National Zoo to Offer Conservation Conflict Resolution Course
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park In collaboration with George Mason University, is offering a short course this May on natural resource conflicts. The Conservation Conflict Resolution Course will takes place at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (formerly CRC) in Front Royal, Virginia, USA, about two hours from Washington, D.C., and adjacent to Shenandoah National Park on May 13-22, 2010.
You can download a PDF announcement for this course and learn about other training opportunities here.
This intensive experiential training is a must for anyone addressing conservation conflicts, whether these are conflicts between people and wildlife or between people about wildlife or other natural resources.
To reach our conservation goals more effectively, we need to better analyze conflict dynamics, anticipate and address arising conflicts, and reconcile old conflicts which impede new progress. We also need to understand how struggles about identity, status, and group recognition play into conservation conflicts.
Process is critical. By accurately analyzing conflicts and facilitating the appropriate resolution processes, we can determine a conflict’s root causes, build trust and respect among stakeholders, and foster sustainable conservation solutions.
Visit here or contact zootraining@si.edu to apply for this course.
Conservation Conflict
Conservation Conflict Resolution is an intensive experiential training that is a must for anyone addressing conservation conflicts, whether these are conflicts between people and wildlife or between people about wildlife or other natural resources. This graduate/professional website design course is co-sponsored by the Smithsonian’s Center for Conservation Education and Sustainability and the George Mason Center for Conservation Studies and hosted at the National Zoo's 3,200-acre Conservation and Research wireless internet service Center in Front Royal, Virginia. Employing principles developed by HWCC—the Human Wildlife Conflict Collaboration—a leading organization in conflict resolution training, this courses teaches participants strategies and processes dedicated hosting for effectively addressing conservation-related conflict including the role of neutrality in conflict prevention and reconciliation, effective conflict-resolving communication techniques, and applying conflict analysis and free web host process models to develop real-life conflict resolution plans. Graduate credit may be earned through George Mason University. Contact zootraining@si.edu for more information.