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GUIDELINESFORRECOGNISINGANDREPORTING3

OTHEREFFECTIVEAREA-BASEDCONSERVATION4

MEASURES56

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October20179Version110

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1112131415161718192021222324Whenreferencedthisdocumentshouldbereferredtoas:2526IUCNWCPA,2017.GuidelinesforRecognisingandReportingOtherEffectiveArea-27basedConservationMeasures.IUCN,Switzerland.Version1.2829303132333435363738394041424344Coverphoto:HistoricwrecksiteswhicharefullyprotectedcanqualifyasOECMsand45provideanundisturbedenvironmentformarinewildlifetoflourish.PhotoCredit:46©DanLaffoley 47

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TABLEOFCONTENTS48 49

Foreword………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….450

Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………………………………….551

AcronymsandAbbreviations…………………………………………………………..……………………….752

GlossaryofTerms………………………………………………………………………………………………….…853

PARTA–SCENESETTING54

1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….955

PARTB–THEGUIDANCE56

2. RecognisingOECMs–definitionandcharacteristics……………………………………………….1157

PARTC–EXPLANATORYNOTES58

3. IdentifyingOECMsinpractice–therapidassessmentscreeningtool…………………….1859

4. MonitoringandreportingOECMs…………………………………………………………………………..2260

5. References……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….2461

AppendixI SimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenOECMsandProtectedAreas……………2662

AppendixII ThebroadrelationshipbetweentheAichiTargetsandTarget11………………3063

AppendixIII WorldDatabaseonProtectedAreas………………………………………………………….3364

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FOREWORD6768ByCBDExecutiveSecretaryandIUCNDirectorGeneral6970 71

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS72

These guidelines have been drafted by an IUCN-World Commission on Protected73AreasTaskForceonOtherEffectiveArea-basedConservationMeasures,established74in2015.Aconsiderablenumberofindividualsandorganizationshavesupportedthe75Task Force’s efforts. Three Task Force expert workshopswere held in Cambridge,76England (January 2016), Vilm, Germany (July 2016) and in Vancouver, Canada77(February2017).IUCN/WCPAwishestothanktheGermanFederalAgencyforNature78Conservation(BfN),theSwissFederalDepartmentoftheEnvironment,SwedBio,and79theCanadianParksandWildernessSociety(CPAWS)fortheirfinancialcontributions80to the work of the Task Force. We are grateful to staff at the UNEP World81ConservationMonitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) in Cambridge (U.K.), Gisela Stolpe82and Bettina Ohnesorge (BfN) in Vilm (Germany), and Sabine Jessen (CPAWS) in83Vancouver (Canada) for their logistical support in organising and supporting the84meetings.8586TheTaskForceisco-chairedbyKathyMacKinnon(WCPAChair,UK)andHarryJonas87(UK/Malaysia)andhasover100expertmembers,manyofwhomhavecontributed88with case studies and review. This draft was edited by the Co-Chairs and a small89editorialgroupcomprisingNigelDudley(UK),MarcHockings(Australia),DanLaffoley90(UK),DavidMacKinnon(Canada),andStephenWoodley(Canada).9192During thedevelopmentprocess,TaskForcemembersandotherexpertsprovided93much valuable feedback, information and case studies. We are grateful to the94following Task Forcemembers for review and inputs (case study contributors are95markedwithanasterisk):TundiAgardy(USA),KhaledAllamHarhash(Egypt),Thora96Amend* (Germany), Ny Aina Andrianarivelo* (Madagascar), Michele97Andrianarisata*(Madagascar), Alexandra Areiza (Colombia), Peter Auster (USA),98Ghanimat Azhdari (Iran), Tim Badman (UK/Switzerland),Megan Barnes (Australia),99JuanBezauru(Mexico),SeemaBhatt(India),HeatherBingham*(UK),GraziaBorrini100Feyerabend* (Italy/Switzerland), Thomas Brooks (UK/Switzerland), Jessica Brown*101(USA), Neil Burgess (UK), Catie Burlando (Italy), Stuart Butchart (UK), Maria Elfi102Chávez (Colombia), Gladman Chibememe (Zimbabwe), Christie Chute* (Canada),103PepeClark(Australia/UK),PeterCochrane(Australia),MarkCostello(NewZealand),104MasonCroft(USA),AdrianDavey(Australia),MimiD'Iorio(USA),PaulDonald*(UK),105Alkaly Doumbouya* (Guinea), Lisa Duarte (USA), Steve Edwards (UK/Switzerland),106HanyElShaer(Egypt),CristinaEghenter*(Italy),ShahulFaiziHameed(India),Edgar107Fernandez(CostaRica),AmeliaFowles(Australia),SandraGalán(Colombia),Carolina108Garcia Imhof (Colombia), Sonali Ghosh (India), Sarat Gidda (India/Canada), Hugh109Govan(UK/Fiji),TarsicioGranizo(Ecuador),AniaGrobicki(SouthAfrica/Switzerland),110Catalina Gutierrez (Colombia), James Hardcastle (UK/Switzerland), Robert Hélie111(Canada), Terence Hay-Edie (Switzerland/Thailand), Marc Hockings and Fred Ford112(Australia), Claudia Ituarte Lima (Mexico), Sabine Jessen* (Canada), Holly Jonas113(Canada/Malaysia),StacyJupiter(Fiji),KateKincaid(Canada),JonathanKirui(Kenya),114NaomiKingston* (Ireland/UK),MirjamdeKonig (Netherlands), SigridKuehnemund115(Canada), Barbara Lang (Germany/Benin), Thierry Lefebvre (France), Christopher116Lemieux (Canada), Harvey Locke (Canada), Julia Miranda Londono (Colombia), Ali117

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Mahamane(Niger),ClaudioMaretti (Brazil),MichaelMascia(USA),LisaMcLaughlin118(Canada),ClaraLuciaMatallanaTobon*(Colombia),PradeepMehta(India),Mehmet119Metaj(Albania),AmyMilam(USA),CarmenMiranda(Bolivia)BrentMitchell*(USA),120Helen Newing (UK), Onkemetse Nteta* (South Africa), Melissa Jane Nursey-Bray121(Australia),AboubacarOularé(Guinea),GiselaParedes(Colombia),RobertoPereyra122Lobos (Argentina), Jacques Perron* (Canada), Hugh Possingham (Australia), Jeff123Pradel (Peru),AndrewRhodes* (Mexico),DanielleRyan (Australia),MarinaRosales124(Peru), Carlos Saavedra (Colombia), Yoav Sagi (Israel), Trevor Sandwith (South125Africa/Switzerland), Marcela Santamaria (Colombia), Elsa Sattout (Lebanon), Klaus126Schmitt* (Germany), Faizi Shahul Hameed (India), Dermot Smyth (Australia), Clara127Solano (Colombia), Mark Spalding (UK), Todd Stevenson (USA), Mavra Stithou128(Greece), Sue Stolton (UK), Teki Surayya (India), Parfait Tchuenfo (Cameroon),129Anteneh Tesfaw (Ethiopia), David Thomas (UK), Ted Trzyna (USA), Agus Utomo130(Indonesia),BasVerschuuren(Netherlands),FrancisVorhies(UK),AgusBudiUtomo*131(Indonesia), JohnWaithaka* (Kenya), SonamWangchuk* (Bhutan), SueWells (UK),132Tara Whitty (USA), Hesti Widodo* (Indonesia), Kim Sander Wright* (Canada),133LlewellynYoung*(HongKong/Switzerland),andHagYoungHeo(RepublicofKorea).134135Other individualswhokindlycontributedorpresentedcasestudies, include:Simon136Albert (Australia), Eugenio Barrios (Mexico), Alexandra Barron (Canada), Nicole137Bendsen (Germany),Caroline Butler (Canada), Roger Crofts (UK), Terence Dacles138(Philippines), Steve Diggon (Canada), Kim Dunn (Canada), Ninel Escobar (Mexico),139RobynForrest(Canada),ErichHoyt(USA/UK),OlafJensen(Canada),SatnamManhas140(Canada), Joe McCarter (New Zealand), Chris McDougall (Canada), Günter141Mühlbauer(Germany),MarianaZarethNavaLopez(Mexico,LindaNowlan(Canada),142AllisonPritchard(Canada),RebeccaSingleton(UK/Canada),SergioSalinas-Rodríguez143(Mexico), Paul Scholte (Germany), Gary Tabor (USA), Siyu Qin (China/USA), Scott144Wallace(Canada),BillWareham(Canada)andAlisonWoodley(Canada).145146WCPA is also grateful to John Waithaka and Lucy Waruingi who organised a147workshop in Kenya on the draft Guidelines, and to the following individuals who148field-tested the guidance in Bermuda: Alison Copeland, Peter Drew, Dan Laffoley,149JeremyMadeiros,SarahManuel,SimieonMassey,DrewPettit,JoannaPitt,Philippe150Rouja,Mandy Shailer, Robbie Smith, TammyTrott, Craig Trott, and JulieMarshall.151ProductionofalargenumberofcasestudiesinColombiawasledbyClaraMatallana152(InstitutoHumboldt),withsupportfromAlexandraAreiza,MariaElfiCháves,Sandra153Galán,Clara Solano, andMarcela Santamaria, and contributions from JonyAlbeiro154Arias, Luis Alimaco, Germán Andrade, Mónica Arroyave, Atanasio Barros, Hermes155Carreño, Claudia Céspedes, Stephanie Gailer, Daniel Garavito, Pedro Garavito,156CarolinaGil,BrianHettler,EduardoLondoño,JuanitaLondoño,JorgeHernánLópez,157Ricardo Rey, Jerónimo Rodríguez Escobar, Alejo Sauna Mamatacán, Dignory Soto158Londoño,JosédelosSantosSauna,JoséShibulataZarabata,CarlosVieiraandJacinto159Zarabata.160161FormoreinformationontheTaskForce,includingalloutputsandcasestudies,162pleasesee:www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/other-163effective-area-based-conservation-measures-oecms 164

