Improving Conservation Impact

Conservation Synergies is a non-profit organisation working to improve the effectiveness of government wildlife agencies and key partners.

Our primary focus is addressing challenging issues like corruption, transformation, indebtedness and wellness. We combine significant practical experience with innovation, drawing on evidence-based approaches from other fields and relevant experts.

Services and Impact

We have developed a framework for holistic Park Resilience Plans (PRP). This framework was tested in South Africa’s Kruger National Park and is now being implemented in four other Parks in three southern African countries. We use social research to understand the dynamics and risk of corruption and misconduct, then co-design practical actions to address priority drivers and establish implementation systems. We focus on applied responses that function at organisational, team and individual levels.

At its simplest, our approach engages with individuals’ sense of purpose and motivation by strengthening the culture, ethics and values of organisations, and leadership styles. We help to improve selection processes by focusing on choosing people with the values and attributes required for key roles. We also work to address specific drivers and issues with contextually appropriate interventions, including indebtedness, gender equity, transformation and staff wellness. This results in values-driven and more effective conservation organisations.

Meet the team

Conservation Synergies brings together diverse teams for each project to tackle problems from innovative and novel perspectives. Our network and teams include inter alia Social-Anthropologists, Behavioural Scientists, Criminologists, Organised Crime Investigators, Prosecutors, Governance Advisors, and Leadership mentors.

“We build systems that emphasise organisational and individual values, ethics and sense of purpose to deliver conservation impact over the long-term, and to help make the world a better place”. Alastair Nelson, Managing Director