How do you actually work with communities to protect biodiversity?
It’s a question many students, researchers, nonprofit professionals, and conservation practitioners ask. While community-based conservation is widely recognized as one of the most effective approaches to protecting biodiversity, learning how to build genuine partnerships with communities can be difficult. Many people understand the theory but have few opportunities to develop the practical skills.
That’s why Community Conservation has spent decades teaching workshops around the world that bridge the gap between conservation theory and real-world practice.
This July, our Executive Director, Dr. Teri Allendorf, will lead an intensive one-day short course, Community Conservation in Theory and Practice, at the North American Congress for Conservation Biology (NACCR 2026) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Designed for students, early-career professionals, and anyone interested in community-based conservation, the course combines discussion, interactive activities, and hands-on project design to explore what successful community conservation looks like in practice.
Participants will learn:
- The foundations of community conservation and why it works
- Practical approaches for building meaningful relationships with communities
- Methods for co-designing conservation projects alongside local partners
- Strategies for implementing projects that are both effective and locally led
- How to begin designing a community conservation project of their own
Throughout the day, participants will draw on examples from Community Conservation’s work with local organizations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, exploring both the successes and the lessons learned from decades of supporting community-led conservation.
Participants play our community conservation board game during a workshop in Nepal
More Than One Workshop
While we’re excited to be part of NACCR 2026, this workshop represents something much larger.
Community Conservation regularly teaches seminars, workshops, and training programs for universities, nonprofit organizations, conservation groups, government agencies, and community organizations around the world. Our goal is not simply to share information, but to help build the skills, relationships, and confidence needed to create lasting conservation partnerships.
Workshop topics can include:
- Identifying conservation opportunities and local partners
- Building relationships with communities
- Practical tools and approaches for collaborating with communities
- Creating and supporting community-led organizations
- Designing conservation projects with communities
Whether participants are just beginning their careers or have years of conservation experience, our workshops emphasize one central principle: conservation succeeds when local people are able to lead.
Participants solve conservation problems during a workshop in Nepal
Interested in Hosting a Workshop?
If your university, organization, conference, or community group is interested in bringing a Community Conservation workshop to your audience, we’d love to hear from you. We offer engaging, interactive training opportunities that can be tailored to your group’s interests and experience.
You can learn more about our workshops here: https://communityconservation.org/our-workshops/
Attending NACCR 2026?
If you’ll be attending the North American Congress for Conservation Biology, we’d love to see you in Community Conservation in Theory and Practice on Sunday, July 12.
The workshop is free for conference attendees, but registration is required and space is limited to 25 participants.
Additional workshop information and registration are available through the conference website.
Dr. Allendorf leads a workshop in Nepal