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ACRONYMSANDABBREVIATIONS165

CBD ConventiononBiologicalDiversity166

IUCN InternationalUnionforConservationofNature167

OECM OtherEffectiveArea-basedConservationMeasure168

PAME ProtectedAreasManagementEffectiveness169

SBSTTA SubsidiaryBodyonScientific,TechnicalandTechnologicalAdviceof170theCBD171

SDGs UNSustainableDevelopmentGoals172

UN UnitedNations173

UNEP UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme174

WCC IUCNWorldConservationCongress175

WCMC UNEP-WorldConservationMonitoringCentre176

WCPA IUCNWorldCommissiononProtectedAreas 177

178 179

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GLOSSARYOFTERMS180181Biodiversity:Thevariabilityamonglivingorganismsfromallsourcesincluding,inter182alia,terrestrial,marineandotheraquaticecosystemsandtheecologicalcomplexes183ofwhichtheyarepart:thisincludesdiversitywithinspecies,betweenspeciesandof184ecosystems.(CBDArticle2).185186Cultural and spiritual values: These include cultural services such as recreational,187spiritual,religious,aestheticandothernon-materialbenefits,withaparticularfocus188on those that contribute to conservation outcomes (e.g. traditional management189practicesonwhichkeyspecieshavebecomereliant)andculturalpracticesthatare190themselvesunderthreat.191192Ecosystem: A dynamic complex of plant, animal andmicro-organism communities193andtheirnon-livingenvironmentinteractingasafunctionalunit.(CBDArticle2).194195Governanceauthority:Theinstitution,individual,indigenousorcommunalgroupor196otherbodyacknowledgedashavingauthorityandresponsibilityfordecisionmaking197andmanagementofanarea.198199Habitat:Theplaceortypeofsitewhereanorganismorpopulationnaturallyoccurs200(CBDArticle2).201202Indigenous peoples and local communities: The terms ‘indigenous peoples’ and203‘local communities’ are used in the same context as in the proceedings of the204ConventiononBiologicalDiversity.205206In-situ conservation:Theconservationofecosystemsandnaturalhabitatsand the207maintenance and recovery of viable populations of species in their natural208surroundings and, in the case of domesticated or cultivated species, in the209surroundingswheretheyhavedevelopedtheirdistinctiveproperties.(CBDArticle2)210211Protectedarea:TheCBDdefinesaprotectedareaas:“Ageographicallydefinedarea212which is designated or regulated and managed to achieve specific conservation213objectives”.(CBDArticle2).IUCNhasacloselyrelateddefinition:“Aclearlydefined214geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other215effectivemeans, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated216ecosystemservicesandculturalvalues”(Dudley,2008).TheCBDandIUCNrecognise217thetwoasbeingequivalent(LopoukhineandDias,2012).TheIUCNdefinitionisused218inthisguidance.219220Sustainableuse:Theuseofcomponentsofbiologicaldiversityinawayandatarate221that does not lead to the long-term decline of biological diversity, thereby222maintaining its potential tomeet the needs and aspirations of present and future223generations(CBDArticle2).224225

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PARTA–SCENESETTING2262271. INTRODUCTION228229Whyadefinitionof“othereffectivearea-basedconservationmeasures”isneeded230231TheStrategicPlanforBiodiversity2011-2020providesanoverarchingframeworkfor232biodiversity conservation andmanagement and includes twenty Aichi Biodiversity233Targets, which Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have234committedtoachieveby2020(CBD,2010).Target11,underStrategicGoalC,aims235to improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and236geneticdiversity.Itstates:237238

By2020atleast17%ofterrestrialandinlandwater,and10%ofcoastaland239marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and240ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably241managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of242protected areas, and other effective area-based conservation measures,243andintegratedintothewiderlandscapeandseascape(emphasisadded).244

245Protected areas provide the foundation of national biodiversity conservation246strategies and delivery of Target 11 (Lopoukhine and Dias, 2012; Woodley et al.,2472012)butmaybeinsufficienttoensurethefullecologicalrepresentationandwell-248connected systems for which Target 11 calls. Parties to the CBD added the term249‘other effective area-based conservationmeasures’ in recognition of the fact that250someareasnotcurrentlyrecognisedandreportedasprotectedareasalsocontribute251totheeffectiveandsustainedin-situconservationofbiodiversity.252253Since2010,CBDPartieshavemadesubstantialprogressonexpandingnationaland254global protected area systems, including declaration of many very large marine255protected areas. Unfortunately, there has been slower progress in defining,256identifying, recognising and reporting other effective area-based conservation257measures(OECMs)(Leadleyetal.,2014).Theprincipalreasonforthisisthelackofa258definition of OECMs and guidance to Parties, which has led to uncertainty about259whattoreport(Jonasetal.,2014).In2012,theIUCNWorldConservationCongress260in Jeju, Republic of Korea, approved motion WCC-2012-Res-035, which called on261IUCN’sCommissions toworkwith theCBD tohelpdevelopguidance forTarget11262(CBD, 2012). In response, IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)263established a Task Force onOther Effective Area-based ConservationMeasures in264September2015.TheTaskForcehashelda seriesofworkshopsandconsultations265andmadepresentationsonprogress,includingtoCBDPartiesandattheIUCNWorld266ConservationCongressinHawai’iin2016.267268At the twentiethmeetingof theCBD’s SubsidiaryBodyonScientific Technical and269Technological Advice (SBSTTA-20) and the thirteenth Conference of the Parties to270the CBD (COP-13, December 2016), Parties discussed progress on priorities in the271

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StrategicPlanonBiodiversity,includingonTarget11.PartiescalledontheExecutive272Secretary of the CBD to support furtherwork onOECMs to provide scientific and273technical advice on their definition, identification, management approaches, and274contribution to Aichi Biodiversity Target11. This request explicitly recognised the275workoftheWCPATaskForce(CBD,2016).276277TheseGuidelines havebeenpreparedby theWCPATask Force onOther Effective278Area-based ConservationMeasures to provide advice on identifying and reporting279OECMs in marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments. They have been280designed for application at various scales ranging fromunderstandingwhether an281individual site is an OECM, to reporting OECM statistics at national levels. They282provide ameans to assess progress on achieving Target 11 and can contribute to283longer-term conservation plans. The process took advantage of work done at a284nationallevelinCanadatodevelopguidanceonOECMs(MacKinnonetal.,2015)and285is complemented by work on the relationship between Key Biodiversity Areas,286protected areas and OECMs led by BirdLife International and partners (BirdLife,2872017). Further informationabout theTaskForceand itsworkcanbe foundonline288(https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/wcpa/what-we-do/other-effective-289area-based-conservation-measures-oecms).290291TheaudiencefortheGuidelines292293Theprimaryaudiences for theseGuidelinesaregovernments,UnitedNations (UN)294agencies, private entities, non-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples’295organizations, local communities and other interested organisations, agencies and296individuals involved inunderstanding,applying,andtrackingAichiTarget11of the297CBDStrategicPlan.ThedevelopmentoftheOECMconceptwillalsoinformtheCBD’s298post-2020processandtheUN’sSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs),particularly299inthecontextofemerginglandscapeandseascapeapproachestoconservation.300301WhattheGuidelinescontain302303OECMsaredefined,andtoolsandapproachessuggestedfortheiridentificationand304monitoring.Additional sections lookat the relationshipwith thevariousCBDAichi305BiodiversityTargets,the linksbetweenOECMsandprotectedareas,andtheWorld306DatabaseonProtectedAreas(WDPA).307308Principles309310OECMswillbeappliedwithintheframeworkofexistingprinciplesoftheCBD,IUCN311andpartnerswithrespecttobiodiversityconservation,humanrightsandsustainable312development.313314WidervaluesoftheOECMGuidelines315316By applying these Guidelines and identifying OECMs alongside protected areas as317contributing toTarget11, there is considerablepotential toengageand support a318

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rangeofnewpartners inglobalconservationefforts.RecognitionasanOECMmay319alsoprovideadditional incentives forconservationandsustainablemanagement in320areas of biodiversity significance outside protected areas, such as many Key321Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) (IUCN, 2016), as well as sites described under policy322mechanisms such the Ramsar Convention, and Ecologically and Biologically323SignificantMarineAreas(EBSAs).IdentificationofpotentialorcandidateOECMsmay324also contribute to their improved management and restoration (and eventual325recognitionasOECMs).326327The following guidance aims to provide an informed audience with enough328information to apply the OECM concept within national or local conservation329strategiesandtoreportOECMcoveragetotheCBD.330331332PARTB–THEGUIDANCE3333342. RECOGNISINGOECMs–DEFINITIONAND335CHARACTERISTICS336337This section sets out the definition of an OECM and provides guidance on each338elementofthedefinition.3393402.1 DEFINITIONOFANOECM341342An‘othereffectivearea-basedconservationmeasure’(OECM),asreferencedinAichi343BiodiversityTarget11,is:344345

Ageographicallydefinedspace,notrecognisedasaprotectedarea,whichis346governedandmanagedoverthelong-terminwaysthatdelivertheeffective347andenduring in-situconservationofbiodiversity,withassociatedecosystem348servicesandculturalandspiritualvalues.349

350The definition of an OECM under Target 11 has strong similarities with the IUCN351definitionofaprotectedarea(Dudley,2008).IUCNdefinesaprotectedareaas:352353

A clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed,354throughlegalorothereffectivemeans,toachievethelong-termconservation355ofnaturewithassociatedecosystemservicesandculturalvalues.356

357The core difference is that while protected areas should have a primary358conservationobjective,thedefiningcriterionofanOECMisthatitshoulddeliverthe359effective and enduring in-situ conservation of biodiversity, regardless of its360objectives. Areas recognised by governments as protected areas are listed on the361WorldDatabaseonProtectedAreas(WDPA,https://www.protectedplanet.net/)and362includedininternationalstatistics.363364

