A “data-for-decisions” management system to facilitate cost-efficiency in conservation interventions

Conservation practice is chronically hindered by scarce financial resources. Thus, understanding the relationship between the costs and outcomes of conservation interventions is critical to efficiently maximize conservation benefits. Data on the costs of conservation interventions are necessary for such analyses but are rarely reported at the appropriate scale. To support managers in deciding how to invest in a way that maximizes conservation outcomes, we developed a data management structure that allows managers to pair expenditure records with measurements of intervention outcomes, following a theory of change. To overcome the common issues that conservation scientists and practitioners face when estimating costs and guide the accumulation of data that is appropriate for decision support, we present a new data management system that guides users in incorporating cost data. We demonstrate the application of our approach by applying the data management structure within the red spiny lobster fishery in the Galápagos Marine Reserve. We implement the structure in an Excel workbook that tracks the costs and outcomes of actions prescribed by the theory of change. By synthesizing data in a consistent manner across different interventions, our results help conservation managers to identify ways to minimize cost, justify budgets, and compare strategies over time to make better decisions. Our “data-for-decisions” management system enables the conservation community to efficiently use knowledge of past experiences to inform future decisions that can maximize conservation benefits.