Introduction to Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs)

In response to the urgent need to conserve at least 30% of terrestrial, inland waters, and coastal marine areas globally, the other effective area-based conservation measures (OECM) framework is emerging as a critical tool to complement protected areas efforts and support global conservation goals.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted in December 2022, calls on countries to ensure and enable effectively conserved and managed protected and conserved areas, including OECMs.

Governments, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and other non-state actors are increasingly seeking guidance to implement the OECM framework in a way that enhances the equity, effectiveness, and coverage of conservation efforts, under a range of governance and management regimes.

IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas (IUCN-WCPA) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are pleased to offer this free, self-paced course based on the IUCN Guidance on Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures. Designed for use across diverse contexts, the course supports participants in understanding and applying the OECM framework defined by the CBD to strengthen biodiversity conservation efforts around the world.

The course introduces the foundational concepts and practical steps involved in advancing enabling conditions, identifying, reporting, monitoring, and strengthening other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). Based on the official IUCN guidance resulting from the CBD OECM framework, this course presents general principles, key criteria, and globally applicable best practices for OECM recognition across diverse governance and management types.

Through real-world examples and context-sensitive case studies, learners will explore how OECMs contribute to biodiversity conservation alongside protected areas and Indigenous and traditional territories while supporting national commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

This course is designed primarily for conservation practitioners, policymakers, researchers, community leaders, and others engaged in area-based conservation. It is also accessible to a general audience with an interest in expanding and strengthening their knowledge of OECMs.

A certificate will be awarded to participants who complete all course requirements.