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OECMsare similar to, but different from, protected areas. It is not surprising that365theyhavecharacteristicsincommongiventhattheybothrepresentkeymechanisms366to deliver biodiversity conservation including CBD Target 11 objectives. See367Appendix I for a table comparing and contrasting characteristics of OECMs and368protectedareas.369370Thereareseveralreasonswhyareasmightnotbeformallyrecognisedandreported371as protected areas, yet still deliver important conservation outcomes (Borrini-372FeyerabendandHill,2015);suchareasshouldberecognisedasOECMs–seeBox1.373374

Box1:IdentifyingOtherEffectiveArea-basedConservationMeasures(OECMs)OECMsandprotectedareasbothresultinthelong-termandeffectivein-situconservationofbiodiversity. However, whereas protected areas have nature conservation as a primarymanagement objective, and the primary objective in the case of conflictwith other aims,OECMsmayormaynothavenatureconservationasanobjective.TypesofapproachesleadingtoOECMs

1. ‘Primary conservation’ - refers to areas thatmaymeet all elements of the IUCNdefinition of a protected area, but which are not officially recognised as suchbecause the governance authority does notwant the area to be designated as aprotected area by the relevant national government. For example, in someinstances indigenous peoples and local communitiesmay notwant areas of highbiodiversityvaluethattheygovern,includingsacrednaturalsites,tobedesignatedas protected areas or recorded in government protected area databases. If thegovernanceauthorityagrees,suchareasshouldbereportedasOECMs.

2. ‘Secondary conservation’ - isachievedthroughtheactiveconservationofanarea

where conservation outcomes are a secondary management objective. Forexample, enduring watershed protection policies andmanagementmay result ineffectiveprotectionofbiodiversity in forestedwatersheds,eventhoughtheareasareprimarilymanagedforobjectivesotherthanconservation.Insomecases,siteswhicharemanagedinwaysthatprovideimportantecologicalconnectivitybetweenprotected areas or other areas of high biodiversity, thereby contributing to theirviability,mayalsobeconsideredasOECMs.

3. ‘Ancillary conservation’ - refers to areas thatdeliver conservationoutcomes as a

by-productofmanagementactivitieseventhoughbiodiversityconservationisnotamanagement objective. For example, Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands protectsshipwrecks and war graves from World War II. This protection has led to theancillaryconservationofimportantbiodiversity(seeBox3).

IUCNrecommendsthatareaswhichmeetallelementsoftheIUCNdefinitionofaprotectedareaandarerecognisedassuchbythegovernanceauthority,shouldbereportedinofficialdatabases as protected areas rather than as OECMs (see Figure 1). For example, someprivatelyprotectedareasarenotincludedbynationalgovernmentsintheirreportingtotheWDPA,eventhoughtheymaysatisfyallIUCNcriteriaforprotectedareas.

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OtherintactnaturalareasAlloftheabovecasesmustbedistinguishedfromsitesthatarenotsubjecttoanyconsciousmanagement decisions but nevertheless retain their biodiversity; usually because ofremoteness or conflict conditions. These areas are not considered to be eitherOECMs orprotectedareas since such siteshave little long-termsecurity if conditionschangeor theyareeventuallytargetedforenvironmentallydamagingactivities.375The relationship between OECMs and protected areas is illustrated in Figure 1,376below.377378

3793802.2 ELEMENTSOFTHEDEFINITION381382Thefollowingsub-sectionselaborateoneachelementoftheoverallOECMdefinition383providedabove.384385a. ‘Geographicallydefinedspace’386387Geographically defined space implies a spatially defined area with agreed and388demarcatedboundaries,whichcan include land, inlandwaters,marineandcoastal389areasoranycombinationofthese.Theseboundariesmaysometimesbedefinedby390physicalfeaturesthatmoveovertime,suchasriverbanksorseaice.391392Box2:AcloserlookatgeographicalspaceGeographical space has three dimensions; this requires any governance or managementregimeforatwo-dimensionalareaalsotoaccountforthethird(vertical)dimensionifallthebiodiversity of the area is to be effectively conserved in-situ. Designations of OECMs orprotected areaswill often have limits in the third dimension (e.g. only apply to a certaindepthundergroundorbelowthewatersurface,orhaveanaltitudelimittoallowpassageofcommercialaircraft).Thishasbecomeparticularlycontroversial inmarineprotectedareas,whereverticalzoning forcommercialpurposesunderminesconservationobjectivesas it isextremely challenging tomonitororenforce,anddisruptsecological connectivity. ThekeypointforbothprotectedareasandOECMsisthatheightanddepthdimensionsneedtobeconsistentwitheffectiveconservationmanagementtoprotectthefullrangeofbiodiversitypresent.393

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WhilethesizeofOECMsmayvary,theyshouldbelargeenoughtoachievethelong-394term in-situ conservation of biodiversity, including all species or ecosystems for395whichthesiteisimportant,whetherthesearehighlyrestrictedspeciesorhabitatsof396morewide-rangingspecies.397398b. ‘notrecognisedasaprotectedarea’399400ThewordingofTarget11isclearthatOECMscancontributeintheirownrighttothe401Target.Thismeansthatareasthatarealreadydesignatedasprotectedareasor lie402withinprotectedareasshouldnotalsobecountedasOECMs.Whileprotectedareas403andOECMsaremutually exclusive at anypoint in time, bothprotected areas and404OECMs have value for biodiversity conservation. SomeOECMs could develop into405protectedareasovertime,ifnatureconservationbecomestheprimarymanagement406objective.407408c. ‘governed’409410Governed implies that the area is under the authority of a specified entity, or an411agreeduponcombinationofentities(seegovernanceauthorityinglossary).OECMs412can be governed under the same range of governance types as protected areas,413namely:414

1. Governancebygovernments(atvariouslevels);4152. Shared governance (i.e., governance by various rights-holders and416

stakeholderstogether);4173. Governancebyprivateindividuals,organisationsorcompanies;and4184. Governanceby indigenouspeoplesand/or localcommunities (Dudley2008;419

Borrini-Feyerabendetal.,2013).420421Aswith protected areas, the governanceofOECMs should strive to be ‘equitable’422and reflect human rights norms recognised in international and regional human423rightsinstrumentsandinnationallegislation.AnyrecognitionofOECMsrequiresthe424free,priorandinformedconsentoftherelevantgovernanceauthority(ies).425426d. ‘managed’427428Managed specifies that thearea is beingmanaged in away that leads topositive429biodiversity conservation results. This means that an area where there is no430managementregimeisnotanOECM,eventhoughitsbiodiversitymayremainintact.431As such, thehigh seasandotherareas currently in anaturalornear-natural state432shouldnotbeconsideredasOECMs,unlesssubjecttoamanagementregimethatis433sustainingtheirbiodiversityvalueandexpectedtoendure.‘Managed’canincludea434deliberatedecisiontoleavetheareauntouched.435436Unlikeprotectedareas,OECMsdonotrequireaprimaryobjectiveofconservation,437but there must be a direct causal link between the area’s overall objective and438managementandthe in-situconservationofbiodiversityoverthelong-term,asset439outbytheexampleofScapaFlow,Scotland,inBox3.440

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441Accordingly,themanagementofOECMsshouldinclude‘effectivemeans’ofcontrol442ofactivitiesthatcouldimpactbiodiversity,whetherthroughlegalmeasuresorother443means(suchascustomarylawsandsanctions)oracombinationofboth.444445Box3:ScapaFlow–anexampleofAncillaryConservationScapaFlow isanaturalharbouroffmainlandOrkney in theNorthofScotland.Thearea isunder the jurisdiction of the Orkney Islands Harbour Authority whose managementobjectives for the area are the safemanagement of the harbourwhilst at the same timeconserving the site’s cultural heritage. The area is known for the number of historicalwrecks,includingafleetofFirstWorldWarGermanwarshipswhichwerescuttledwithintheHarbour. ScapaFlowcoversanareaof324.5km2andcontainsintheorderof1billioncubicmetresofwater. Due to the strict protection afforded to its historical wrecks as a war grave itisconsidered to provide a high degree of protection to the benthic ecosystemwithin ScapaFlow,evidencedbythrivingmaerlbeds,flameshellbeds,horsemusselreefsandfanshellswhichareveryrareelsewhereinScotland.Althoughtheareaisnotmanagedwithaspecificobjectiveofnatureconservation,protectionofthesitedeliversagoodexampleofancillaryconservation.446e. ‘long-term’447448ThegovernanceandmanagementofOECMs isexpected tobe long-term in intent449(i.e.,consideredtobeongoingandeffective inperpetuity, inwaysthatdeliver the450in-situ conservation of biodiversity). Short-term or temporary management451strategiesdonotconstituteanOECM.452453For example, a fishing closure that stays in place only until an overfished area454recovers is not a long-termmeasure. On the other hand, seasonal arrangements455(e.g.sitesmanagedformigratorybirdspecies)mayqualifyasOECMsiftheyarepart456ofalong-termoverallmanagementstrategyandcontributetotheyear-roundin-situ457conservationofbiodiversitywithinthesite.458459f. ‘effectiveandenduring’460461OECMs should be demonstrated to be effective at delivering enduring in-situ462conservationof biodiversity. Thismay include strict protectionor certain formsof463sustainablemanagementconsistentwiththeCBDdefinitionsof‘in-situconservation’464and‘biodiversity.’465466Practicalstepsmustbeinplaceformonitoringandreportingontheeffectivenessof467OECMs(seeSection4).468469470471472

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g. ‘in-situconservation’473474TheCBDdefinesin-situconservation,withrespecttowildbiodiversity,as:475476

