The WCS Approach

In order to achieve our mission WCS employs six primary strategies and a set of actions for each strategy.  Though the actions are overlapping, they are deployed to achieve different objectives within the context of the differing strategies.  The first three strategies are historically those of greatest strength in the organization and the last three are areas of growing work.

Strategy 1.  SITE-BASED CONSERVATION
Objective: To achieve sustainable conservation at a given site for priority species and ecosystems.
Actions:
• Establish and strengthen protected areas.
• Develop sound wildlife management practices in multiple-use landscapes
• Conduct applied scientific research and monitoring.
• Strengthen governmental and non-governmental organizations, inform the public, and train conservation professionals at all levels.
• Work with local and regional constituencies to promote support for long-term conservation.
• Influence the policies of governments and multi-lateral organizations.
• Disseminate important lessons from the field and develop new models.

Strategy 2.  RESEARCH
Objective: To gather and promote knowledge on priority species, ecosystems, and issues.
Actions:
• Conduct applied scientific research
• Disseminate important lessons from the field and develop new models.

Strategy 3.  CAPACITY BUILDING
Objective: Building conservation constituencies and training the next generation of professionals, both local and expatriate.
Actions:
• Train in formal and informal venues.
• Strengthen governmental and non-governmental organizations, inform the public, and train conservation professionals at all levels.
• Influence the policies of governments and multi-lateral organizations.

Strategy 4.  POLICY INFLUENCE
Objective: Influence the policy environment to increase the chances for sustainable conservation of priority species and ecosystems.
Actions:
• Conduct applied scientific research
• Disseminate important lessons from the field and develop new models.
• Strengthen governmental and non-governmental organizations, inform the public, and train conservation professionals at all levels.
• Influence the policies of governments and multi-lateral organizations.

Strategy 5.  LEVERAGE AND NEW MODEL DEVELOPMENT
Objective: Influence the behavior of other conservation organizations, donors and multi- and bi-lateral organizations based on experiences, new models, and beliefs of WCS .
Actions:
• Disseminate important lessons from the field and develop new models to inform and influence the international conservation agenda.

Strategy 6.  STRATEGIC EX-SITU COLLABORATION
Objective: To more effectively integrate ex-situ and in-situ conservation, and education programs.
Actions:
• Form strategic alliances with programs in the zoos and aquarium of WCS.