Other effective area-based conservation measures

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Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are sites outside of protected areas that are governed and managed in ways that deliver the long-term in situ conservation of biodiversity. As of March 2023, 856 such sites have been reported to the World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures, managed by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre. OECMs cover 1,992,729 km2 (769,397 sq mi) of the Earth's surface, accounting for 1,589,090 km2 (613,550 sq mi) on land and 403,639 km2 (155,846 sq mi) in the ocean. [1]

Contents

Definition and criteria

An OECM is defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity as:

[A] geographically defined area other than a Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in situ conservation of biodiversity, with associated ecosystem functions and services and where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio–economic, and other locally relevant values. [2]

There are four criteria for identifying OECMs:

  1. The area is not currently recognized as a protected area;
  2. The area is governed and managed;
  3. The area achieves sustained and effective contribution to in situ conservation of biodiversity; Criterion
  4. Associated ecosystem functions and services and cultural, spiritual, socio-economic and other locally relevant values are conserved and respected.

Under the four criteria above, there are 26 sub-criteria. [3] [4]

History

The term "other effective area-based conservation measures" was first used in Target 11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, [5] agreed to in Nagoya, Japan, in 2010. Target 11 stated:

By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes. (Emphasis added) [6]

In 2014, Harry Jonas, Ashish Kothari and other authors affiliated with the ICCA Consortium – ICCA stands for "Indigenous and Community Conserved Area" – argued that “defining ‘other effective area-based conservation measures’ offers a unique opportunity to better recognize areas that deliver the conservation of biodiversity outside of protected areas.” [7] In 2015, the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Commission on Protected Areas established a Task Force, co-chaired by Harry Jonas and Kathy MacKinnon (2016-2020), [8] to provide technical advice to the Convention on Biological Diversity. It submitted its advice to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in January 2018. [9] That advice, together with a report on marine OECMs, [10] was considered at two workshops hosted by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in February 2018. [11]

Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity negotiated a draft decision at the 22nd meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, [12] and adopted Decision 14/8 on ‘Protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures’ at the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, which contains the definition and criteria for identifying OECMs. [13]

‘Other effective area-based conservation measures’ are referenced in Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework. The Framework was agreed upon in December 2022 at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal, Canada. [14] [15] Integration of OECMs into global biodiversity targets had been a topic of discussion in the lead-up to the conference. [16] [17] Target 3 calls on Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to:

"Ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, recognizing indigenous and traditional territories, where applicable, and integrated into wider landscapes, seascapes and the ocean, while ensuring that any sustainable use, where appropriate in such areas, is fully consistent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, including over their traditional territories." [18]

Global extent

The World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures [19] is managed by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre. As of April 2024, 856 sites have been identified and reported to the World Database. OECMs cover 1,992,729 km2 (769,397 sq mi) of the Earth's surface, accounting for 1,589,090 km2 (613,550 sq mi) on land and 403,639 km2 (155,846 sq mi) in the ocean. [20]

Locally managed marine areas (LMMAs) are one form of OECM; examples of these exist in Mozambique and Madagascar. [21]

Relationship between OECMs and protected areas

Protected areas and OECMs are distinct but complementary within landscapes, seascapes and river basins. Protected areas have a primary conservation objective, i.e., they are areas dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity and managed accordingly. In contrast, OECMs do not need to be dedicated to the conservation of nature but must deliver the effective and long-term in situ conservation of biodiversity. OECMs can deliver long-term in situ conservation through ancillary conservation, secondary conservation, and sometimes primary conservation in places that cannot, or will not, be recognized as protected areas. [22]

OECMs are intended to take a more inclusive approach to biodiversity conservation that traditional protected areas, by permitting some small-scale area management. This is achieved by accounting for the needs of other rights holders such as small scale fisheries and low-impact agroforestry. Traditional protected areas have attracted controversy over Indigenous rights and displacement; OECMs are intended to be more equitable to human needs. [23] [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convention on Biological Diversity</span> International treaty on biological diversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is a multilateral treaty. The Convention has three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity ; the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. Its objective is to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and it is often seen as the key document regarding sustainable development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protected area</span> Areas protected for having ecological or cultural importance

Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources is limited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Union for Conservation of Nature</span> International organization

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, advocacy, and education. IUCN's mission is to "influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable".

This is an index of conservation topics. It is an alphabetical index of articles relating to conservation biology and conservation of the natural environment.

<i>Ex situ</i> conservation Preservation of plants or animals outside their natural habitats

Ex situ conservation is the process of protecting an endangered species, variety or breed, of plant or animal outside its natural habitat. For example, by removing part of the population from a threatened habitat and placing it in a new location, an artificial environment which is similar to the natural habitat of the respective animal and within the care of humans, such as a zoological park or wildlife sanctuary. The degree to which humans control or modify the natural dynamics of the managed population varies widely, and this may include alteration of living environments, reproductive patterns, access to resources, and protection from predation and mortality.

