Featured Projects
Training and Coaching Activities
Crown Managers Parternship
The Crown Managers Partnership (CMP) is a voluntary partnership amongst federal, state, provincial, Tribal, and First Nation agency managers and universities across the vast Crown of the Continent ecosystem in Montana, British Columbia, and Alberta. We are currently working with CMP leadership to refine their landscape-scale plan and better incorporate indigenous knowledge so it is reflective of the values of all partners. (2025–present)
Cacapon Watershed Collaborative
The Cacapon Watershed Collaborative (CWC) is a partnership in West Virginia, USA, whose members strive to conserve & enhance the ecosystems and rural way of life in the region. In 2023, we helped the parternship create an action plan using the Conservation Standards framework. Since then, we have coached them through the process of creating work and monitoring plans and establishing routines of holding quarterly meetings and annual pause-and-reflect sessions. (2023–present)
Poweshiek Skipperling action Planning
We assisted the Michigan Poweshiek Skipperling habitat team in creating a multi-phase action plan that aligned with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recovery plan for this endangered species. This included identifying indicators to serve as the foundation of their montioring plan. Researchers at Central Michigan University served as team leaders, and we provided coaching and support as they guided the planning process. (2023–2025)
Arkansas Game and Fish Commision
NaturePlan partnered with Rob Sutter (Enduring Conservation Outcomes) in 2023 to facilitate a multi-team strategic planning process for the Wildlife Management Division of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The strategic plan was based loosely on the Conservation Standards.
The Peregrine Fund
Staff with The Peregrine Fund gathered in several virtual planning meetings (winter 2021–2022) with Dr. Shurtliff to develop an action plan for the endangered Northern Aplomado Falcon of Texas.
Texas Wildlife Association
The Conservation Legacy (CL) program of the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) brought partners together for a series of virtual workshops, September—October, 2021. Assisted by NaturePlan coaches, the process enabled TWA, which is a natural resource education organization, to revise its CL program strategic plan and chart a new course for upcoming years.
Welder Wildlife Foundation, Texas
A 2-day workshop was led by Andrew and Quinn at the Welder Wildlife Foundation, Sinton, Texas, February 28 – March 1, 2018. Participating organization included Welder Wildlife Foundation, LightHawk Conservation Flying, Texas A&M University, Ducks Unlimited, Texas Parks and Wildlife, International Crane Foundation, American Bird Conservancy, Conservation International, Texas Wildlife Association, and the New England Aquarium.
San Clemente Island, California
A 3-day workshop was led by Andrew and Quinn on San Clemente Island, California, February 6–8, 2018, including 19 people from the United States Navy, US Fish and Wildlife Service, San Diego State University, Institute for Wildlife Studies, and California Department of Fish and Game.
Conservation Leadership Institute, Texas
A 4-day workshop for the James G. Teer Conservation Leadership Institute was held May 3-6, 2018 at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area, Texas, and included 11 young professionals identified as future leaders in wildlife conservation and management.
Denver, Colorado
On March 9, 2019, NaturePlan’s Quinn Shurtliff and Andrew Bridges will hold a one-day introductory Open Standards workshop at the upcoming National Military Fish and Wildlife Association Meeting in Denver, Colorado. Workshop participation is limited to United States Department of Defense (DoD) biologists and natural resource managers. The workshop will focus on conservation planning on DoD lands and how to incorporate formal planning and adaptive management techniques into Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans, which are required at all United States military installations having substantial natural resources.
New England Aquarium, Massachusetts
Staff with the New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts, spent two days developing the framework of an Open Standards-based strategic plan for the Aquarium’s Marine Conservation Action Fund program. Quinn Shurtliff provided guidance for the team during the March 2020 event.
Puget Sound Partnership
NaturePlan coaches and partner Oscar Maldonado provided a half-day crash course on the fundamentals of the Conservation Standards process followed by a series of workshops on how to account for climate change and to incorporate principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into a strategic plan. (July – Sept. 2021)
