Giving Direction and Clarity to Conservation Leadership

Abstract

Conservation leadership is a term without a widely shared understanding of its scope and meaning. In this article, the author shares perspectives based on interviews, literature, and a survey to begin to identify strategies that define conservation leadership. Results indicate that some elements of conservation leadership are similar to strategies of effective leadership more broadly. Conservation leadership also includes distinguishing aspects, however, such as conflict management and partnership-building. The purpose of this article is to provide some initial thoughts and ideas to address "What is conservation leadership?" The outcomes of this work can assist those in leadership positions and those who teach conservation leadership by defining the skills and strategies necessary to be effective in conservation leadership roles.