Strategic Planning for Species Conservation: A Handbook - IUCN

6. Vision and Goals
This chapter defines the Vision as an inspirational and relatively short statement, describing
the desired future state for the species. The chapter describes how to develop a Vision,
based on a range-wide analysis of a species’ status and a detailed consideration of the
species’ long-term conservation needs. The chapter also introduces the concept of Goals,
which represent the Vision redefined in operational terms, and provides guidelines on how
to use the Vision to develop Goals. Finally, the chapter describes Goal Targets, which are
a subset of the Goals which can realistically be achieved over the lifetime of the SCS
(usually 5–10 years).
6.1 What is a Vision?
An over-arching Vision outlines, in an inspirational and relatively short statement, the
desired future state for the species. Hence, the Vision describes, in broad terms, the
desired range and abundance for the species, its ecological role, and it relationship with
humans. The Vision is an essential part of the new SCS process, which requires those
writing a SCS to discuss explicitly what it means to save a species, and to use the answer
to this question to develop Goals. The Vision, therefore, should be derived from an analysis
of a species’ status, and from a detailed consideration of the long-term conservation needs
of the species (informed by the threat analysis). The Vision should be as ambitious and as
inclusive as possible. Examples of Vision statements are provided in Box 6.1.
Box 6.1 Examples of Vision Statements
“Over the next century, the ecological recovery of the North American bison will occur when
multiple large herds move freely across extensive landscapes within all major habitats of their
historic range, interacting in ecologically significant ways with the fullest possible set of other
native species, and inspiring, sustaining and connecting human cultures” (Sanderson et al.
2008).
“To secure viable and ecologically functional cheetah and African wild dog populations as valued
components of development in eastern Africa” (IUCN/SSC in press).
“New England Wild Flower Society’s Vision for 2025 holds that all native plants of the New
England region exist in vigorous populations within healthy, balanced, natural ecosystems, with
suitable protections that allow these ecosystems and the native plants within them to adapt and
evolve over time, and that the citizens of the region are actively engaged in conservation of New
England’s native plants, while enjoying native plants in the wild and in their own
gardens” (NEWFS 2007).
There is no “one size fits all” definition of what it means to save a species, because species
vary in their biology, relationships to people, and current conservation status. However,
there are some basic principles that should always be considered when creating a longterm
Vision for successful species conservation.
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