Strategic Planning for Species Conservation: A Handbook - IUCN

7. Objectives
This chapter describes the process of developing Objectives which must be met in order to
achieve the SCS’s Vision and Goals. It explains how to undertake a problem analysis using
the problem tree method (one of several methods that could be used for this purpose), and
how to use the results of this analysis to define the Objectives and to develop Objective
Targets. The chapter also emphasizes the need to ensure that Objective Targets are
“SMART”.
7.1 Introduction: what are Objectives?
Attaining the Vision and Goals of a SCS will inevitably require overcoming a number of
obstacles. The SCS’s Objectives summarise the approaches to be taken in overcoming
those obstacles. Obstacles are identified using some form of problem analysis (described
below) which builds on the threat analysis conducted as part of the Status Review (see
Chapter 5) but also identifies a broader array of constraints on achieving the Vision and
Goals. Once these threats and constraints have been agreed, the ways to tackle them are
summarised as Objectives.
Broadly speaking, Objectives outline how the Vision and Goals of the SCS will be turned
into reality: the Vision and Goals describe a future scenario that the participants would like
to achieve, and the Objectives signpost the multiple routes to achieving that scenario. For
example, if over-harvest is identified as a major threat to species persistence, one Objective
might be to reduce offtake to levels which would allow population recovery. Likewise, if lack
of capacity is identified as a constraint on effective conservation of the species, then one
Objective would be to develop capacity.
Achieving the SCS’s Vision and Goals is likely to require a number of different Objectives
covering diverse subjects. Typically strategic planners recommend a relatively small
number of Objectives (usually 4–12). For species conservation, a SCS’s Objectives will
often address needs such as ensuring appropriate policies are established and
implemented, raising public awareness, or filling information gaps. What is sought is not a
perfect balance in terms of how many Objectives address each major threat, nor,
conversely, weighting high-priority threats with more Objectives. Instead, what is hoped for
is an approach that attacks all of the major issues on all the necessary fronts. Objectives
should be clear and understandable, allow Actions to be derived from them, and should be
realistic. It should also be possible to track progress towards achieving Objectives, through
the use of Objective Targets (see below). Examples of Objectives are given in Box 7.1.
7.2 One method for conducting a problem analysis
One widely used method for developing Objectives is to first conduct a detailed problem
analysis. The problem analysis seeks to identify all the proximate and ultimate factors that
hinder attainment of the SCS’s Goals. Many of these factors will be the threats which were
identified in the threat analysis conducted as part of the Status Review (e.g., hunting for
bushmeat or habitat loss due to logging). Other factors will represent constraints which
hinder mitigation of those threats; examples of constraints include gaps in knowledge, lack
of capacity, lack of resources, and lack of appropriate policy frameworks. Constraints are
often linked to threats; for example, poverty (a constraint on effective conservation) might
drive local people to hunt for bushmeat, contributing to over-exploitation (a threat).
Additionally, corruption and lack of capacity (constraints) might impede effective law
47