Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners (NCEP)

The Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners (NCEP) was founded in 2002 by the CBC in response to limited opportunities for and resources in conservation training, particularly in regions with high biodiversity and facing significant threats.

Our initial work began at home in the United States and on the ground in Latin America and Madagascar, places where the CBC had long-term partnerships already in place. With support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Science Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation, among others, we began to develop a collection of teaching resources on diverse conservation topics for university educators and professional trainers in the local languages of instruction (Spanish and French).

We also partnered with local scientists in both regions to adapt these materials to the local context, through examples and case studies that have local relevance. As the project grew so did the scope of our work, to encompass not only training resources in conservation but also how conservation is taught. We encourage educators and professional trainers to approach their teaching as they would their research and management: by incorporating evidence-based techniques and assessing their effectiveness.

At the global scale, we work with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and its World Commission on Protected Areas to capture lessons from around the world on effective capacity development, and chart strategic priorities for the future that can support capacity development at all levels.

Today, NCEP is the signature capacity development program of the CBC and works to implement capacity development solutions at local, national, and international levels. We continue to grow our module collection, offer annual training opportunities, and facilitate strategic thinking about capacity development with multiple partners. 

It is very easy to become part of the Network: you can join our community by signing up for updates, following us on Facebook page, taking part in one of our training events, downloading our resources, or becoming an author or reviewer of NCEP modules.

Our Network includes conservation educators and professionals from around the world. Join today!

NCEP modules are open access, electronic resources for conservation educators and trainers. They include diverse topics in conservation science and are designed for the post-secondary level. Freely available for download and educational use, NCEP modules are intended to be adaptable resources that educators may use as they choose (see How do I use modules?). 

Each module includes one or more of the following components: a Synthesis document that brings together key concepts, applications, and literature for a topic, an easily modified visual Presentation, and a practical Exercise for classroom, laboratory, or field use. Exercise solutions and teaching notes are also provided for the instructor, as are learning goals and assessment questions. Interdisciplinary Case Studies integrate key concepts and questions that span the topics of more than one module. 

Modules may additionally include select open access resources from our partners and other sources. These undergo a rigorous screening process by the NCEP Team to ensure their high quality and relevance to the topic.

Any way you want! NCEP modules are designed to be easily adaptable resources and to support—rather than replace—materials teachers may have already developed. For example, they can be used as an integrated package or as individual components—a professor might pick and choose several slides from a presentation, assign parts of the synthesis to students to read for homework, use an exercise in the classroom, or do all three!

We’d love to hear how you use our resources—please use the “Connect” feature within the NCEP module collection to share how you use NCEP modules in your classroom.

Modules topics are available in English, French, Spanish, Lao, Ukrainian, and Russian. Some modules have been further adapted to the context where they will be used: for instance, these resources may include local case studies and examples. (See also How do I adapt modules?)

Any way you want! NCEP modules are designed to be easily adaptable resources and download in an easily modifiable file format. Translate a synthesis or case study, replace an example in a presentation with one more relevant to your students’ context, adapt an activity to meet your needs, the choice is yours. (See also How do I use modules?)

We’d love to hear what you decide—please use the “Connect” feature within the NCEP module collection to share how you use NCEP resources in your classroom. If you have translated any materials or otherwise adapted them to your local classroom and would like to share, please email us at [email protected].

If you are interested in contributing new or adapted materials to our collection please contact us at [email protected] 

Want to contribute to our collection? Contact us!

To donate to the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, take a look at our different giving opportunities.

To cite stand-alone module components, follow this example:

Pearson, R. 2008. Observed impacts of climate change on biodiversity. Synthesis. Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY. 

To cite from the journal Lessons in Conservation, follow this example:

Cardiff, S.G., and R. Jenkins. 2016. The bats of Madagascar: a conservation challenge. Available in Lessons in Conservation 6:80-108. 

Learn more about NCEP training opportunities and check here for our latest event!

Please do not hesitate to email us if we can assist you to use and evaluate these materials in your classes.