“the conservationof ecosystemsandnatural habitats and themaintenance477and recovery of viable populations of species in their natural surroundings478and, in the case of domesticated or cultivated species, in the surroundings479where they have developed their distinctive properties”480(https://www.cbd.int/convention/articles/default.shtml?a=cbd-08).481482

OECMsareexpectedtoachievetheconservationofnatureasawhole,ratherthan483onlyselectedelementsofbiodiversity.TheCBDdefinitionsof“biodiversity”and“in-484situconservation”clearlyrecognisethatsinglespeciescanonlyexist in-situaspart485of an interconnected web with other species and the abiotic environment.486Recognising the connection to biological diversity,geological diversity, or487geodiversity,willalsosometimesbeanimportantmanagementfocusinOECMs.488 489h.‘biodiversity’490491Given theexplicit link inTarget11betweenOECMsandbiodiversity conservation492outcomes, it is implicitthatOECMsmustachievetheeffectiveandenduring in-situ493conservation of biodiversity. While approaches for identifying the important494biodiversityelementsofsuchareasvaryaccordingtonational,subnational,andlocal495circumstances, global guidance now exists for identifying Key Biodiversity Areas496(IUCN,2016;http://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/what-are-kbas)andfordescribing497sitesunderpolicymechanismssuchasRamsarsitesandEcologicallyandBiologically498SignificantMarine Areas (EBSAs) (https://www.cbd.int/ebsa/about). As is the case499forEBSAs,thebiodiversityconservedbyanOECMcanoccurinareasbothwithinand500beyondnationaljurisdiction.501502RecognitionofanOECMrequires identificationofthefull rangeofkeybiodiversity503attributes forwhich thesitequalifies.Thesekeybiodiversityvalues,aswellas the504broaderconservationvaluesofOECMs,shouldbedescribedandtrackedovertime.505506Box4:AcloserlookatbiodiversityIn addition to the guidance on effective and enduring and in situ conservation criteria(above),anOECMshouldprotectthefullcomplementofthesite’sbiodiversity.OECMswillexhibitoneormoreofthefollowingoutcomesbyeffectivelyprotecting:

• Rare, threatened or endangered species and habitats, and the ecosystems thatsupport them, including species and sites identified on the IUCN Red List ofThreatenedSpecies,RedListofEcosystems,ornationalequivalents.

• Representativenaturalecosystems.• Highlevelofecologicalintegrityorecologicalintactness,whicharecharacterisedby

the occurrence of the full range of native species and supporting ecologicalprocesses. These areas will be intact or be capable of being restored under theproposedmanagementregime.

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• Range-restrictedspeciesandecosystemsinnaturalsettings.• Importantspeciesaggregations,includingduringmigrationorspawning.• Ecosystems especially important for species life stages, feeding, resting, moulting

andbreeding.• Areasofimportanceforecologicalconnectivityorthatareimportanttocompletea

conservationnetworkwithinalandscapeorseascape.• Areasthatprovidecriticalecosystemservicessuchascarbonstorageinadditionto

in-situbiodiversityconservation.In thiscontext,an intensively-managed farmwithasmallproportionof theoriginalnativeplantsandbirdswilllikelynotbeanOECM(exceptperhapsifitismanagedtomaintainanendemic plant species). Conversely, an extensively managed area of native grassland,dominatedbynativeplants,andhavinghealthypopulationsofalargevarietyofnativebirdsandmammals,mightwellbeanOECMifthemanagementandgovernanceregimeensuresthese outcomes over the long-term. Just as for protected areas, there may be instanceswhere an OECM is especially important for protecting a particular threatened species byprotectingtheentireecosystem.As climate change alters ecosystems, understanding of what is natural, effective andenduring in a particular place may also change. OECMs may need to be recognised andmanagedwithadaptationtoclimatechangeinmind.507i. ‘ecosystemservices’508509Healthyandfunctioningecosystemsprovidearangeofservices.Ecosystemservices510include provisioning services such as food and water; regulating services such as511regulationoffloods,drought,landdegradationanddisease;andsupportingservices512such as soil formation and nutrient recycling. Management for these ecosystem513services will be a frequent driver in the recognition of OECMs. However,514management to enhance one particular ecosystem service should not impact515negativelyonthesite’soverallbiodiversityconservationvalues.516517j. ‘culturalandspiritualvalues’518519OECMs include areas where the protection of key species and habitats and520managementofbiodiversitymaybeachievedaspartoflong-standingandtraditional521cultural and spiritual practices. In such cases, it will be essential to assure the522recognition and protection of the associated cultural and spiritual values and523practices that lead topositivebiodiversity outcomes. Conversely,management for524cultural and spiritual values within an OECM should not impact negatively on525biodiversityconservationvalues. 526

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PARTC–EXPLANATORYNOTES5275283. IDENTIFYINGOECMsINPRACTICE–THERAPID529ASSESSMENTSCREENINGTOOL530531Alleffortstoconservebiodiversityarevaluablebutonlythosearea-basedmeasures532whichcontributedirectlytolong-term in-situconservationshouldbeconsideredas533contributions toTarget11.Akeychallenge forParties to theCBDandothers is to534determinewhetherareascanberecognisedasOECMsorshouldbemappedagainst535otherAichiTargets that relatemore to sustainableuse (Laffoleyetal., 2017– see536AppendixII).537538To support decision-making processes, WCPA has developed a simple three-step539screening tool, directly linked to the definition and the explanation of terms in540Section2.5415423.1 SCREENINGTOOL543544Thescreeningtoolhasthreekeyelements.545546• Criterion1.Ensurethattheareaisnotalreadyrecordedasaprotectedareaand547

that Aichi Target 11 is the right focus (i.e., that the area is providing in-situ548conservationofbiodiversity).549

• Criterion 2. Ensure that the area has the essential conservation characteristics550thatareassociatedwithanOECM.551

• Criterion3.Ensurethattheconservationoutcomeislikelytobesustained.552553Each element is elaborated below (Section 3.2). Potential OECMs must pass all554screening criteria. The ‘guidance notes’ against specific tests refer to the key555elementsofthedefinition,setoutinSection2.2.556557Box5:Notestowardseffectiveapplicationofthescreeningtool558559In order to be effective in terms of time and resources, a six-stage process to apply the560guidanceonusingthescreeningtoolisrecommended:561562Stage1:Thoroughlyreadanddiscusstheguidelinesandthescreeningcriteriaandassemble563thereviewteamconsistingofpeoplefamiliarwiththediversityofapproachesbeingtaken564locallytoarea-basedconservation.565566Stage 2: Prior to applying the screening tool, compile a comprehensive set of maps and567information on possible locations that might qualify as OECM having compared them to568maps of known designated or proposed protected areas so the relationship is readily569understood.570571Stage3:ApplyeachofthethreeelementsofthescreeningtooltoeachproposedOECM.572573

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Stage4:IdentifypotentialOECMareasthatpassallthreetestsaswellasthosethatmaybe574'nearmisses.’Thelatterstepisimportantsothatthereisanaudittrailforfuturereference575of those areas that do not pass the screening tool tests. Record reasons for decisions for576eacharea,eachstep,andeachtest.577578Stage 5: Undertake further investigations of each area that passes the tests through579discussionswithrelevantbodiesandorganisationswithgovernanceresponsibilitytoconfirm580identificationasOECMs.581582Stage 6: For all areas - especially areas governed by indigenous peoples and local583communities - confirm that recognition as an OECM and subsequent reporting is in584accordancewiththefree,priorandinformedconsentofthegovernanceauthority.5855863.2 APPLYINGTHESCREENINGTOOL587588Criterion1.Ensurethat thearea isnotalreadyrecordedasaprotectedareaand589thatAichiTarget11istherightTarget.5905911. Theareaisneitheralreadyrecognisednorproposedasamarine,freshwateror592

terrestrialprotectedarea,nordoesitliewithinone(seeguidancenoteb).593594

2. WithinthecontextofreportingtotheCBD,ensureTarget11isthemostrelevant595Aichi Biodiversity Target. There are 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets, many596encompassing area-based approaches. Some site-based approacheswill better597contribute to other Targets (e.g., Target 6 on sustainable management of598fisheries, Target 7 on sustainable agriculture and forestry) and are likely599thereforenotOECMs,althoughcontributionstowardstheAichiTargetsarenot600necessarilymutuallyexclusiveandoneactionmaycontributetoseveralTargets601(seeAppendix II on the relationship between Target 11 and other associated602Targets).603

604Criterion2.Ensurethattheareahastheessentialconservationcharacteristicsthat605areassociatedwithanOECM.6066071. LOCATION: The area is a geographically defined space. Wider measures for608

speciesand/orenvironmentthatarenot‘area-based’failthistest,e.g.species-609specific national or regional hunting bans,whale-watching rules, or temporary610fishingclosures(seeguidancenotea).611612

2. GOVERNEDANDMANAGED:Theareaisgovernedandmanagedoverthelong-613termandthereisadirectcausallinkbetween:a)thearea’soverallobjectiveand614managementandb)the in-situconservationofbiodiversityoverthe long-term.615Areaswhere there is no governance authority nor consciousmanagement are616notOECMs(seeguidancenotesc, dand e).Accordingly,anareacurrently ina617naturalornear-naturalstateisnotautomaticallyanOECM.618619

3. EFFECTIVE IN-SITU CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY: The area delivers the620effectivein-situconservationofbiodiversity,withassociatedecosystemservices.621

20

This may be achieved through a variety of management practices, including622those associated with cultural and spiritual values. Areas that deliver623conservation outcomes only over the short-termor areas that are intendedor624offerpotentialtoconservenaturebutdonotyetdeliverconservationoutcomes625donotqualifyasOECMs(seeguidancenotesf,g,h,i,andj).626

627Criterion3.Ensurethattheconservationoutcomecanbesustained6286291. DEGREEOFCONTROL:Thisreferstotheprobabilityoftheconservationoutcome630

beingsustainedundernormalcircumstancesthroughlegalorothermeans,such631as customary laws and sanctions (see guidance note d). This third test632emphasizes the difference between current conservation efforts that can be633reversedeasilyandanOECMthat can sustain conservationoutcomesover the634long-term.635

636AreasthatpassALLthreestepscanbeconsideredtobeprovisionalOECMs,subject637to more detailed review involving empirical evidence/data to support the638preliminaryassessment.639

3.3 EXAMPLESOFPOTENTIALANDUNLIKELYOECMs640

The following situations can be regarded as potential OECMs where they are641effective in protecting biodiversity in situ long term. Importantly, some of these642examplesmayapparentlyconformtotheIUCNdefinitionofprotectedareas,butare643not recognised as protected areas by those with control over governance or644reporting.645

• Some indigenouspeoples’and localcommunityconservedterritoriesandareas646(or sections of these areas) managed to maintain natural or near-natural647ecosystems, with light/low levels of use of natural resources practised on a648sustainablebasisandinawaythatdoesnotdegradethearea’sbiodiversity.649

• Sacred natural sites with high biodiversity values that are protected and650conservedlong-termfortheirassociationswithoneormorefaithgroups.651

• AreasidentifiedasKeyBiodiversityAreasthatarewellmanagedbyregulationor652othereffectivetools(http://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/home).653

• Traditional area-based agricultural systems with high levels of associated654biodiversity that achieve the in-situconservationof biodiversity, including low-655level livestockgrazingonnativegrasslandsmanaged so that theymaintain the656fullvarietyofnativebiodiversity.657

• Some permanently set-aside areas of forest (i.e., not part of the harvest658schedule),suchasancient,old-growth,primary,orotherhigh-biodiversityforest659areaswithincommercialorcommunity-managedforests.660

• Coastalandmarineareasprotectedforreasonsotherthanconservation,butthat661nonethelessachievethein-situconservationofbiodiversity(e.g.,historicwrecks,662wargraves,etc.)663

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• Urbanormunicipalparksmanagedprimarilyforpublicrecreationbutwhichare664large enough and sufficiently natural to also effectively achieve the in-situ665conservationofbiodiversity(e.g.wildgrassland,wetlands).666

• Watershed and areas managed to mitigate flood and other disaster risk but667whichalsoprotect importantbiodiversity (e.g.watermeadows, riverine forest,668coastal forests and wetlands, natural forest protected for long-term soil and669slopestabilisation).670

• Military lands and waters, or portions of military lands and waters that are671primarilymanagedforthepurposeofdefence,butalsoachievetheconservation672ofbiodiversityinthelongtermandshoweffectiveoutcomes.673

• Permanent or very long-term fisheries closure areas designed to protect674completeecosystemsforstockrecruitment,toprotectspecialisedecosystemsin675their entirety, or protect species at risk through the in-situ conservation of676biodiversityasawhole,andaredemonstratedtobeeffectiveagainstfisheryand677non-fisherythreatsalike.678

• Watercatchmentareas thataremaintained inanaturalconditiontoprovidea679sourceofwaterwithconservationofbiodiversityasasecondaryconsideration.680

• Huntingreservesthatmaintainnaturalhabitatsandotherfloraandfaunaaswell681asviablepopulationsofhuntedandnon-huntednativespecies.682

• Areascreatedbyactiverestorationofdegradedandthreatenedecosystems,to683provide important ecosystem services but which also contribute to effective684biodiversity conservation (e.g. freshwater and coastal wetlands restored for685floodprotection).686

• Privatelymanaged areas,which aremanagedwith a specific conservation and687restorationobjectivebutarerecognisedasdifferentfromprotectedareasunder688nationallegislation(e.g.HarapanEcosystemForestRestorationArea,Indonesia).689

• Areas that contribute to conservation because of their role in connecting690protectedareasandotherareasofhighbiodiversity,therebycontributingtothe691long-termviabilityoflargerecosystemse.g.communityconservancieswithinthe692Taitaecosystem,Kenya.693

ThefollowingareasandmanagementregimesareunlikelytoqualifyasOECMs:694

• Small, semi-natural areas within an intensively-managed landscape containing695limited biodiversity, such as municipal parks, formal/domestic gardens and696arboreta, field margins, roadside verges, hedgerows, unsprayed borders of697agriculturalfields,firebreaks,recreationalbeaches,marinasandgolfcourses.698

• Forests thataremanagedcommercially for timbersupplyandare intended for699logging.SuchareasshouldbeconsideredunderAichiTarget7.700

• Fisheryclosuresortemporaryset-asideswithasinglespecies,species-group,or701habitatfocus,thatmaybesubjecttoperiodicexploitationand/orbedefinedfor702stockmanagementpurposes,andthatdonotdeliverin-situconservationofthe703associated ecosystems, habitats and species with which target species are704associated.705

• Heavily grazed grassland, and grassland replanted with monocultures or non-706nativespeciesforlivestock.707

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• Temporaryagriculturalset-asides,summerfallowandgrant-maintainedchanges708toagriculturalpracticethatmaybenefitbiodiversity.709

• Conservationmeasuresthatapplytoasinglespeciesorgroupofspecies,overa710wide geographical range such as hunting regulations or whale-watching rules;711these are better considered as being part of wider species conservation712measures(Targets5,6,7and/or12).713

714Neitheroftheabovetwo lists ismeanttobeexhaustiveorwithoutexception,but715they do indicatewhich kinds of areasmay qualify as OECMS. The definitions and716criteria applied using the three-step test will be the appropriate route to ensure717consistent identificationofpossibleOECMs.Giventhediversityofsituationswhere718OECMs can occur it is essential that potential areas should be screened very719carefullyonacase-by-casebasis.7207213.4 RIGHTSANDRESPONSIBILITIESOFGOVERNANCEAUTHORITIES722723Governance authorities can propose an area as a potential OECM and either self-724assessorseeksupporttodeterminewhethertheareaqualifiestoberecognisedas725anOECMusing thisguidance.Theyshouldhave theright toobject to theexternal726nominationorrecognitionoftheirareaasanOECMincaseswherefree,priorand727informedconsenthasnotbeengiven.Thisapplies toall fourgovernancetypes,as728setoutabove(inguidancenotea).729730WhenanareaisrecognisedasanOECM,itplacesaresponsibilityonthegovernance731authoritytocontinuetogovernandmanagetheareainwaysthatachievethein-situ732conservationofbiodiversity.Whilenationalcircumstanceswilldiffer,itishopedthat733any related legislation provides greater support and recognition to existing734governancesystemsanddoesnotseektosupplantorunnecessarilyalterthoselocal735arrangements.7367374.MONITORINGANDREPORTINGOECMs738739All data providers are encouraged to review the complete suite of area-based740conservation measures and existing protected areas networks in line with these741Guidelines. Area-based measures that are found to qualify as protected areas or742OECMsshouldbereportedtotheWorldDatabaseonProtectedAreas(WDPA).Data743providersarealsoencouraged to track, at least internally, their ‘candidateOECMs’,744andreportthemtotheWDPAoncetheyfullysatisfyallOECMcriteria.TheWDPAis745updatedonamonthlybasis andmadeavailableanddownloadableonline through746ProtectedPlanet (www.protectedplanet.net).UNEP-WCMCusesdata in theWDPA747to measure progress against international conservation goals, such as Aichi748BiodiversityTarget11.Formore informationon theWDPAandverificationofdata749seeAppendixIII.750751Effectiveness of OECMs is a key part of the definition. Therefore,monitoring and752reportingontheeffectivenessofOECMswillbecriticaltoensurethatsitescontinue753to deliver conservation outcomes. Measuring Protected Areas Management754

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Effectiveness(PAME)willinmanycasesbethemostpragmaticwaytomeasurethe755effectiveness of OECMs, but the PAME tools should be supported by additional756quantitative information on biodiversity outcomes. The development of the IUCN757’Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas’ will further support such758documentation(IUCN,2017).AuthoritiesresponsibleforOECMsitesshouldensure759that adequate monitoring is undertaken of the effectiveness of management to760ensure conservation outcomes, and this information should also be reported to761UNEP-WCMC.762

Foranyqueriesregardingreportingpleasecontactprotectedareas@unep-wcmc.org.763

764

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5. REFERENCES765

BirdLife, 2017. http://www.conservation.cam.ac.uk/collaboration/role-of-other-effective-766area-based-conservation-measures-in-achieving-aichi-target-11. Accessed 17th September7672017.768Borrini-Feyerabend,G.,N.Dudley,T.Jaeger,B.Lassen,N.PathakBroome,A.PhillipsandT.769Sandwith,2013.GovernanceofProtectedAreas:Fromunderstandingtoaction.BestPractice770ProtectedAreaGuidelinesSeriesNo.20.Gland,Switzerland:IUCN.771Borrini-Feyerabend,G.andR.Hill,2015.‘Governancefortheconservationofnature’,inG.L.772Worboys,M.Lockwood,A.Kothari,S.FearyandI.Pulsford(eds)ProtectedAreaGovernance773andManagement,pp.169–206.ANUPress:Canberra.774Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans, 2016. Operational guidance for identifying775‘other effective area-based conservation measures’ in Canada’s marine environment.776Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans: Ottawa, Canada. 9pp. Accessed January 17,7772017at:778http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/documents/publications/oeabcm-779amcepz/2016_11_24_OEABCM-marine-guidance-for-public-audience_Version-1b.pdf780Convention on Biological Diversity, 2010. Strategic Plan on Biodiversity 2011-2020.781https://www.cbd.int/sp/782Convention on Biological Diversity. 2012. At CBD COP11 (Decision XI/24 invited Parties to783address “OECMs” and more specifically “8. Invites the IUCN Global Protected Areas784Programme, the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, … etc ... to continue to785develop technicalguidance to achieve the full scope of Aichi Biodiversity Target 11…”And786“10.Requests theExecutiveSecretary, inpartnershipwith relevantorganizations…making787available tools andtechnical guidance on those areas where progress is lacking, such as788mainstreaming protected areas and defining area-based conservationmeasures; fostering789relevantcapacity-buildingforindigenousandlocalcommunities;andsupportingthefurther790development of local registries of indigenous and community conserved areas and the791IndigenousandCommunityConservedAreasRegistrymaintainedbytheWorldConservation792MonitoringCentre…”793ConventiononBiologicalDiversity,2016.OECMswere referenced in the followingCOP-13794decisions: Progress in the implementation of the Convention and the Strategic Plan for795Biodiversity 2011-2020 and towards the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets796(XIII/1); Strategic actions to enhance the implementation of the Strategic Plan for797Biodiversity2011-2020andtheachievementoftheAichiBiodiversityTargets,includingwith798respect to mainstreaming and the integration of biodiversity within and across sectors799(XIII/3); Biodiversity and climate change (XIII/4); Marine spatial planning and training800initiatives (XIII/9); and Indicators for the Strategic Plan forBiodiversity 2011-2020and the801AichiBiodiversityTargets(XIII/28).802Day, J., N. Dudley, M. Hockings, G. Holmes, D. Laffoley, S. Stolton, and S. Wells,8032012.Guidelines for applying the IUCNProtectedAreaManagement Categories toMarine804ProtectedAreas.IUCN:Gland,Switzerland.36pp.805Dudley,N. (Editor),2008.Guidelines forApplyingProtectedAreaManagementCategories.806IUCN:Gland,Switzerland.86pp.807IUCN,2016.AGlobalStandard for the IdentificationofKeyBiodiversityAreas,Version1.0.808Firstedition.IUCN:Gland,Switzerland.809IUCN,2017.https://www.iucn.org/theme/protected-areas/our-work/iucn-green-list810

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Jonas, H., V. Barbuto, H.C. Jonas, A. Kothari, and F. Nelson, 2014. New steps of change:811looking beyond protected areas to consider other effective area based conservation812measures.PARKS20(2):111-128.813Jonas H. and K. MacKinnon (Editors), 2016. Co-Chairs’ Report of the First Meeting of814International Experts of the Task Force on Other Effective Area-based Conservation815Measures.:IUCN-WCPA:Gland,Switzerland.816Jonas H. and K.MacKinnon (Editors), 2016.Advancing Guidance on Other Effective Area-817basedConservationMeasures:ReportoftheSecondMeetingoftheIUCN-WCPATaskForce818on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures. Bundesamt für Naturschutz: Bonn819https://www.bfn.de/fileadmin/BfN/ina/Dokumente/Tagungsdoku/2016/Task_Force_on_OE820CMs_Rp2016.pdf821JonasH.andK.MacKinnon(Editors),2017.UsingCaseStudiestoEnhanceGuidanceonOther822Effective Area-based Conservation Measures: Report of Third Meeting of the IUCN-WCPA823Task Force on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures. IUCN-WCPA: Gland,824Switzerland.825Laffoley,D.,N.Dudley,H.Jonas,D.MacKinnon,K.MacKinnon,M.Hockings,andS.Woodley,8262017. An introduction to ‘other effective area-based conservation measures’ under Aichi827Target 11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity: origin, interpretation and some828emergingoceanissues.JournalofAquaticConservation27(Supplement1):130-137.829Leadley,P.W.,C.B.Krug,R.Alkemade,H.M.Pereira,U.R.Sumaila,M.Walpole,A.Marques,830T. Newbold, L.S.L.Teh, J. van Kolck,C. Bellard, S.R. Januchowski-Hartley, and P.J. Mumby,8312014.ProgresstowardstheAichiBiodiversityTargets:AnAssessmentofBiodiversityTrends,832Policy Scenarios and Key Actions. Technical Series 78. Secretariat of the Convention on833BiologicalDiversity,Montreal,Canada.834Leverington, F., K. Lemos Costa, J. Courrau, H. Pavese, C. Nolte, M. Marr, L. Coad, N.835Burgess,B. Bomhard, and M. Hockings, 2010. ‘Management effectiveness evaluation in836protected areas – a global study’, Secondedition. TheUniversity ofQueenslandBrisbane,837Australia.838Lopoukhine,N.,andB.F.Dias,2012.Editorial:WhatdoesTarget11reallymean?PARKS18839(1):5-8.840MacKinnon,D.,C.J.Lemieux,K.Beazley,S.Woodley,R.Helie,J.Perron,J.Elliott,C.Haas,J.841Langlois,H.Lazaruk,T.Beechey,andP.Gray,2015.CanadaandAichiBiodiversityTarget11:842understanding ‘other effective area-based conservation measures’ in the context of the843broadertarget.BiodiversityandConservation24(14):3559-3581.DOI10.1007/s10531-015-8441018-1845UNEP-WCMC, 2016.World Database on Protected Areas User Manual 1.4. UNEP-WCMC:846Cambridge,UK.Availableat:http://wcmc.io/WDPA_Manual847Woodley, S., B. Bertzky, N. Crawhall, N. Dudley, J. Miranda Londoño,K. MacKinnon, K.R.848Redford, andT. Sandwith, 2012.MeetingAichi Target11:Whatdoes success look like for849protectedareasystems?PARKS18(1):23-36.850

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852

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APPENDIXI853

SimilaritiesandDifferencesBetweenOECMsandProtectedAreas854

All elements are equivalent except for the second (whether or not the site is855recognisedasaprotectedarea,withnatureconservationisitsprimarymanagement856objective).857

DraftOECMGuidelines RelevantCBDandIUCNGuidanceonProtectedAreas

1.Geographicallydefinedspace

Geographically defined space implies aspatially defined area with agreed anddemarcated borders, and includes land,inlandwaters,marineandcoastalareasor a combination of two or more ofthese.Theseborders can sometimesbedefined by physical features that moveover time, such as a river banks or seaice.

While the size of OECMs varies, theyshould be large enough to achieve the“in-situconservationofbiodiversity”,asdefinedbytheCBD.

A clearly defined geographical spaceincludes land, inlandwater,marine andcoastalareasoracombinationoftwoormore of these. A “space” has threedimensions,andthus includesaverticaldimension. The vertical dimension isimportant for both terrestrial (e.g. tocontrol air space) and marine (e.g. tocontrol activities over a reef). Clearlydefined”impliesaspatiallydefinedareawith agreed and demarcated borders.These borders can sometimes bedefined by physical features that moveover time (e.g., river banks) or bymanagement actions (e.g., agreed no-takezones).

Whilethesizeofprotectedareasvaries,they shouldbe largeenough toachievetheirconservationobjectives.

2.Notrecognisedasaprotectedarea

Areas that are already designated asprotected areas or lie within protectedareas should not also be counted asOECMs. While protected areas andOECMs are mutually exclusive at anypoint in time,bothprotectedareasandOECMs have value for biodiversityconservation and some OECMsmay berecognisedasprotectedareasovertime.

The IUCNdefinitionofaprotectedareais:Aclearlydefinedgeographical space,recognised, dedicated and managed,through legal or other effectivemeans,toachievethelong-termconservationofnature with associated ecosystemservicesandculturalvalues.

The CBD definition of a protected areais:ageographicallydefinedareawhichisdesignatedorregulatedandmanagedtoachievespecificconservationobjectives.

3.Governed Governedimpliesthatthearea isunderthe authority of a specified entity.OECMscanbegovernedunderthesamerangeofgovernance typesasprotectedareas, namely: governance bygovernments (at various levels); sharedgovernance (i.e. governance by variousrights-holders and stakeholderstogether); governance by private

IUCN envisages four distinct types ofgovernance: governance bygovernments (at various levels); sharedgovernance (i.e. governance by variousrights-holders and stakeholderstogether); governance by privateindividuals and organizations; andgovernance by indigenous peoples

27

individuals, organizationsor companies;and governance by indigenous peoplesand/orlocalcommunities.

Aswithprotectedareas,thegovernanceofOECMsshouldstrivetobe‘equitable’and reflect human rights normsrecognised in international and regionalhuman rights instruments and innational legislation. Any recognition ofOECMs should require the free, priorand informed consent of the relevantgoverningbodies.

and/orlocalcommunities.

4.Managed ‘Managed’ specifies that the area isbeing managed in a way that leads topositive biodiversity conservationresults. Thismeans that an area wherethere is no management regime is notan OECM. Thus areas of open oceanunder no management or control andareas currently in a natural or near-natural state should not be consideredas OECMs unless subject to an activemanagement regime that is sustainingits biodiversity value. ‘Managed’ caninclude a decision to leave the areauntouched.

Unlike protected areas, OECMs do notnecessarily require a predominantconservation objective, but there mustbe a direct causal link between a) thearea’s overall objective andmanagement and b) the in-situconservation of biodiversity over thelong-term.

The management of OECMs shouldinclude ‘effective means’ of control ofactivities that could impactbiodiversity,whether through legal measures orother means (such as customary lawsandsanctions).

Assumes some active steps to conservethe natural (and possibly other) valuesfor which the protected area wasestablished; note that ‘managed’ caninclude a decision to leave the areauntouched if this is the bestconservationstrategy.

‘Legaloreffectivemeans’inthecontextofprotectedareasmeansthatprotectedareas must either be gazetted (that is,recognised under statutory civil law),recognised through an internationalconvention or agreement, or elsemanaged through other effective butnon-gazetted means, such as throughrecognisedtraditionalrulesunderwhichcommunity conserved areas operate orthe policies of established non-governmentalorganizations.

6.Long-term OECMsareexpectedtobegovernedandmanaged over the long-term (i.e., inperpetuity) in ways that deliver the in-situconservationofbiodiversity.OECMsdo not result from short-term ortemporary management strategies. Forexample,afishingclosurewhichstaysinplace only until an overfished arearecovers, is not a long-term measure.Seasonal arrangements (e.g. sites formigratory bird species) may qualify asOECMs if they are managed long-termand contribute to year-round in-situ

Protected areas should be managed inperpetuity and not as a short-term ortemporary management strategy.Temporary measures, such as short-term grant-funded agricultural set-asides, rotations in commercial forestmanagement or temporary fishingprotection zones are not protectedareasasrecognisedbyIUCN.

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conservationofbiodiversity.

7.Effectiveandenduring

OECMs should be demonstrated to beeffective at delivering enduring in-situconservation of biodiversity. This mayincludestrictprotectionorcertainformsof sustainable management consistentwith the CBD definitions of “in-situconservation”and“biodiversity”.

Practical steps must to be in place formonitoringandreportingonOECMs.

Implies some level of [conservation]effectiveness.Although thePAcategorywill still be determined by objective,management effectiveness will berecorded on the World Database onProtected Areas and over time willbecome an important contributorycriterion in identification andrecognitionofprotectedareas.

8.In-situconservation

OECMsareexpectedtoconservespecieswithinbroaderecosystemsandhabitatsas opposed to focusing on a singlespeciesorgroupofspecies,withoutalsoprotectingthewiderenvironment.

The CBD defines ‘in-situ conservation’as:“theconservationofecosystemsandnatural habitats and the maintenanceand recovery of viable populations ofspecies in their natural surroundingsand, in the case of domesticated orcultivated species, in the surroundingswhere they have developed theirdistinctiveproperties”.

IUCN guidance on ‘conservation’ in thecontextofprotectedareasis:the in-situmaintenanceofecosystemsandnaturaland semi-natural habitats and of viablepopulations of species in their naturalsurroundings and, in the case ofdomesticated or cultivated species inthe surroundings where they havedevelopedtheirdistinctiveproperties.

9.Biodiversity

Given the explicit link in Target 11between OECMs and biodiversityconservationoutcomes,itisimplicitthatOECMs must achieve the effective andenduring in-situ conservation ofbiodiversity. The conservation values ofOECMsshouldbedescribedandtrackedovertime.

‘Biodiversity’ is defined by the CBD as:the variability among living organismsfrom all sources including, inter alia,terrestrial, marine and other aquaticecosystems and the ecologicalcomplexes of which they are part: thisincludes diversity within species,betweenspeciesandofecosystems.TheCBD further defines ‘ecosystem’ as: “adynamic complex of plant, animal andmicro-organism communities and theirnon-living environment interacting as afunctionalunit”.

IUCN guidance on protected areasreferences ‘nature’. Nature alwaysreferstobiodiversity,atgenetic,speciesand ecosystem level, and often alsorefers to geodiversity, landform andbroadernaturalvalues.

This includes ‘associated ecosystemservices’whicharerelatedtobutdonotinterfere with the aim of natureconservation.

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10.Ecosystemservices

Healthy and functioning ecosystemsprovide a range of services. Ecosystemservices include provisioning servicessuch as food and water; regulatingservices such as regulation of floods,drought, land degradation and disease;and supporting services such as soilformation and nutrient recycling.Management for these ecosystemserviceswill be a frequentdriver in therecognition of OECMs. Suchmanagement - for example for oneparticularecosystemservice-shouldnotimpact negatively on the site’sbiodiversityconservationvalues

‘Ecosystem services’ can includeprovisioning services such as food andwater; regulating services such asregulation of floods, drought, landdegradation, and disease; supportingservices such as soil formation andnutrient cycling; and cultural servicessuch as recreational, spiritual, religiousandothernon-materialbenefits.

11.Culturalandspiritualvalues

OECMs include areas where theprotection of key species and habitatsandmanagementofbiodiversitymaybeachieved as part of long-standing andtraditional cultural and spiritualpractices. In such cases, it will beessential to assure the recognition andprotectionoftheassociatedculturalandspiritual values and practices that leadto positive biodiversity outcomes.Conversely, management for culturaland spiritual practices within an OECMshould not impact negatively onbiodiversityconservationvalues.

Includes those cultural and spiritualvalues that do not interfere with theconservation outcome (all culturalvalues in a protected area shouldmeetthis criterion), including inparticular: a)those that contribute to conservationoutcomes(e.g., traditionalmanagementpractices on which key species havebecome reliant); and b) culturalpracticesthatmaythemselvesbeunderthreat.

858859860 861

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APPENDIXII862863TheBroadRelationshipBetweentheAichiTargetsandTarget11864(AdaptedfromLaffoleyetal,2017).865866

Target Text RelationshiptoTarget11

T3 By2020,atthelatest,incentives,includingsubsidies,harmfultobiodiversityareeliminated,phasedoutorreformedinordertominimiseoravoidnegativeimpacts,andpositiveincentivesfortheconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversityaredevelopedandapplied,consistentandinharmonywiththeConventionandotherrelevantinternationalobligations,takingintoaccountnationalsocio-economicconditions.

Positiveincentivesfortheconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversitythatresultinthearea-basedin-situconservationofnature,suchastaxincentivesforownersofprivatelyconservedareas,areexamplesofTarget3measuresthatalsocontributetotheachievementofTarget11.

T4 By2020,atthelatest,Governments,businessandstakeholdersatalllevelshavetakenstepstoachieveorhaveimplementedplansforsustainableproductionandconsumptionandhavekepttheimpactsofuseofnaturalresourceswellwithinsafeecologicallimits.

Sustainableproductionplans(T4measures)mayincludeunexploitedreference,‘insurancepolicy’,or‘seedsource’set-asideareas,whichhelptoensurethatuseofabroaderareaissustainable.Ifsuchset-asidesareeffectiveforthelong-termin-situconservationofbiodiversity,theymaycontributetoTarget11.

T5 By2020,therateoflossofallnaturalhabitats,includingforests,isatleasthalvedandwherefeasiblebroughtclosetozero,anddegradationandfragmentationissignificantlyreduced.

TheestablishmentofTarget11areasisoneimportantmeansofachievingTarget5.Establishingareasthatareeffectiveforthelong-termin-situconservationofnature,whetherprotectedareasorOECMs,canpreventlossofnaturalhabitats,anddegradationandfragmentationofecosystems,especiallyifsuchareasarewellmanaged.Inamarinecontextthismightbeparticularlyvalidinthecaseofhabitatssuchascoralreefs,seagrassbedsandsubmarinemounts.

T6 By2020allfishandinvertebratestocksandaquaticplantsaremanagedandharvestedsustainably,legallyandapplyingecosystem-basedapproaches,sothatoverfishingisavoided,recoveryplansandmeasuresareinplaceforalldepletedspecies,fisherieshavenosignificantadverseimpactsonthreatenedspeciesandvulnerableecosystemsandthe

Target11areascanhelpensurethatexploitationoftheelementsofbiodiversityinthewiderseascapeissustainableby:providingbenchmarksagainstwhichtheeffectsofmanagementdecisionscanbeevaluated;‘insurancepolicy’and‘seedsource’functionstoenablerecoveryfrommanagementfailures;and/orprovide‘spillover’benefitsinthewiderseascape.Speciesorhabitatconservationmeasureswhichapplybroadlyacrosswiderseascapesratherthantodistinctandwell-definedgeographicareaswhicharenotinplaceforthelong-

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impactsoffisheriesonstocks,speciesandecosystemsarewithinsafeecologicallimits.

term,shouldmaptoTarget6.SustainableuseofbiologicalresourcesmaybeanobjectiveforsomeTarget11areas.ThekeydifferencebetweenTarget11andTarget6area-basedmeasuresisthatTarget11areasachievethein-situconservationofnatureasawhole,andthisoutcomecannotbecompromisedbyalloweduses.

T7 By2020areasunderagriculture,aquacultureandforestryaremanagedsustainably,ensuringconservationofbiodiversity.

Target11areasembeddedwithinlandscapesmanagedprimarilyforagriculture,aquaculture,orforestrycanhelpensurethatsuchactivitiesdonotcauseirreversiblebiodiversitylossoverwiderlandscapesbyprovidingbenchmarksagainstwhichtheeffectsofmanagementdecisionscanbeevaluated.Theycanalsoprovide‘insurancepolicy’and‘seedsource’functionstoenablerecoveryfrommanagementfailures,‘spillover’benefits,andcontributionstoconnectivityinthewiderlandscape.

T9 By2020,invasivealienspeciesandpathwaysareidentifiedandprioritized,priorityspeciesarecontrolledoreradicated,andmeasuresareinplacetomanagepathwaystopreventtheirintroductionandestablishment.

Target11areaswithmanagementobjectivestomaintainorrestoreecologicalintegritymaybeafocusforTarget9measurestoeradicatealienspecies.

T10 By2015,themultipleanthropogenicpressuresoncoralreefs,andothervulnerableecosystemsimpactedbyclimatechangeoroceanacidificationareminimized,soastomaintaintheirintegrityandfunctioning.

Target11measurescanhavevalueinprotectingcoralreefsandothervulnerableecosystemsfromanthropogenicpressuressuchashabitatdegradationandspeciesoverexploitation.However,Target11measurescannot,ontheirown,fullyaddressthreatsfromclimatechangeandoceanacidification,whichnecessitatereductionsinglobalgreenhousegases

T12 By2020theextinctionofknownthreatenedspecieshasbeenpreventedandtheirconservationstatus,particularlyofthosemostindecline,hasbeenimprovedandsustained.

Target11measuresareamajortoolforpreventingextinctionandaidingrecoveryofthreatenedspecies,throughthelong-termin-situconservationofspeciesandtheirassociatedecosystems..Target12measuresfocusedonsinglespeciesandwhicharenotarea-based,notlong-term,ornotachievedthroughin-situconservationofbiodiversityasawhole,arenotalsoTarget11measures.Target11measurescanpreventextinctionandaidrecoveryofthreatenedspecies,thuscontributingtoTarget12.

T14 By2020,ecosystemsthatprovideessentialservices,includingservicesrelatedtowater,andcontributetohealth,livelihoodsandwellbeing,arerestoredandsafeguarded,takingintoaccounttheneedsofwomen,indigenousandlocal

Target11measurescanbeameansofachievingTarget14byprotectingecosystemsthatprovideavarietyofservices.SomemeasuresaimedatachievingTarget14mayalsoberecognisedascontributionstoTarget11iftheyareachievedthroughthelong-termin-situconservationofbiodiversity,regardlessoftheirprimaryobjectives.In

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communities,andthepoorandvulnerable.

amarinecontextthismightbemaintenanceofcoralreefsormangrovesaspartofcoastalprotectionagainststormsandoceansurge,forexample.

T15 By2020,ecosystemresilienceandthecontributionofbiodiversitytocarbonstockshasbeenenhanced,throughconservationandrestoration,includingrestorationofatleast15percentofdegradedecosystems,therebycontributingtoclimatechangemitigationandadaptationandtocombatingdesertification.

Target11areas,becauseoftheirgenerallyhigherlevelsofecologicalintegritythanexploitedlandscapesandseascapes,areoftenmoreresilient,morediverse,andstoremorecarbon.Protectingintactareas,andprotectingandrestoringdegradedareas,aretwowaysTarget11measurescancontributetoTarget15.Target15measuresthatachievetheirobjectivesthroughthelong-terminsituconservationofbiodiversitymayberecognisedasTarget11areas.

T18 By2020,thetraditionalknowledge,innovationsandpracticesofindigenousandlocalcommunitiesrelevantfortheconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversity,andtheircustomaryuseofbiologicalresources,arerespected,subjecttonationallegislationandrelevantinternationalobligations,andfullyintegratedandreflectedintheimplementationoftheConventionwiththefullandeffectiveparticipationofindigenousandlocalcommunities,atallrelevantlevels.

Target11measurescancontributetoTarget18byhelpingensurethattheareasinwhichtraditionalknowledge,innovations,andpracticesofindigenousandlocalcommunitieshavedeveloped,andwheretheircustomaryusesofbiologicalresourcesoccur,remainecologicalintactandabletosustainsuchactivitiesforthelongterm.ConverselysometraditionallymanagedindigenousareasmaycontributetoTarget11,forexamplesomesacrednaturalsitesthatarenotpartoftheformalprotectedareanetwork.

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APPENDIXIII870

WorldDatabaseonProtectedAreas871

All data on OECMs should be submitted to the World Conservation Monitoring872CentretobeaddedtotheWorldDatabaseonProtectedAreas(WDPA).873

Whatistheworlddatabaseonprotectedareas?874

The WDPA is the most comprehensive global database of marine and terrestrial875protected and conserved areas, comprising both spatial data (i.e.,boundaries and876points) with associated attribute data (i.e., tabular information), collected in a877standardisedway. Source information is alsomaintained for all datasets submitted878(Figure 5.1). The WDPA is updated on a monthly basis and made available and879downloadableonlinethroughProtectedPlanet(www.protectedplanet.net),withthe880exceptionofdatathathaverestrictionsplacedonthembydataproviders.881

TheWDPAistheofficialdatasourceusedforseveralglobalreportingmechanisms,882developing indicators and tracking progress towards protected areas and OECM883targets, including for the CBD Strategic Plan Aichi Biodiversity targets and theUN884SustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs).885

TheWDPA User Manual (UNEP-WCMC, 2016) provides detailed information and886guidance about the data held within the WDPA, including its history, how it is887collated,managedanddistributed,thedatastandard,andsupportonhowitshould888beinterpretedandusedforanalysesandresearch.889

Reporting,datacollectionandvalidation890

1. Although anyone can submit data to the WDPA, the governance and/or891managementauthorityfortheprotectedarea(s)and/orOECMhavepriority892over data submissions of the same area(s) from other sources. When the893governanceauthorityisnotabletoprovideanupdateduetolackofcapacity,894lackofdataorothercircumstance,theymaysuggestanotherprovidertobe895contacted for an update. All sites must meet the IUCN definition of a896protectedareaor‘othereffectivearea-basedconservationmeasure’.897

OnlyoneversionofanyprotectedareaorOECMisstoredintheWDPA.898

AlldataintheWDPAmustmeettheWDPAdatastandards.Standardsareimportant899toensureall information issupplied inacommonformatthat is interoperableand900useful for awide variety of reporting and analytical purposes. There are four key901requirementsthatneedtobemettocomplywiththeWDPAdatastandards:902

1. All sites should meet the IUCN definition of a protected area or ‘other903effectivearea-basedconservationmeasure’.904

2. SpatialdatafromGeographicInformationSystems(GIS)andanassociatedlist905ofstandardisedattributesmustbeprovided.906

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3. Sourceofinformationmustbeprovidedtoensurethatownershipofthedata907ismaintainedandtraceable.908

4. TheWDPADataContributorAgreementmustbesignedtoensurethatthere909isawrittenrecordofthedataprovideragreeingthatthedatabeincludedin910theWPDAandthetermsforwhichitismadeavailable.911

UNEP-WCMC reserves the right to verify all dataprovided to theWDPA toensure912that:1)thedataisstandardisedtomakeitcompatiblewiththeWDPA,and;2)the913datasubmittedisverifiedbyanauthoritativesource.Basicprinciplesforverification914oftheWDPAdataaresummarizedinTable1.915

Table1:BasicPrinciplesforVerificationoftheWDPAData916Datasubmittedbygovernmentalsources

In linewith theofficialmandates for theWDPA,data submittedby governmentalsourceswillbeconsideredasstateverifiedandwillbeincludedintheWDPAafterdataformattingandqualitycontrol.

Datasubmittedbynon-governmentalsources

Incoming data from non-government data providers undergoes a verificationprocessbeforebeingaddedtotheWDPA.Datacanbeverifiedeitherbystateverifiersorbyexpertverifiers,dependingonthewishesofthedataprovider.Ifneitherpartycanverifythedata,itdoesnotentertheWDPA.

Resolutionofconflictingdata

Wherethereisconflictbetweentheopinionsofthedataprovideranddataverifier(for example, disputes over the correct boundary of a site), thiswill be discussedwithbothpartiesinanattempttoreachasolution.Dataprovidersaremadeawareoftheverificationprocessbeforesubmittingdata,andarekept informedof itsprogress. Incaseswherenoresolutioncanbe found,datacannotentertheWDPA.

Frequencyofdataverification

UNEP-WCMCwill aim to reviewExpertVerifieddataona five-yearlybasis.Duringthis process, the data provider is contacted and asked to confirm that the dataremains accurate. If the data provider cannot be reached, the data verifier iscontacted.Ifthereisanegativeresponse,orifnoresponseisreceivedwithinfiveyears,thenthedataisremovedfromtheWDPA.

917UsingtheWDPAtomeasureprogressagainstTargets918919UNEP-WCMC uses data in the WDPA to measure progress against international920conservation goals, such as Aichi Biodiversity Target 11. For this purpose, three921statisticsaregenerated,fornational,regionalandgloballevel:922

• Protectedareacoverage;923• OECMcoverage;and924• Combinedcoverage.925

926Tocalculatecoverage,UNEP-WCMCremovesoverlapsbetweensites,andexcludes927certaincategoriesofsites(thosethatareproposed,reportedaspointsandUNESCO928ManandBiosphereReserves).Althoughconservedareasandprotectedareaswould929not normally occupy the same area (see Section 3.2 b), there may be occasional930cases of overlap. In such cases, the areaof overlap is treated as a protected area931

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only.Thismethodavoidsdouble-counting.FurtherinformationonhowUNEP-WCMC932calculatescoveragestatisticsisavailablehere:933https://protectedplanet.net/c/calculating-protected-area-coverage934935MonitoringOECMs936937ProtectedAreasManagementEffectiveness(PAME)will inmanycasesbethemost938pragmaticwaytomeasuretheeffectivenessofOECMs,especiallywherethePAME939tools are supported by additional information on biodiversity outcomes. Over 40940PAME tools have been developed for a review of PAME (see Leverington et al.941(2010)).TheadoptionofexistingPAMEsystemsmeansthatitwillbeeasierforthe942authoritytoreportonthemonitoringtoUNEP-WCMC,andthatassessmentswillbe943inastandardisedformatbetweensitesandovertime.944945Some basic principles for an OECM monitoring program to track effective946conservationaredescribedin1-4below.Steps1-3canalsobeusedtosupportthe947decision as to whether a site is an OECM, or remains an OECM on repeat948assessments).949

1. Describe all significant biodiversity values on the site,with a record of the950sources of information to support this. Consider representativeness,951intactness, landscape context, rare, threatened and significant species and952habitatsandecologicalintegrity.953

2. Nominate thepriority attributes, anddocument their currentandpotential954uses.Usethis informationto identifypressuresandthreats to thesite,and955help to identify stakeholders to engage in the site governance and956managementplanning.957

3. Review the management inputs and measures undertaken on the site to958assess their effectiveness, whether they are sufficient to maintain the959biodiversity features, and if they cover the full scopeofbiodiversityon the960site,andaddresscontrollablethreatstoin-situconservationofbiodiversity961

4. Reviewtheeffectivenessintermsoftheconservationoutcomesonthesite,962throughmeasuringstatusofpriorityattributes,settingandreviewingtargets963and indicators that measure status and trends over time, measuring964mitigationofthreats,monitoringandmanagingadaptively.965

Reporting to the Global Database on Protected Areas Management Effectiveness966(GD-PAME)toUNEP-WCMCfollowsasimilarapproachtothatoutlinedaboveforthe967WDPA.Foranyqueriesregardingreporting,collation,use,orprocessingoftheGD-968PAMEpleasecontactprotectedareas@unep-wcmc.org.969970