeing targets into conservation planning

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Human Wellbeing TargetsProposed Guidance - for Review by CMP

Presenters: Daniel Hayden (Rare) & Caroline Stem of FOSJune 18, 2012

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Topics

• Refresher on accepted revisions to OS• Review of key points in proposed guidance• Discussion and next steps

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1. Formally define Human Wellbeing within OS2. Link to conservation targets via ecosystem

services3. Socially beneficial results and human

wellbeing targets are not the same4. Goals for HWT

Accepted Revisions to OS

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1. Formally define Human Wellbeing within OSHuman wellbeing target definition: Aspects of human wellbeing* that the project chooses to focus on. In the context of a conservation project, human wellbeing targets focus on those components of human wellbeing affected by the status of conservation targets.

*Millennium Ecosystem Assessment defines human wellbeing as including: 1) necessary material for a good life, 2) health, 3) good social relations, 4) security, and 5) freedom and choice

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Leverage Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Language & Categories:

• Don’t need to reinvent the wheel• Broader appeal and buy-in by using internationally-

accepted framework• Link to international funding mechanisms• Not perfect but pros generally outweigh cons, can do

minor tweaks, as needed

1. Formally define Human Wellbeing within OS

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1. Formally define Human Wellbeing within OS

If adding HWT, do so in Step 1D, Complete Situation Analysis

2. Link to conservation targets via ecosystem services Human wellbeing – in the context of a conservation project – is achieved via ecosystem services provided by functioning conservation targets. For example:

Services that intact, functioning ecosystems, species, and habitats provide and that can benefit people

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Need to be clear about differences between social benefits and HWT

3. Socially beneficial results and human wellbeing targets are not the same.

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Need to be clear about differences between social benefits and HWT

Result directly benefiting humans

3. Socially beneficial results and human wellbeing targets are not the same.

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3. Socially beneficial results and human wellbeing targets are not the sameMain Points:• Conservation teams often work on important social issues

that have benefits beyond conservation (e.g., building capacity for good governance or promoting alternative livelihoods)

• Such strategies provide social benefits, but these are NOT equivalent to human wellbeing targets

• Human wellbeing targets represent the interests of humans that will be enhanced or achieved as a result of the conservation of an ecosystem, habitat, or species and its associated ecosystem services

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• Group’s reasoning: If we are going to call these “targets,” they should be held to the same standard as a conservation target.

• There is no obligation to include human wellbeing targets, but if you do, you should have goals for them.

4. Goals for HWT

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4. Goals for HWT

• Goal should be clearly dependent upon the status of the conservation target(s) and/or the ecosystem services they provide

• So, NO to goals related to reducing HIV infection or decreasing cholesterol levels

• But, YES to goals related to access to food sources because conserved biological targets are improving crop pollination services

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1. Formally define Human Wellbeing within OS2. Link to conservation targets via ecosystem

services3. Socially beneficial results and human

wellbeing targets are not the same.4. Goals for human wellbeing targets

Accepted Revisions to OS

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Topics


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Main Points in Guidance

1. Purpose2. Defining HWB, ecosystem services,

relationships3. Clarifying socially beneficial results & HWTs4. Developing indicators for ecosystem services5. Developing goals for HWTs6. Showing trade-offs, feedback loops,

unintended consequences

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DRAFT Guidance - Section 2:Defining HWB & Ecosystem Services

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Dimensions of HWB (acc to MA)

• Necessary material for a good life: including secure and adequate livelihoods, income and assets, enough food at all times, shelter, furniture, clothing, and access to goods;

• Health: including being strong, feeling well, and having a healthy physical environment;

• Good social relations: including social cohesion, mutual respect, good gender and family relations, and the ability to help others and provide for children;

• Security: including secure access to natural and other resources, safety of person and possessions, and living in a predictable and controllable environment with security from natural and human-made disasters; and

• Freedom and choice: including having control over what happens and being able to achieve what a person values doing or being

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Human Wellbeing Targets

• Ultimate aim is conservation – HWB as it is derived from or dependent upon conservation

X

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Ecosystem ServicesType Definition Examples

Provisioning Products obtained from ecosystems Food, fuelwood, water, minerals, pharmaceuticals, biochemicals, energy

Regulating Benefits obtained from regulation of ecosystem processes

Carbon sequestration, climate regulation, waste decomposition, water/air purification, crop pollination, pest control

Supporting Services necessary for production of all other ecosystem services

Nutrient dispersal & cycling, seed dispersal, soil formation

Cultural Non-material benefits obtained from ecosystems through spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, reflection, recreation, and aesthetic experiences

Cultural diversity, spiritual & religious values, knowledge systems, educational values, inspiration

Framework is for brainstorming! Actual categories do not matter – just clarity on what an ecosystem service is

Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

The services that intact, functioning ecosystems, species, and habitats provide and that can benefit people

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Relationships

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Box 1 - Mapping Partner’s WorkOnly for

communications purposes

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DRAFT Guidance - Section 3:Clarifying Socially Beneficial Results and Human Wellbeing Targets

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Case 1: HWB enhanced via socially-oriented strategy


Specific Example

General Relationship

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Case 1: HWB enhanced via socially-oriented strategy

