One Plan Approach
The Canadian Species Initiative has adopted the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Conservation Planning Specialists Group (CPGS) One Plan Approach for species recovery. The One Plan Approach is defined as integrated conservation planning for a species both inside and outside of its natural range and under all conditions of management.
Traditionally, species conservation planning has followed two parallel, but separate paths. Field biologists and wildlife managers monitor wild populations and develop conservation strategies to conserve threatened species in situ (with wild populations in their natural habitats). Concurrently, the zoo and aquarium community develops long-term goals for species in their care to sustain ex situ populations (in human care outside of a species natural habitat).
The One Plan Approach bridges the traditional gap between field biologists/wildlife managers and the zoo/aquarium community.
In 2020, the IUCN World Conservation Congress passed a resolution calling on its members, including Canada, to promote the integration of in situ and ex situ conservation interventions by applying the One Plan Approach. The OPA directly supports the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly through its focus on comprehensive, science-based planning (Target 1) and species-specific action (Target 4).
Integrated Planning: Principles and Steps
As a member of CPSG’s Regional Resource Center in Canada, the Canadian Species Initiative is actively promoting and applying the One Plan Approach and globally proven species conservation planning methods to ensure a future for all of Canada’s native species. The One Plan Approach is rooted in a set of principles and steps that emphasize sound science and the meaningful participation of all stakeholders in planning. CPSG’s principles are used to guide planning steps that address the increasing complexity of today’s wildlife conservation challenges. This framework recognizes that conservation planning is most likely to result in effective conservation action when it is based on a thorough analysis of good information, well-defined and achievable goals, the incorporation of multiple perspectives, and agreement among stakeholders.
