Perplexity: evaluating conflict transformation training for conservation impact

Biodiversity conflicts entangled within violent ethnic conflict are seldom “talked about” in the conservation field. Protracted and integrated conflicts make it difficult for conservation organizations to meet critical... [ view full abstract ]

Biodiversity conflicts entangled within violent ethnic conflict are seldom “talked about” in the conservation field. Protracted and integrated conflicts make it difficult for conservation organizations to meet critical conservation goals necessary to protect biodiversity. The sources of perplexity of complex conflict place a heavy burden on conservation practitioners who do not have the knowledge and skills to address interconnected socio-ecological conflicts. Building the capacity of field teams to analyze and address biodiversity conflicts through a “lens” of conflict transformation can provide opportunities to challenge existing assumptions about biodiversity conflicts, identify new problem-solving approaches, and develop novel interventions that build sustainable relationships and conservation outcomes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a customized conflict transformation training program that I developed and delivered for the Grevy’s Zebra Trust in Kenya. To address specific biodiversity conflicts impacting conservation goals in the field, peacebuilding and experiential learning methodologies were developed to cultivate understanding and build knowledge and skills that enable collaboration towards achievement of organizational conservation objectives. The rationale for the training content and the process, including the design, learning methodologies, delivery, and evaluation is grounded in conservation, learning and development, and peacebuilding theory and practice. I evaluate the Grevy’s Zebra Trust conservation-specific conflict transformation training program using the Kirkpatrick New World training model targeted to conservation results and field job performance. Building field capacity with a conflict transformation training approach, which includes critical thinking and practical peacebuilding strategies and skills, can provide a productive path to address biodiversity conflicts and opportunities for social learning. Results from my multi-level training evaluation suggest that conflict transformation training framed within a relevant conservation context to meet specific objectives that includes custom experiential learning, has positive impacts on conservation goals. Building the capacity of field teams to analyze and address biodiversity conflicts through a holistic “lens” of conflict transformation can provide new opportunities to challenge existing assumptions about the symptoms of socio-ecological conflict, foster critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving approaches and develop creative and innovative solutions that are built on the strengths of multi-sector relationships for more sustainable biodiversity outcomes.