What Conservation Planning Specialist Group does

Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission that delivers science-based species conservation planning services to zoos, government agencies, conservation NGOs, IUCN SSC Specialist Groups, and individual conservation professionals. Founded in 1979 as the Captive Breeding Specialist Group by Dr. Ulysses S. Seal, the organization rebranded to its current name in 2017 to reflect a broader planning mandate that integrates in situ (wild) and ex situ (captive) conservation strategies through its signature One Plan Approach. CPSG has facilitated over 800 workshops across 110+ countries, addressed more than 2,000 species, and its work has been associated with measurable recoveries including the golden lion tamarin (200 to 2,500+ individuals over 25 years) and the black-footed ferret (near extinction to 300-400 in the wild).

The organization's core service is the Species Conservation Planning Workshop, an 8-step, 7-principle methodology that brings together diverse stakeholders to produce actionable, consensus-based conservation strategies. Supporting technical products include Population Viability Analysis (PVA), Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis, and Ex Situ Conservation Assessment methodologies, as well as free downloadable simulation software (Vortex, Outbreak, PMx) developed through the Species Conservation Toolkit Initiative (SCTI) partnership with Chicago Zoological Society and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. CPSG also delivers an online and in-person Capacity Building program with courses and a 12+ month mentorship track, an annual four-day working conference, and the biennial Ulysses S. Seal Award for Innovation in Conservation.

CPSG operates a lean headquarters of approximately 10 staff in Apple Valley, Minnesota (sponsored by the Minnesota Zoo), supported by a network of 270 volunteer conservation professionals, a 35-member Strategic Committee, and 8 Regional Resource Centers hosted by partner institutions across Brazil, Canada, Europe, Mesoamerica, Mexico, Oceania, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Southern and East Africa. The organization's finances are channeled through the Global Conservation Network (GCN), a 501(c)(3) created in 1991 to fund CPSG's work, with revenue derived from donations and charitable contributions from 110+ institutional and individual donors plus project-specific grants. CPSG does not charge for core workshop services; training courses may carry fees though pricing is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Conservation Planning Specialist Group

Legal name

Global Conservation Network dba Conservation Planning Specialist Group

Website

https://cpsg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Conservation Planning Specialist Group is a nonprofit Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission that delivers collaborative species conservation planning workshops, science-based planning tools, and capacity building to zoos, government agencies, NGOs, and conservation professionals across 110+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Planning Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE)

Keywords

• Species conservation planning
• Wildlife population viability analysis
• Ex situ conservation assessment
• Wildlife disease risk analysis
• Conservation workshop facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Apple Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: CPSG relies on donations from institutional and individual supporters to fund conservation planning activities. The organization has 110+ donors supporting its mission.
2. Grant Funding: Funded in part by organizations such as the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for specific projects like the Species Conservation Toolkit Initiative.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CPSG delivers Species Conservation Planning workshops that use a science-driven, consensus-based approach to help governments, zoos, NGOs, and other stakeholders develop integrated action plans for threatened species. Services span in situ and ex situ conservation through the One Plan Approach methodology, including Population Viability Analysis, Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis, and Ex Situ Conservation Assessment, supported by free software tools (Vortex, Outbreak, PMx) and a global Capacity Building program of training and mentorship.