Conservation Strategy Results benefiting humans (and necessary for achieving conservation)

Alternative livelihoods Increased incomeDiversified income sources

Eco-certification Access to niche marketsIncreased income

Sustainable resource management/ extraction

Improved ability to manage resources sustainablyIncreased yields (in some cases)

Improving governance Increased ability to influence decision makingEmpowerment

Capacity building, technical assistance

Improved technical skillsImproved ability to manage

Environmental education Increased knowledge and awareness

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Case 2: HWB enhanced via ecosystem services

Specific Example


Ecosystem service results contributing to human wellbeing

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Case 3: HWB enhanced via multiple avenues

Specific Example



Ecosystem service results contributing to human wellbeing

Result also contributing to human wellbeing

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DRAFT Guidance - Section 4:Developing Indicators for

Ecosystem Services

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2 Steps for Identifying Indicators

1. Review conservation target indicators2. Identify new indicators not covered under

the conservation targets

Main message: keep it simple, use what you have

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1. Review Conservation Target Indicators

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2. Identify New Indicators

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Implications for Threat Ratings

Keep in mind ecosystem services a conservation target provides when doing threat rating (but no formal criterion)

Doing so can drive home the relevance of the threat

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DRAFT Guidance - Section 5: Developing Goals for Human Wellbeing Targets

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Conditions When Teams Should Set Goals

• Required to show human benefits (e.g., statutory, funding)• Organization has higher level mission and/or goals and

objectives related to human wellbeing; • Stakeholders want to see change in HWB (won’t be satisfied

with simply showing the conceptual linkages); • Can increase support for efforts and broaden conservation

impact by measuring human wellbeing benefits; • Failure to set human wellbeing goals will undermine a team’s

ability to achieve its conservation goals; and/or• Team has resources to invest in setting and monitoring goals

for human wellbeing.

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Conditions When Teams Should NOT Set Goals

• Stakeholders have an interest in HWB but are comfortable with just understanding the conceptual linkages;

• Team is working with a narrow group of stakeholders whose main interest is biodiversity conservation;

• Team does not have funding or legal requirements to show human wellbeing impact; and/or

• Most importantly, it has limited resources –setting and monitoring human wellbeing goals would compromise team’s ability to implement its project well and monitor biodiversity results.

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Criteria for HWB Goals

• Linked to a human wellbeing target; • Directly dependent on ecosystem services

provided by conservation targets;• Does not compromise the ability of

conservation targets to adequately deliver any ecosystem service; and

• Time limited, measurable and specific (like conservation goals)

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Example Goals** New material

Goals:

Attribute: Security from natural disasters

Attribute: Reliable access to natural areas/wildlife in good condition

Attribute: Access to clean water in sufficient quantity

By 2030 and thereafter, at least 90% of nature tourism companies indicate

they have sufficient good quality wildlife and habitat to draw in tourists

By 2030 and thereafter, fewer than 10 cases of water-borne diseases are

recorded annually within the region

By 2030 and thereafter, damage to homes and farms from drought and

flooding has decreased by at least 75%, compared to 2010 levels

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Caution on Key Attributes

Teams should be aware of potential tensions between maximizing human wellbeing goals and what that means for conservation and ecosystem services

41Indicator: # cases of water-borne diseases


Indicators: Annual $ value of damage to homes from floodingAnnual $ value of damage to farms from drought

and flooding

Indicator: % nature tourism companies indicating sufficient quality wildlife and habitat

By 2030 and thereafter, damage to homes and farms from drought and

flooding has decreased by at least 75%, compared to 2010 levels

By 2030 and thereafter, at least 90% of nature tourism companies indicate

they have sufficient good quality wildlife and habitat to draw in tourists

By 2030 and thereafter, fewer than 10 cases of water-borne diseases are


Indicator: average daily cubic meters released by

dry and wet season

Indicator: Abundance of blue-billed ducks in

tourism areas

Indicator: Fecal coliform concentration (in dry &

wet seasons)

Example Goals & Indicators** New material

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DRAFT Guidance - Section 6: Showing Trade-offs, Feedback Loops, and Unintended

Consequences in Results Chains

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Definitions & ExamplesFeedback loops illustrate how an event or result in a chain loops back into a system, either reinforcing and amplifying the relationship (positive feedback) or dampening the relationship (negative feedback).

Negative feedback loop

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Definitions & ExamplesAn unintended consequence is a result that was not envisioned as part of the original action or strategy. Can be positive or negative. Broader than feedback loops

Unintended negative consequence

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Definitions & ExamplesAn unintended consequence is a result that was not envisioned as part of the original action or strategy. Can be positive or negative. Broader than feedback loops

Unintended positive consequence

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Definitions & ExamplesA trade-off involves a situation where one aspect (or result) is favored at the expense or partial expense of another. It implies a decision is made with an understanding of the costs and benefits.

Tradeoff

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Guidance on Feedback Loops, Unintended Consequences, Tradeoffs

• Doesn’t matter if you classify them right – just a framework for helping to think about them

• Only show them when there is a high likelihood that you might see these situations and should have them in mind for monitoring

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Topics


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Discussion/ Next Steps