Progress developing the concept of other effective area-based conservation measures

Area of Science:

• Conservation Science
• Environmental Policy
• Biodiversity Management

Background:

• The introduction of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in 2010 marked a significant policy shift, expanding conservation beyond formal protected areas.
• Despite their potential, conservation science and policy have been slow to integrate and evaluate OECMs.
• The global push to protect 30% of Earth by 2030 necessitates evidence-based guidance for OECM identification and monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize current knowledge on OECMs by evaluating the peer-reviewed literature.
• To identify challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned from studies assessing OECM effectiveness.
• To highlight scientific gaps hindering the operationalization and evaluation of OECMs.

Main Methods:

• A thematic analysis of 105 peer-reviewed studies mentioning OECMs.
• Consolidation and synthesis of existing knowledge on OECM concept development.
• Identification of studies evaluating OECM implementation and biodiversity outcomes.

Main Results:

• Most studies only superficially mention OECMs, with limited evidence on materialized risks or benefits.
• Few studies identified potential OECMs, and case studies were rare.
• Evaluations of existing OECMs were critical, and studies on conservation outcomes were scarce, emphasizing case-by-case assessment.

Conclusions:

• Significant scientific gaps exist in operationalizing and evaluating OECMs.
• Current literature provides insufficient evidence for judging OECM effectiveness.
• Robust scientific research is crucial to realize the biodiversity benefits promised by OECMs.