What is Conservation by Design?
Conservation by Design is a framework that provides guidance and tools to support TNC teams in developing and improving conservation strategies. It is designed by TNC staff, for TNC staff, to help teams adaptively manage their work and increase their impact towards our 2030 Goals.
Conservation by Design has guided The Nature Conservancy’s work for more than two decades.
Since 1996, this conservation framework has unified and defined TNC’s conservation efforts around the world. We use Conservation by Design to set priorities, develop impactful and science-based conservation strategies, measure our effectiveness, and inform our learning. This feeds a powerful cycle of adaptive management for improved conservation outcomes.
Conservation Through the Decades
What’s New with Conservation by Design?
In 2024, TNC released updated Conservation by Design guidance in the form of nine modules. This has truly been a “One Conservancy” effort, informed by hundreds of TNC staff over a three-year period.
Here’s what’s new with the latest update:
A MODULAR APPROACH
Conservation by Design now consists of nine modules. A “module” is a tailored package of materials that helps a conservation team work through a specific step or aspect of conservation planning in a time-bound, efficient manner. The team determines their planning needs and then chooses whichever modules are right for their needs now. The modules are designed to be useful to all conservation teams across TNC, for both new work and mature strategies.
A FUNCTIONAL DESIGN
The design of the modules emphasizes effectiveness, efficiency, and accessibility. They are an effective way for teams to develop and adaptively manage rigorous and equitable conservation strategies, while making efficient use of available time and resources. They are also accessible to TNC teams around the world, and relevant to diverse needs and contexts.
A DEEPENED FOCUS ON EQUITY AND THE 2030 GOALS
The module updates were guided by three key principles of conservation: equity, evidence, and impact. Through Conservation by Design, TNC aims to make these principles more actionable for conservation teams, so we can achieve our vision for 2030.
Key Guiding Principles
Equity
Human well-being and rights are integral to all of our work to create a world where people and nature thrive. TNC is embedding equity in our conservation approach to help us be better partners for the people and communities where we work, and achieve durable, holistic outcomes. This includes a new Conservation by Design module specifically dedicated to Integrating Equity.
Evidence
As part of our commitment to evidence-based solutions, TNC grounds our work in science at all scales, from local to global. However, “evidence” encompasses far more than the knowledge found in peer-reviewed science publications. Learning from other ways of knowing, such as traditional knowledge, is also critical to our success.
Impact
TNC has committed to our 2030 Goals—ambitious global targets for addressing biodiversity loss and climate change by 2030. These goals represent the outcomes we can achieve for climate, oceans, freshwater, lands and people in this critical decade for action. Conservation by Design provides an essential foundation for achieving the 2030 Goals through rigorous, equitable strategy development.
Learn More
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Conservation by Design supports TNC teams in building and improving conservation strategies. It should be used by any TNC team looking to:
- Develop a new strategy
- Improve an existing strategy
- Review a strategy component during implementation
- Incorporate learning from adaptive management
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Conservation by Design is intended for use by TNC staff and partners working on TNC strategies. It is not yet supported for external use. However, we make the modules freely available on conservationbydesign.org as part of our commitment to collaboration and learning.
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The updated Conservation by Design modules replace all previous versions of Conservation by Design and associated guidance. Module resources will be updated regularly to incorporate the latest learning and best practices. Therefore, version numbers (e.g., “2.0”) will not be used going forward.
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A strategy is a coherent body of actions that contribute to TNC’s 2030 Goals. Strategies are defined by a theory of change and executed through projects.
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Strategies answer the question "What should we do?" Projects answer the question "How should we do it?" Projects are the building blocks of strategies that contribute to our 2030 Goals. Projects are how we implement our strategies, and—critically—where we gather the learning that will inform adaptation of the strategy over time.
Conservation by Design is focused on strategies, and not designed for project management.
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Conservation by Design is a core part of TNC’s Conservation System, the integrated set of guidance and tools provided by the Conservation Programs Team to support conservation teams and managers in achieving the 2030 Goals. This includes metrics guidance, the portfolio management process, the Hub, and more. These resources and processes work together to support impactful conservation strategies.