In situ conservation is the on-site conservation or the conservation of genetic resources in natural populations of plant or animal species, such as forest genetic resources in natural populations of tree species. This process protects the inhabitants and ensures the sustainability of the environment and ecosystem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine protected area</span> Protected areas of seas, oceans, estuaries or large lakes

Marine protected areas (MPA) are protected areas of the world's seas, oceans, estuaries or in the US, the Great Lakes. These marine areas can come in many forms ranging from wildlife refuges to research facilities. MPAs restrict human activity for a conservation purpose, typically to protect natural or cultural resources. Such marine resources are protected by local, state, territorial, native, regional, national, or international authorities and differ substantially among and between nations. This variation includes different limitations on development, fishing practices, fishing seasons and catch limits, moorings and bans on removing or disrupting marine life. In some situations, MPAs also provide revenue for countries, potentially equal to the income that they would have if they were to grant companies permissions to fish. The value of MPA to mobile species is unknown.

The UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is the specialist biodiversity centre of UN Environment Programme, based in Cambridge in the United Kingdom. UNEP-WCMC has been part of UN Environment Programme since 2000 and has responsibility for biodiversity assessment and support to policy development and implementation. The "World Conservation Monitoring Centre" was previously an independent organisation jointly managed by IUCN, UN Environment Programme and WWF established in 1988. Prior to that, the centre was a part of the IUCN Secretariat.

The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) is a program of the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity founded in 1999. The GSPC seeks to slow the pace of plant extinction around the world through a strategy of 5 objectives.

The Canadian Biodiversity Strategy has been prepared in response to Canada's obligations as a party to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. The Strategy has been developed as a guide to the implementation of the Biodiversity Convention in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Database on Protected Areas</span>

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is the largest assembly of data on the world's terrestrial and marine protected areas, containing more than 260,000 protected areas as of August 2020, with records covering 245 countries and territories throughout the world. The WDPA is a joint venture between the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre and the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Commission on Protected Areas.

Indigenous and community conserved areas (ICCAs), or Indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas, are spaces de facto governed by Indigenous peoples or local communities with evidently positive outcomes for the conservation of biological and cultural diversity. In ICCAs, the continuation, revival, or modification of traditional practices and/or new initiatives succeed in protecting and restoring natural resources and cultural values in the face of new threats or opportunities. Some ICCAs are situated in remote ecosystems that have had minimum human influence, while others encompass areas of various regulations and magnitudes within regions strongly affected or modified by human occupation. ICCAs may or may not fit the IUCN definition of “protected area” but, when they do, they can fall into any IUCN protected area categories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jervis Bay Marine Park</span> Protected area in New South Wales, Australia

Jervis Bay Marine Park is a marine protected area established by the Government of New South Wales in 1998. and the current zoning plan has been in place since 1 October 2002. The marine park is approximately 210 km2 (81 sq mi) in area and spans over 100 km (62 mi) of coastline from Kinghorn Point in the north to Sussex Inlet. The marine park is zoned to conserve biological diversity in marine habitats and to provide a range of recreational and commercial activities.

Conservation is an endeavor including “the preservation, maintenance, sustainable use, restoration, and enhancement of the natural environment”.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plant genetic resources</span>

Plant genetic resources describe the variability within plants that comes from human and natural selection over millennia. Their intrinsic value mainly concerns agricultural crops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">30 by 30</span> International ecological preservation initiative

30 by 30 is a worldwide initiative for governments to designate 30% of Earth's land and ocean area as protected areas by 2030. The target was proposed by a 2019 article in Science Advances, "A Global Deal for Nature: Guiding principles, milestones, and targets", highlighting the need for expanded nature conservation efforts to mitigate climate change. Launched by the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People in 2020, more than 50 nations had agreed to the initiative by January 2021, which has increased to more than 100 countries by October 2022.

Kathy MacKinnon was a zoologist committed to conservation who worked with many governmental organisations and NGOs. She was the lead biodiversity specialist at the World Bank for 16 years and chaired the World Commission on Protected Areas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature from 2015 until 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Jonas</span>

Harry Driver Jonas is a British international lawyer and social entrepreneur, best known for his contributions to legal empowerment and area-based conservation. He advanced the theory and practice of community protocols to affirm Indigenous peoples’ rights over their territories and traditional knowledge, and was instrumental in developing the international framework for other effective area-based conservation measures to better recognize biodiversity stewardship beyond protected areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protected areas of Tuvalu</span> Protected areas in Tuvalu

Protected areas of Tuvalu consist of protected areas located within the central Pacific country of Tuvalu and its territorial waters. One such area is the Funafuti Conservation Area, which is a marine protected area on the western reef area of Funafuti atoll.

