NGOs, Agencies, Academic Institutions

Conservation Value Solutions’ powerful process of developing Integrative Conservation Strategies synthesizes ecological and behavior change sciences, business case studies, and multi-stakeholder input (regarding economic, political, and logistical barriers to change, and ideas of solutions to each). This customized process catalyzes transformative conservation and nature-based climate change solutions that people are more likely to adopt.

Selected Applications:

• Serving Audubon Conservation Ranching (ACR) as strategic advisor & thought partner, we collaboratively developed a menu of programmatic options for a sustainable path forward toward ACR’s goal of 10 million certified acres. We successfully completed the following deliverables:
  1. 1. A report detailing key findings from a survey of staff and partners, synthesizing (a) valuable lessons that national, regional, and local ACR staff and partners (ranchers, retailers, funders) have learned during the initial phase of program implementation (e.g., key challenges, ideas of solutions to each) with (b) Conservation Value Solutions’ certification sector expertise and experience to develop a menu of options of strategic improvements in program design/architecture and service offerings;
     2. A document detailing (a) a landscape analysis of “bright spot” Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) certification program revenue streams (and relevant implementation details – pricing, etc.) and (b) recommended options of sustainable funding for ACR – approaches to generating revenues from valuable services that ACR can offer partners, as needed to support the program’s growth;
     3. A plan to (a) create a regionally customizable Impact Measurement (Monitoring & Evaluation) framework for quantifying and reporting triple bottom line benefits of the ACR program, (b) develop multimedia marketing and communication materials that amplify quantified benefits to multi-stakeholder target audiences, and (c) identify options of communication channels for reaching each target audience; and
     4. Based upon program design improvements recommended in the above deliverables, a national and regional staffing plan, budget, and annual production timeline/calendar to support timely enrollment and certification of all acres in the program pipeline under two scenarios: 5 and 10 million acres.
• Recruited to serve as thought partner with founders of the Embers Foundation (the philanthropic organization inspired by Flying Embers’ origin story). Developed the new Rewild Program, which works to catalyze wildfire prevention and restoration that regenerates watershed resilience and reduces risks to communities. Secured invitations for Embers Foundation to become a member of (1) new Wildfire Resilience Funders Network, organized by the Climate Resilience Fund, Resource Legacy Fund, and Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation and (2) 1% for the Planet.
• Serving a leader of NRDC’s Food & Agriculture Program, synthesized scientific consensus regarding triple bottom line benefits of credibly regenerative ranching (carbon sequestration, climate change adaptation, native plant and wildlife biodiversity, water quality, economic, social). Report praised by client for helping to inform their policy initiatives by elucidating the nuanced, context-dependent manner in which different management practices influence rates of soil C sequestration.
• Representing NRDC, Dr. Gelbard collaborated with Rainforest Alliance experts in sustainability standards and certification and a Food Alliance auditor/rancher to research, co-author and pilot (on ranches totaling over one million acres across three different U.S. regions) the Grasslands Alliance Standard for beef cattle ranches and farms. This comprehensive standard translated scientific recommendations for conserving grazed landscapes into principles, criteria and indicators of well-managed ranching. It is the first sustainability standard that includes the full range of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies available to the North American ranching sector.
  • As part of stakeholder consultations for NRDC’s beef sustainability efforts, Dr. Gelbard produced and directed the Sustainable Grazing Metrics & Standards Summit Workshop in partnership with UC Davis and Cornell. We convened 40+ eminent scientists, public and private land managers, technical assistance specialists, and NGO experts to discuss and seek feedback on NRDC’s draft grazing metrics. This meeting led to the establishment of the Grasslands Alliance.
  • The types of sustainable ranching practices incentivized by the Grasslands Alliance not only benefit our environment, but also improve forage and livestock productivity, efficiencies of input use (e.g., healthy plants and soils enable ranchers to cut fertilizer and weed control costs), and resilience to drought.
  • Click here to learn more about how the Grasslands Alliance’s pioneering sustainable ranching standard and certification can generate valuable benefits for diverse stakeholders.
• Conservation Value Solutions partnered with NRDC and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) to spearhead the development of a business and marketing plan for the “Montana Wildlife Heritage Stamp” conservation finance program. FWP has elected to pilot this program, and the plan continues to be praised as useful by those developing the initiative.