Product overview

CPSG is a Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission offering a comprehensive suite of species conservation planning services centered around collaborative workshops, science-based tools, and capacity building programs. The core offering is the Species Conservation Planning Workshop program, supported by the CPSG Planning Tools suite (including Population Viability Analysis, Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis, and Ex Situ Conservation Assessment methodologies), the SCTI downloadable software tools (Vortex, Outbreak, PMx), and the Species Conservation Planning Principles & Steps Handbook. The One Plan Approach methodology integrates in situ and ex situ conservation planning. Additional offerings include the Annual Conference, a Capacity Building Program with courses and mentorship, IUCN SSC Species Plan support, and the Ulysses S. Seal Award for Innovation in Conservation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Species Conservation Planning Workshops Collaborative workshops that help governments, organizations, and conservationists develop conservation strategies and action plans for species using a science-driven, consensus-based approach with neutral facilitation by CPSG staff.
• CPSG Planning Tools A curated collection of science-based tools and resources for species conservation planning, including Population Viability Analysis, Prioritisation, Visioning, Stakeholder Analysis, Evaluation, and Planning Preparation Resources.
• SCTI Tools (Vortex, Outbreak, PMx) Free downloadable software tools developed through the Species Conservation Toolkit Initiative partnership with Chicago Zoological Society and Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute for quantitative population viability, disease dynamics, and demographic/genetic analysis.
• Capacity Building Program Training and mentoring services including online and in-person courses on species conservation planning facilitation, ex situ conservation assessment, and wildlife disease risk analysis, plus a 12+ month mentorship program for conservation professionals.
• Species Conservation Planning Principles & Steps Handbook A foundational document presenting 7 principles and 8 practical steps for effective species conservation planning, available in English, French, and Spanish.
• CPSG Annual Conference Annual four-day collaborative working meetings bringing together conservation scientists to discuss ex situ and in situ conservation issues, founded on the One Plan Approach.
• One Plan Approach An integrated approach to species conservation planning through the joint development of management strategies and conservation actions by all responsible parties for all populations of a species, bridging wild and captive population management.
• Population Viability Analysis Collaborative process to build realistic simulation models of extinction processes for wildlife populations threatened by human activities and test alternative strategies for population growth and viability.
• Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis Structured, evidence-based approach to understand wildlife health issues, identify key wildlife diseases, and develop effective management responses.
• Ex Situ Conservation Assessment Process to develop recommendations for which species would benefit from ex situ management and plans for realising those benefits, supporting zoos and aquariums in their conservation breeding programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Species population decline slowed and reversed within 15 years of CPSG workshops (based on study of 45 conservation planning projects)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• Species Conservation Toolkit Initiative (SCTI)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2005SCTI is a partnership between CPSG, Chicago Zoological Society (CZS), and Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) to develop tools needed for conservation work including Vortex, Outbreak, and PMx software.
• IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1979CPSG is a Specialist Group of the IUCN SSC. The SSC has a global membership of more than 10,000 individuals who work collaboratively using assessment, planning and action cycles to catalyze conservation for species. CPSG leads the SSC in the planning component of this cycle.
• Regional Resource Center - CPSG BrazilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRRC hosted by Parque das Aves. Includes CPSG Brasil staff including Fabiana Lopes Rocha (Program Officer; Convenor, CPSG Brazil) and Eugenia Cordero Schmidt (Program Officer, CPSG Brazil). Also coordinates IUCN SSC Center for Species Survival Brazil.
• Regional Resource Center - CPSG CanadaregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRRC hosted by Wildlife Preservation Canada, adapting CPSG tools and approaches to Canadian conservation context.
• Regional Resource Center - CPSG EuroperegionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRRC hosted by Cologne Zoo. Will host CPSG 2026 Annual Conference in October.
• Regional Resource Center - CPSG MesoamericaregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRRC hosted by Fundazoo Simon Bolivar. Facilitated freshwater biodiversity workshop in Guatemala with 40 participants from 19 institutions.
• Regional Resource Center - CPSG MexicoregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRRC hosted by Amphibian Ark, adapting CPSG tools and approaches to Mexican conservation context.
• Regional Resource Center - CPSG OceaniaregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRRC hosted by Auckland Zoo, adapting CPSG tools and approaches to Oceania conservation context.
• Regional Resource Center - CPSG South AsiaregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRRC hosted by ZooReach, adapting CPSG tools and approaches to South Asian conservation context.
• Regional Resource Center - CPSG Southeast AsiaregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRRC hosted by Mandai Nature, adapting CPSG tools and approaches to Southeast Asian conservation context.
• Regional Resource Center - CPSG Southern and East AfricaregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRRC hosted by Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), adapting CPSG tools and approaches to Southern and East African conservation context.
• Ocean Park Hong KongregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized conservation planning workshop for Beale's Eyed Turtle in Hong Kong with 26 participants from 10 institutions, supported by Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
• Shedd Aquarium - Center for Species Survival: FreshwaterregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized First Mesoamerican Symposium on Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation with IUCN SSC Freshwater Conservation Committee, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, and others.
• IUCN SSC Freshwater Conservation CommitteeregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CPSG Mesoamerica to organize freshwater biodiversity conservation workshop and symposium.
• Universidad del Valle de GuatemalaregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for First Mesoamerican Symposium on Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation and associated planning workshop.
• Species360regionalTechnology or IntegrationGlobal database for computerized animal management founded by Dr. Ulysses S. Seal in 1974, serving 500+ cooperating zoological institutions worldwide.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust: Comparable mission-driven conservation organization running species recovery programs (notably in Mauritius) and a conservation training institute; CPSG's Director of Training previously led Durrell Conservation Training for 18 years, evidencing tight operational overlap.
• Species360: Global nonprofit founded by Dr. Ulysses S. Seal in 1974 (CPSG's founder), serving 500+ zoos with standardized animal management data. Overlapping founder DNA, member base, and species management focus; Onnie Byers sits on Species360's board.
• Amphibian Ark: Hosts the CPSG Mexico Regional Resource Center and focuses on ex situ conservation of threatened amphibians. Comparable role in coordinating zoo-based conservation programs and species planning for a major taxonomic group.
• Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute: Core SCTI partner with CPSG. Conducts comparable applied conservation biology research, population viability analysis, and species recovery planning; co-develops the tools CPSG distributes.
• Wildlife Preservation Canada: Hosts the CPSG Canada Regional Resource Center and runs captive breeding/reintroduction programs for at-risk Canadian species. Direct operational overlap with CPSG's One Plan Approach and single-species planning workshops.
• Chicago Zoological Society (Brookfield Zoo): Core SCTI partner developing Vortex, Outbreak, and PMx with CPSG. Runs comparable ex situ and in situ conservation programs for threatened species and provides the Senior Conservation Scientist (Robert Lacy) who has shaped CPSG's methodology.

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Conservation Society: Large global NGO running field conservation programs, zoo-based species recovery, and conservation science for hundreds of threatened species; overlaps with CPSG in providing science-based planning services to governments and field sites.
• IUCN Species Survival Commission: Parent body within IUCN of which CPSG is a Specialist Group. Highly comparable: coordinates 10,000+ volunteer experts across taxon-based specialist groups to catalyze species conservation, of which CPSG leads the planning component.

Emerging players

• NatureServe: Provides scientific data and conservation status assessments for species and ecosystems in the Americas, intersecting CPSG's evidence-based planning work. Comparable in producing standardized biodiversity data and tools used by conservation planners.

Regional players

• Endangered Wildlife Trust: Hosts the CPSG Southern and East Africa Regional Resource Center. Comparable in providing species conservation planning and field recovery programs across African threatened species.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@iucncpsg8320
• Facebookfacebook.com/ConservationPlanningSG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conservation-planning-specialist-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/iucn_conservationplanningsg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Conservation Planning Specialist Group