Economic Tools for Conservation - 2016 International Course

An incredible group of 20 participants from 15 countries joined us at UC Berkely for our 18th annual International Economic Tools for Conservation course in the summer of 2016. Representatives from The Nature Conservancy, WWF, GEF World Bank, UNEP, and government, academic, and regional organizations all came together to learn how economics can help them achieve their conservation goals. 

"The experience from this course is immeasurable and definitely leaves me in a better position to make a significant contribution to environmental management in Uganda and the world at large. The knowledge and skills imparted by CSF have really transformed my thinking about environmental economics and how it relates to development programs. I, now more than ever, believe that it's time for environmentalists to work closely with other professionals and economists to create the impact that we all desire - a clean and healthy environment."

– Carol Kagaba Kairumba, Uganda, Ministry of Water and Environment, 2016 Course Graduate

Conservation Strategy Fund is offering its annual international training course, Economic Tools for Conservation, July 25^th – August 5^th 2016 in Berkeley, California. CSF’s Economic Tools courses are regarded as the premier training event in applied economics for environmental professionals. This year will mark a new partnership between CSF and the University of California Berkeley, widely recognized as the top public university in the world and a leader in applying environmental science and policy to conservation and development challenges. Our program will be hosted by the International & Executive Programs at UC Berkeley’s College of Natural Resources.

During the comprehensive two-week session, participants will learn to use economics to be more strategic and successful in their work, and experience a transformational shift in how they view environmental issues. The course covers economic fundamentals, natural resource economics, valuation of ecosystem services, environmental policies, communication and negotiation techniques, and hands-on experience with cost-benefit analysis of projects and policies. These skills are crucial at a time when global-scale environmental changes are being driven by a diversity of economic factors, and when conservation leaders are striving to harness opportunities to reward the preservation of ecosystem services.

"This training is one of the greatest ideas in community-based conservation. It has empowered me as a key decision maker in a conservation organization to have not just a voice, but a voice of reason. This is exactly what I needed, and now I have it, thanks to CSF." –Titus Muia, Kenya, 2015 Course Graduate

Click here to fill out the APPLICATION form.

PARTICIPANTS

Information for Participants

This course is for people at the forefront of conservation challenges, including managers of conservation programs and protected areas, directors of non-governmental organizations, and representatives of government agencies. Applicants from a variety of disciplines such as biology, forestry, law, anthropology, or economics are encouraged to apply. Previous training in economics is beneficial, but not essential. Applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Year after year, participants give CSF’s Economic Tools for Conservation course highest marks in terms of content, instructors, staff and the overall course experience. Our courses also create significant and lasting impacts. Alumni report that:

The course influenced how I approach my conservation work – 95%

The training was one of the most useful short courses I have attended – 92%

I continue to benefit from my CSF training – 90%

"I not only learned about economic concepts that will help me in my career, facing environmental issues, but also this course gave me the opportunity to meet wonderful people from around the world. These people have inspired me to believe and to have hope for the challenges we are facing. I feel very happy and lucky to have been a part of the course and part of this wonderful group." – Isabel Felandro Llanos, Peru, 2015 Course Graduate

BENEFITS

Participants gain:

• An essential foundation in basic economic concepts and language.
• Insight into the drivers of environmental problems, including market and institutional failures.
• Skills to evaluate the costs and benefits of natural resource management and development decisions, including values of ecosystem services.
• The ability to formulate more effective strategies and policies for conservation.
• Invaluable practice using communication and negotiation techniques to articulate environmental values in a language that communities, businesses, and governments can understand.
• A close network with fellow conservation professionals through the unique CSF Residence Program on the Berkeley campus.

COST

The total cost for the two-week program is $5000 per participant. This fee covers the following:

• Instruction by economic experts
• CSF course facilitators and residential staff
• All course materials and supplies
• Exclusive access to CSF online workspace with course reading and materials
• 13 nights lodging in residential housing on the UC Berkeley campus
• All meals and coffee breaks during course
• Field trip
• Travel health insurance, if not provided by employer
• Lifetime membership in CSF’s global Alumni Network

Accepted applicants are responsible for seeking their own funding from employers, government, sponsors or other funding sources to cover their course fees and travel expenses.

For information about financial aid, click here.

PROGRAM

Microeconomics

• Market theory: Supply, demand, market equilibrium, and competition.
• Externalities, market failures and public goods: Why markets are inefficient when it comes to environmental protection.

Natural Resource Economics

• Capital theory: The time value of money, interest rates and how they influence the use of natural resources.
• Market and institutional failures related to open access, public goods and property rights
• Forestry and fishery economics, optimal harvesting and policy options.
• Economic solutions to natural resource management challenges including taxes, incentives, and establishing property rights (private or communal) for open access resources.
• Exercises and instruction focused on game theory and forest policy negotiation skills.

Environmental Policy

• An overview of various environmental policies to correct the problems of externalities, public goods and market failures.
• An overview of the role of environmental policies such as command and control legislation versus economic instruments for conservation such as taxes, subsidies, and tradable permit systems.

Environmental Valuation and Ecosystem Services

• Overview of links between ecosystems services and human benefits
• Environmental values, the methods used to calculate them, and how these methods are best used in various countries.
• Exercises to identify relevant ecosystem services and appropriate valuation methods.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

• Case studies evaluating the economic feasibility of small-scale and large-scale projects, including incorporation of externalities and sensitivity analysis.
• Effective strategies for presenting economic analysis results.

Click HERE to see a sample course schedule.

INSTRUCTORS

Experts in environmental economics with extensive field experience and an understanding of real-world conservation challenges join CSF each year to teach Economic Tools for Conservation. Our instructors are drawn from CSF staff as well as leading academic and international institutions such as University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Hawai’i, University of Brasilia, the World Bank and our partner, UC Berkeley. Links to individual instructor profiles are provided at the bottom of this page.

LOCATION

The course is held on the University of California’s flagship campus in the heart of Berkeley, California. Situated in the East Bay Area near San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the beautiful 1,232-acre campus includes world-renowned research facilities, a large ecological reserve, and botanical gardens.

Participants enjoy a “back to university” experience in the residential facilities on the UC Berkeley campus. CSF staff will facilitate evening programs in our own lounge area to work on course exercises and case studies, and help participants give presentations about their work and home countries. The residence hall is walking distance to classes, dining facilities, and campus attractions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Participants should also budget for the following expenses:

• International and regional travel to and from UC Berkeley.
• U.S. visa fees - usually around $140. Please apply for a B1 business visa, as our short training course is considered as a professional conference or workshop.
• Airport transportation to and from Berkeley - about $35 each way from either the San Francisco or San Jose airport.
• Accommodation prior to Sunday, July 24th or after Friday, August 5th. We can provide suggestions for any early arrivals or late stays outside of these dates.
• Transportation and lunch during day off - approximately $50.
• Other incidentals - $100.

"Participation in CSF’s Economic Tools for Conservation has been an extraordinary experience. The course brings together participants from all over the world, with varying backgrounds and experiences. Group discussions are therefore very interesting as we often realize that many conservation issues we are faced with are the same. Also, the team that CSF brings together to do the training is amazing. The content of the course will allow you to look at your work in a whole new way." -Sean Mendonca, Guyana, 2014 Course Graduate

Apply today!