Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in Australia: Key Considerations for Assessment and Implementation
Australia’s emerging OECM policy diverges from global guidance, and few land‑use mechanisms truly meet the definition. Analysis highlights risks of misclassification and stresses the need for clearer, longevity‑focused criteria to ensure effective OECMs support 30×30 conservation goals.
Subject Tags
- Biodiversity
- Large scale protection
- Policy
Abstract
Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) have been a feature of global biodiversity targets since 2010 (Aichi Targets, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework), although the concept has only relatively recently been formally defined. Although uptake has been limited to date, there is much interest in identifying OECMs to contribute to the target of protecting at least 30% of terrestrial, freshwater and ocean areas by 2030, in conjunction with protected areas. Australia has a long history of protected area development across public, private and Indigenous lands, but consideration of OECMs in policy has recently begun in that country. We review principles proposed by the Australian Government for OECMs in Australia and highlight where these deviate from global guidance or established Australian area-based policy. We examined various land use categories and conservation mechanisms to determine the likelihood of these categories/mechanisms meeting the OECM definition, with a particular focus on longevity of the mechanism to sustain biodiversity. We identified that the number of categories/mechanisms that would meet the OECM definition is relatively small. A number of potentially perverse outcomes in classifying an area as an OECM are highlighted in order to guide proactive policy and program design to prevent such outcomes occurring.
Citation
Fitzsimons, J.A., Partridge, T. and Keen, R., 2024. Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) in Australia: key considerations for assessment and implementation. Conservation, 4(2), pp.176-200. https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4020013
TNC Authors
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James A. Fitzsimons
Senior Advisor, Global Protection Strategies
The Nature Conservancy
Email: jfitzsimons@tnc.org -
Thalie Partridge
Interim Protected Landscapes Director, Australia
The Nature Conservancy
Email: thalie.partridge@tnc.org -
Rebecca Keen
The Nature Conservancy