Recommendation on OECM assessment: Consider including the level of fragmentation of the larger territorial unit

Abstract

To meet the objectives of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 3 to effectively conserve and manage at least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine areas by 2030, the number of high-quality sites that are important for biodiversity will need to increase. Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) are increasingly recognised globally and are expected to play a significant role towards meeting GBF Target 3. Following a decision adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2018, the assessment of new OECM candidate sites can be achieved by applying an IUCN site-level tool published in 2023 based on eight criteria. The criteria do not specify a minimum size for OECM candidate sites. Here we suggest that the CBD Parties consider a metric on the fragmentation level of an OECM candidate site's larger territorial unit to help define the minimum size of this site, and we apply the metric to a case study in the EU. We believe this would be a realistic and practical approach and would give incentives for CBD Parties to assess potential new OECM sites even in highly fragmented territorial units.