References

  1. ↑ UNEP-WCMC and IUCN (2024) "Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas and OECMs"
  2. ↑ Convention on Biological Diversity (2018) "Protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (Decision 14/8)"
  3. ↑ Convention on Biological Diversity (2018) doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-08-en.pdf "Protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (Decision 14/8), Annex III"
  4. ↑ Jonas, Harry; MacKinnon, Kathy; Marnewick, Daniel; Wood, Pete (2023). Site-level tool for identifying other effective area-based conservation measures (1st ed.). Gland, Switzerland: IUCN WCPA. ISBN   978-2-8317-2246-7.
  5. ↑ Convention on Biological Diversity "Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011-2020)"
  6. ↑ Convention on Biological Diversity (2010) "Decision Adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at Its Tenth Meeting at Nagoya" pp. 1-13
  7. ↑ Jonas H.D., Barbuto, V., Jonas, H.C., Kothari, A., and Nelson, F. (2014) “New Steps of Change: Looking Beyond Protected Areas to Consider Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures” Parks 20.2. The authors further proposed “the establishment of an IUCN Task Force to further explore the issues with a view to developing clear guidance on ‘other effective area-based conservation measures’ as a means to effectively and equitably achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 11”.
  8. ↑ The Task Force completed its work in 2020. The work is being advanced by the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Specialist Group
  9. ↑ Jonas H.D., MacKinnon K., Dudley N., Hockings M., Jessen S., Laffoley D., MacKinnon D., Matallana-Tobon C., Sandwith T., Waithaka J., and Woodley, S. (2018) "Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures: From Aichi Target 11 to the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework" Parks 24.
  10. ↑ Rice, J., Garcia, S.M., and Kaiser, M. (2018) "Other effective area-based conservation measures (OEABCMs) used in marine fisheries: a working paper"
  11. ↑ Convention on Biological Diversity (9 February 2018) "Report of the Technical Expert Workshop on Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures for Achieving AICHI Biodiversity Target 11"
  12. ↑ Staff (July 2018) "Outcomes of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Subsidiary Body on Technical and Technological Advice"
  13. ↑ Convention on Biological Diversity (October 2018) "Decision 14/8 on Protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures"
  14. ↑ International Institute for Sustainable Development (14 March 2022) "UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP 15) (Part 2)". Archived from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  15. ↑ Barraclough, Alicia D.; Reed, Maureen G.; Måren, Inger Elisabeth; Price, Martin F.; Moreira-Muñoz, Andrés; Coetzer, Kaera (2021-10-12). "Recognize 727 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves for biodiversity COP15". Nature. 598 (7880): 257. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-02750-w. PMID   34642476. S2CID   238744954.
  16. ↑ Dudley, Nigel; Jonas, Holly; Nelson, Fred; Parrish, Jeffrey; Pyhälä, Aili; Stolton, Sue; Watson, James E. M. (2018-07-01). "The essential role of other effective area-based conservation measures in achieving big bold conservation targets". Global Ecology and Conservation. 15: e00424. doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00424 . ISSN   2351-9894.
  17. 1 2 Alves-Pinto, Helena; Geldmann, Jonas; Jonas, Harry; Maioli, Veronica; Balmford, Andrew; Ewa Latawiec, Agnieszka; Crouzeilles, Renato; Strassburg, Bernardo (2021-04-01). "Opportunities and challenges of other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) for biodiversity conservation". Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation. 19 (2): 115–120. doi: 10.1016/j.pecon.2021.01.004 . ISSN   2530-0644.
  18. ↑ Convention on Biological Diversity (2022) "Kunming-Montreal Global biodiversity framework Draft decision submitted by the President"
  19. ↑ "World Database on OECMs"
  20. ↑ UNEP-WCMC and IUCN (2022) "Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas and OECMs"
  21. ↑ Diz, Daniela; Johnson, David; Riddell, Michael; Rees, Sian; Battle, Jessica; Gjerde, Kristina; Hennige, Sebastian; Roberts, J. Murray (2018-07-01). "Mainstreaming marine biodiversity into the SDGs: The role of other effective area-based conservation measures (SDG 14.5)". Marine Policy. 93: 251–261. doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2017.08.019 . hdl: 10026.1/12537 . ISSN   0308-597X.
  22. ↑ International Union for Conservation of Nature "IUCN Guidelines for Recognising and reporting OECMs"
  23. ↑ "OECM concept may bring more inclusive approach to conserving biodiversity". Mongabay Environmental News. 2021-09-13. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
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