Conservation entrepreneurship for offshore island enterprises: a perspective

Abstract

Conservation entrepreneurship is based on the notion that it is possible to build a business system around a conservation challenge, and in doing so, create a targeted and adequate resourcing mechanism to support interventions, over adequate time frames. Constructing business models is not something that is usually at the forefront of a conservation practitioner’s agenda, nor often within their capacity. This paper takes the reader through the process of building such models, within the context of offshore islands in the Australian region, and using structures and terminologies that are commonplace in the business world, but perhaps not so much so in the conservation sector. In addition, this business model approach is presented in context of the ‘collective impact’ framework, which involves centralised infrastructure, dedicated management, and a structure ensuring development of a common agenda, shared measurement systems (i.e. of what success looks like), continuous communication, and mutually reinforcing activities amongst all those involved.