Toward a new generation of effective problem solvers and project-oriented applied ecologists
C. Battisti,
C. Battisti,
G. Amori,
L. Luiselli,
L. Luiselli,
L. Luiselli
Affiliations
C. Battisti
Torre Flavia LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station,
Servizio Aree protette – parchi regionali, Città Metropolitana di Roma
Capitale, viale G. Ribotta, 41, 00144 Rome, Italy
C. Battisti
Faculty of Science,
University of Rome III, viale Marconi, 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
G. Amori
CNR-Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystem, via
dell'Università, 32, 00185 Rome, Italy
L. Luiselli
IDECC – Institute for Development, Ecology, Conservation and
Cooperation, via G. Tomasi di Lampedusa 33, 00144 Rome, Italy
L. Luiselli
Department of Applied and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
L. Luiselli
Département de Zoologie, Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo
In an era of environmental crises, conservation and management strategies need a new generation of applied ecologists. Here, we stimulate the next-generation applied ecologists to acquire a pragmatic mentality of problems solvers in real contexts, using the wide arsenal of concepts, approaches and techniques available in the project management (PM) arena using a road map based on the main steps of conservation project cycle. The acquisition of the conceptual and operational framework of PM can allow the next-generation applied ecologists to take on a more important role in nature conservation strategies: from data samplers, analyzers and interpreters to suppliers of solutions and decisions driving changes in species' targets inhabiting real contexts. Since the high number of applied ecologists, this change in approach (from analytical to operational) could make the difference in conservation science. We also provided, as a conceptual framework, a set of suggestions and approaches useful to facilitate this change.
