Conservation outside of protected areas?! 🦁👩🏽🌾
Acronyms won't save the planet, but OECMs might
Dear ReWilder,
Imagine a world where we could protect biodiversity beyond the walls of protected national parks…
So, what are OECMs?
Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures are defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD 2018) 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.”
Why are they Beneficial?
As eyes on the ground, communities play an important role in wildlife monitoring. They are also integral to the ongoing protection of biodiversity and water resources. Community owned land makes up a large proportion of land worldwide and community participation in conservation efforts is therefore critical. Engaging communities to actualise the socioeconomic benefits related to their land will encourage better stewardship of land and the associated biodiversity. The OECM framework creates an enabling environment for people living adjacent to protected areas to realise the potential socio-economic benefits that may come with preserving ecosystem services. OECMs facilitate the inclusion of a diverse range of stakeholders who are contributing to area-based conservation.
OECMs also provide an opportunity for stakeholders (including traditional authorities, government, business owners and conservation agencies) to collaborate to find mutually beneficial solutions to biodiversity preservation and restoration. OECMs offer an alternative governance structure to attract long-term conservation finance, supporting nature-based economies that bring economic benefits to the communities.
Here are some case studies that we filmed as a series to promote the concept of OECM to policy makers:
Dixie Community Film
This film is based around the Dixie community, which is adjacent to protected areas that are open to the Kruger National Park (Manyeleti and Sabi Sands). The site is utilised as rangelands for community cattle herders as well as a source of natural resources such as fire wood and medicinal plants by the local community. We met Cliff, who was the local conservation legend of Dixie, the chief's son, and with his commitment and love for the land, he is going to take this place very far.
Without community buy-in, conservation efforts stand little chance of success. OECMs seek to address this by engaging and partnering with local people, as well as ensuring landscapes are well-governed and managed in ways that deliver long-term, in-situ socio-economic solutions for communities and landowners.
WITS University Rural Campus Film
OECMs can reach so far and wide, with students contributing to this concept from all around the world. The site is a university field campus focusing on ecological and social research and training in the area. With the exception of the research facility buildings and roads, the majority of the site is managed as an intact savannah habitat, while being used for academic research purposes.
Belfast Wetlands Film
This may seem as a contradictory one, but I think it’s one of the best examples of how inclusive OECMs can be. No matter what commercial process takes place on your land, there is always the opportunity to conserve and make a difference to the impact on the land.
This film was based around the SAFCOL Belfast Wetland which is based in-between commercial forestry. This site is a State Forestry site and is 1221 hectares in size. The intact natural grassland and wetland area occurring between state-owned commercial forestry plantations was assessed as an OECM.
OECMs Overview Film
Still don’t get it? Don’t worry, it is slightly complex, but have a look at this film which provides an overview that focuses on what an OECM is and the kind of potential OECMs that exist across governance types. A sort of wrap up on all the above films, with a little more technicalities.
What can we do? 🤷🏽♀️
If you live in an area that would benefit from OECMs, please get in touch with the IUCN
Educate your family and friends on this exciting way in which we can engage with biodiversity outside of protected areas
Area-based conservation remains under-resourced, often overly reliant on a single income source such as donor-funding or government budgets. The development of new, innovative, and resilient sources of finance is critical if area-based conservation such as protected areas (PAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) are to reach their full potential.
Recognition of OECMs within communities provides the opportunity to engage and support new stakeholders and more equitable partnerships in global conservation efforts, highlighting the diversity of contributions to conservation globally
News from ReWild Africa 🐾
Enjoy a cuppa and take a listen to this podcast on Spotify with Sam and Vaslemoy Klavenes: Creating positive impact through film, education and experiences
Sam also recently hosted a webinar with the Sovereign Nature Initiative called ‘Reconnecting with the More-than-Human’, take a listen here.
ReWild Africa is on People’s Weather DSTV - we are on channel 180 on Wednesday and Sunday from 6pm - 8pm - check it out!
We are looking for an editing intern to join our team - please have a look at the application form here
Wild Regards,
Team ReWild Africa 🐘