Report provides critical guidance on conserving land, water, and coastal areas through OECMs.
- OECMs term was first appeared in 2010 within Aichi Biodiversity Targets established by CBD. At CoP-14 in 2018, CBD adopted its official definition.
About OECMs
- Definition: It is a geographically defined area other than Protected Areas (PAs).
- It is governed/ managed to achieve sustained long-term outcomes for in-situ conservation of biodiversity, with associated ecosystem functions and services and where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and other locally relevant values.
- Areas that are already established as PA or lie within PA should not also be identified/reported as OECMs.
- It is an important tool for achieving Target 3 of Global Biodiversity Framework, i.e., to conserve at least 30% of terrestrial, inland waters, and coastal and marine areas by 2030.
- It can be governed by a government agency, private group (e.g. NGO), Indigenous peoples, local communities or in a shared arrangement.
How do OECMs differ from PAs?
- PAs are managed with primary objective of biodiversity conservation within a given site, like preserving habitat for endangered species.
- OECMs can be managed for different objectives like protecting areas of cultural or historical importance while delivering conservation outcomes.
