The Nature Conservancy uses a collaborative, science-based conservation approach and a common set of analytical methods to identify the biodiversity that needs to be conserved, to decide where and how to conserve it and to measure our effectiveness. Together this conservation approach and set of analytical methods form the core of what we call Conservation by Design.

This document introduces Conservation by Design and three key analytical methods: major habitat type assessment, ecoregional assessment and conservation action planning.  The document is also available in Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese.