Leading the Way in Conservation

On a cold spring night in 1903, John Muir sat around a campfire in Yosemite Valley alone with then President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. Muir, founder of the Sierra Club and ever an advocate for the preservation of the great American wild, took the opportunity to speak with the president about the need for government supported conservation. That discussion had great impact. Roosevelt returned to Washington with a mission to pass laws to protect wild lands. He established the U.S. Forest Service and signed into existence five national parks and 150 national forests.

Until recently, state-led conservation has also been the model followed in Canada. While there have been some gains made through protected areas and legislation, the continued (and even accelerated) loss of biodiversity has shown that a colonial mindset towards conservation is not the answer. A new breed of bold and creative conservation leaders and decision makers is needed – ones who can both navigate the current system of doing things and at the same time shake off the shackles of the colonial past.

In the last 20 years, the professional practice of environmental conservation has undergone rapid transformation. There has been a quickening in global climate change and its effects, there is a growing urgency to conserve biodiversity, and there are new environmental challenges that have come to the fore. At the same time, there has been a shift in conservation governance methods, new tools and technologies to help the modern conservationist and the acceptance of innovative conservation practices built on partnerships and engagement.

Responding to the fast pace of change, the Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics has developed the Masters of Conservation Leadership program. This program is designed to help those already working in the field of conservation to enhance their effectiveness. It emphasizes the importance of supporting Indigenous leadership and exposes students to methods suitable for highly impacted, urbanized and fragmented landscapes.

“Through the practical learning of strategic planning, conflict resolution, evidence-based decision making, partnership development and more – the Masters of Conservation Leadership program is building us into strong, impactful, capable leaders,” said MCL student Christie Brodie. “

A unique feature of the program is that it is designed to allow conservation professionals to continue working with their organization while completing their studies. Students are presented with a hybrid of in-class and online learning. Students are also paired with a leadership coach – a recognized expert in the conservation sector – and helped to prepare an individualized development plan to which guides them through the program towards their leadership goals.

Nicholas Scapillati  has worked in conservation for over 20 years and is the executive director of the Grizzly Bear Foundation. He began his career working at the David Suzuki Foundation and has led programs and organizations at the national level. He saw the value of the MCL program and was part of the first cohort. Learning about John Muir and the history of conservation efforts in one of the courses had a deep impact on him.

“Even though you are looking back, [you can use] it to identify how we message and talk to people about conservation today,” said Scapillati. “When you see the history and how things formed, you then [realize], I can be part of changing the way this whole movement moves forward in the future.”

The environmental and conservation challenges facing humanity have never been greater. The MCL program is helping prepare passionate individuals to take up the charge and be the next generation of leaders.