Numbers for Nature Training Institute
Conservation Economics and Finance for Environmental Leaders
Changing the way conservationists use economics to solve environmental challenges.
Our unique and effective capacity building program in economics and finance provides the knowledge, skills, and language that are key for solving environmental challenges. CSF courses are taught by experts who understand real-world development issues and who demonstrate how economics can advance environmental goals in practical, strategic ways. This approach is crucial at a time when global-scale environmental changes are being driven by diverse economic factors, and when conservation leaders are striving to preserve critical ecosystems.
Results
Our alumni are using economics to be more strategic in their work, and influence local, regional, and national-level decisions in favor of nature:
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95% say the CSF course was one of the most useful short courses they have ever attended
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95% say their CSF training experience changed how they approach their work
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82% say attending the CSF course contributed to a career advancement
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75% say the CSF training helped them achieve a specific success
Finance 4Nature
Registration is open for our 4-day short course!
Hosted in partnership with Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA), this in-person training will explore the full spectrum of nature finance solutions. Participants will learn to assess tradeoffs, build tailored finance portfolios, and apply these tools to real-world landscapes and conservation goals. Don't delay - registration closes on April 20.
Economía y Finanzas para el Liderazgo Ambiental
CSF's Flagship Spanish course is open for registration!
This 100% online and in Spanish course introduces conservation economics and how it can be used to make strong economic arguments for environmental protection. Participants gain a suite of economic and financial tools to integrate into their own conservation or environmental work.
Self-Paced Courses
Learn about economics and finance at your own pace with our self-paced courses. Enroll at any time for one year of access.
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Introduction to Conservation Finance
CourseThis self-paced online course will cover the fundamentals of conservation finance solutions, scalable strategies, and more.
$40
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Introduction to Cost-Benefit Analysis
CourseThis self-paced course will introduce participants to cost-benefit analysis (CBA), financial and economic analyses, and the process of conducting a CBA on one’s own.
$40
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Introduction to Environmental Valuation
CourseLearn how economists link ecosystem services and economic value together in this self-paced online course.
$40
Economics & Finance for Environmental Leadership
CSF's Flagship Annual Course
This course empowers conservationists with strong economic arguments for sustainable development, tools for financing nature, and methods for understanding and solving the challenges facing our environment today. Stay tuned- registration for our 2026 cohort will open soon.
Economic Tools for Conservation in Africa
Join us in South Africa this July for our newest in-person course
Based our flagship annual course, Economics and Finance for Environmental Leadership, this course is designed to help participants across the African continent gain the language of economics and finance and the range of tools and solutions that can enhance their conservation work.
Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR)
Seven new self-paced courses under the GFCR's REEF+ Community of Practice
We collaborated with the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) to enhance its capacity-development efforts under the REEF+ Community of Practice to develop seven self-paced short courses. These courses are designed to inform this Community of Practice about the Fund’s investment principles, policy architecture, and targeted sectors that guide its investment activities.
BRIDGE Working Groups Program
An in-house program for for Conservation Finance Capacity Building with Conservation Trust Funds (CTFs)
Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA), Zamia Media, and Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF) joined forces as a consortium to lead a robust, and engaging Working Groups Program for CTFs under the RedLAC and CAFÉ regional networks. Eight thematic working groups and one additional working group for Executive Directors focused on challenges and opportunities for effectively managing and growing conservation trust funds.
Strategies for Effective Nature-Based Tourism in Africa
An in-house course designed for the Africa Nature-Based Tourism Platform
To serve Africa Nature-Based Tourism platform partners, this course provided an overview of economic fundamentals from theory to practice, explored the links between ecosystem services and human benefits and included emerging financing opportunities. This course concluded on June 28, 2024.
Strategies for Effective Protected Areas Management in Africa
An in-house course designed for IUCN grantees, supported by the The BIOPAMA Programme
This course covered fundamental economic and finance theory and practice for successful conservation strategies across Africa. It grantees with the knowledge and tools to become effective leaders on Protected Areas Management, with an emphasis on conservation finance, environmental valuation, and cost-benefit analysis. This course concluded on October 18, 2024.
CSF's Economic Video Series
Free animated video lessons for learning at your own pace
Want to understand the economic drivers of environmental problems? How to value things in the natural environment? The essentials of fisheries and forestry economics? Step-by-step instructions on cost-benefit analysis? View our video lessons to learn more!
4Nature Podcast
It’s time to rethink our incentive systems so they work for Nature and People.
