Conservation Realist

Well, it's time for a positive mindset to feature in this preview of my Conservation Sense trainings on conservation mindsets. So, let's talk about confidence, and how important it is for conservation professionals and stakeholders.

Another "mindset to avoid" preview from the Conservation Sense trainings on mindsets.

In this installment of the Conservation Sense series on mindsets, we'll cover moral equilibrium and moral licensing. Why does it not occur to many of us to be more concerned about the moral implications that our work has for other humans? Or to even just be more attentive to the actual outcomes of our work, for people and for nature? Moral licensing might just be part of it!

In this installment of the Conservation Sense training series previews, we'll briefly cover critical thinking and mindfulness. These, plus systems thinking, are the "big three" that work together to guide more thoughtful, strategic conservation work (well, really, any type of work, but conservation is what we're here for!).

A "notes from the field" post sharing the wonder of exploration and learning in the Gulf of Mottama. I know many of you have similar experiences, and I hope this post reminds us all to stay in touch with that sense of wonder as we engage in the challenging, but inspired, work that we do.

Back to the Conservation Sense series! Time to dive into conservation mindsets. Today I introduce "the big three" that have been central to how I train researchers and conservationists: systems thinking; critical thinking; mindfulness. Here, I'll focus on systems thinking, which involves a lot of doodling (for me).

A lovely chat with Emily Miller (California Sea Grant and Fishful Future) who works to build community around local seafood in San Diego. Key points include: the importance of trust in working with local fisheries; her experiences as an at-sea fisheries observer; challenges facing the local seafood sector in San Diego, and how we can help; how her biracial background (hapa pride!) inspires and shapes the biocultural aspect of her work

Post 2 in the Conservation Sense series! Since conservation is a human process, why does natural science remain such a dominant force in the conservation sector? And what are the impacts of this disproportionate influence? Let's explore the idea of "natural science privilege."

This is the foundation of how I approach conservation - understanding it as a human process, and not a process that involves some "human dimensions" on the side. This is the beginning of my "Conservation Sense" series, a feature of Conservation Realist. This series is more training-focused toward building awareness and skills for better conservation, and serves as a preview of my more in-depth Conservation Sense trainings that will be offered later in 2025. Let's dive in!

This is the first of a few episodes on how to better incorporate women in conservation activities, based on one of my favorite consulting outputs: a training for Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund based on stories from their Indo-Burma Hotspot grantees who've amplified women's involvement in conservation. It's publicly available, so I wanted to share highlights - starting with making case for women's involvement, and key considerations for doing so responsibly.