Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs)

Protected areas are fundamental building blocks for nature conservation strategies. A protected area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values IUCN Definition, 2008. They have a wide range of management aims and governance mechanisms. The ‘IUCN Protected Area Management Categories’ is a global framework, recognised by the CBD, for categorising the variety of protected area management types. The intent of the IUCN Protected Area Management Categories system is to create a common understanding of protected areas, both within and between countries. The categories are recognised by many national governments as the global standard for defining and recording protected areas and as such are increasingly being incorporated into government legislation.