Hosted by David Meyers, Executive Director of Conservation Finance Alliance, and Kim Bonine, Former CSF Training Director and Head of Capacity Development at Stanford's Natural Capital Project, the 4Nature Podcast interviews some of the world’s most innovative thinkers and driven actors, who are all committed to restructuring financial, economic and social incentives to be more nature positive, and dedicated to transforming the role humanity plays within Nature.
4Nature Webinars
A new series from Conservation Strategy Fund and Conservation Finance Alliance
4Nature Webinars convenes innovative leaders and experts in conservation economics and finance to share practical resources with our community to strengthen conservation efforts around the world. Sign up for webinar announcements to stay up to date on our latest sessions.
Global Capacity Building Coalition (GCBC)
Explore climate finance topics and resources on the GCBC Platform
Conservation Strategy Fund is a proud partner of the Global Capacity Building Coalition, an alliance of UN agencies, MDBs, DFIs and philanthropies, public and private finance bodies and capacity building providers. Visit the GCBC virtual platform to discover knowledge products, case studies, and other education and training opportunities from GCBC members.
Valuing nature and people to inform business decision-making
A FREE course from our Partners at Capitals Coalition
The course helps you to understand how to drive change at the organizational level and teaches you what you can do to make a difference as individual. You will learn why it is important to include nature, people and society in business decision-making, how businesses impact and depend on natural, human and social capital, how that translates into risks and opportunities, and how to get started with a capitals assessment.
Transforming Business: Valuing social and human capital
A FREE course from our Partners at Capitals Coalition
Explore how societal challenges affect businesses and why it is important to include social and human capital in business decision-making, how to identify, measure and value relevant social and human capital impacts and dependencies within your business context, and how you can take action, make commitments, and transform business decision-making to respect human rights, tackle inequality and improve well-being.
Introduction to Sustainable Livelihoods
A FREE course from The Nature Conservancy
This course offers conservation managers and practitioners a comprehensive overview of sustainable livelihood concepts. It explores how partnerships for sustainable livelihood initiatives can align conservation goals with the needs, priorities, and vision of local communities and Indigenous Peoples.
Natural Capital for African Development Finance
FREE Resources from the NC4-ADF Project
The Green Growth Knowledge Partnership, African Development Bank, World Wildlife Fund, and Conservation Strategy Fund, among others, have partnered under The Natural Capital for African Development Finance (NC4-ADF) project to mainstream natural capital in African development finance. Explore Knowledge publications from this project on the Green Policy Platform.
Partnership Opportunities
Work with us to design a custom economics course for your organization!
CSF offers tailored training in economics and finance tools to empower conservation organizations, decision-makers, and communities to find more sustainable development pathways. Reach out to us and explore training opportunities in specific themes and regions relevant to your conservation work!
Testimonials
What do past participants say about our courses?
Titus Muia
“This training is one of the greatest ideas in community-based conservation. It has empowered me as a key decision maker in a conservation organization to have a not just a voice, but a voice of reason. This is exactly what I needed, and now I have it, thanks to CSF.”
Scott Edwards
"It is our conviction that by raising economic literacy and building a better case for conservation, we can direct human behavior and decision making to support better outcomes for people and nature."
Indekhwa Anangwe
“I have picked up invaluable conservation finance and economics aspects that are going to be very useful for my day to day work. We are currently working towards establishing a sustainable financing mechanism for protected areas in Africa and how we create a case for conservation of these conserved and protected areas is going to be very critical as we talk to governments, potential funders and other key stakeholders. This course couldn't have come in at a better time for me."
Kerstin Brauneder
“I can whole-heartedly say that this was a great experience. I think it's great that this is carried out online rather than on-site, because it allows more people to attend and reduces the carbon travel footprint."
Hannah de Villiers
"One of the best courses I've ever done and what I learned will stay with me for life.”
Maxene Atis
“I plan to apply the knowledge I acquired in this course directly in my conservation work, particularly in my interactions with policymakers, the private sector, and government entities. I am definitely better prepared to supervise or provide important feedback on my external consultants' studies on ecosystems services and biodiversity in general. As far as sharing, I will be using all platforms and avenues (e.g. as a board member of a National Conservation Trust Fund in Haiti, in training workshops with local organizations, communities, and government, in meetings, workshops and conferences).”
Samantha D. Leone
The course was an excellent refresher! For anyone considering it, it provides a great introduction to environmental economics, policy and conservation finance! I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to expand their knowledge in these subjects! Added bonus: The instructors are amazing and the learning materials and platform are top notch!"
Thank you to our partners!
For a full list please visit https://www.conservation-strategy.org/about/partners
The Numbers for Nature Training Institute is made possible by the generous support of the Dry Creek Foundation:
