Conserved Areas at the Convention on Biological Diversity

The IUCN-WCPA Task Force on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) held a side event on 11 December at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 21st meting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice the to provide CBD Parties, Indigenous peoples, local communities and others a background to the issues, an update on the Task Force’s work and to look ahead. Kathy MacKinnon (WCPA Chair and Task Force Co-Chair) opened the event by explaining that Parties to the CBD had provided comments on the draft Guidelines on Recognising and Reporting OECMs and the Task Force was now working to integrate those inputs. Sarat Babu Gidda (CBD Secretariat) underscored the importance of OECMs to the achievement of Target 11 and to the post-2020 Biodiversity Framework. Harry Jonas (Task Force Co-Chair) presented on the Task Force’s work to date and set out the definition of an OECM and the accompanying guidance. Stephen Woodley (WCPA and Task Force member) presented on the Canadian experience of developing national-level guidance on OECMs. In the ensuing discussion, participants asked a number of questions including relating to the linkages between human rights and OECMs, the Satoyama Initiative and relating to the drafters’ intention when developing Target 11.