Towards Building Understanding about OECMs in South Africa

Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are integrated within the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted by parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2023. According to Target 3 embedded within the Global Biodiversity Framework, states shall “ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas, and of marine and coastal areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures”. While protected areas are a well-established and understood area-based conservation measure, OECMs are not. Both can however count towards what is commonly known as the 30x30 target. The international community has over the past five years introduced various guideline documents seeking to demystify OECMs, and the South African National Biodiversity Institute together with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment recently convened an OECM Bootcamp in late November 2023 seeking to build common understanding of the potential role of OECMs in the South African context amongst all relevant stakeholders. One of the sessions focussed on the role of law and policy in facilitating the recognition and securing the long-term effectiveness and contribution of OECMs towards ensuring biodiversity conservation. Professor Alexander Paterson from IMEL opened this session of the OECM Bootcamp with a presentation titled “Law and OECMs: Understanding the Links, Opportunities and Constraints”. He also participated as a discussant in the subsequent session unpacking South Africa’s relevant law and policy framework. While various legal mechanisms are available within the country’s legislation to facilitate the recognition of OECMs, there seemed to be consensus that the introduction of some additional regulatory framework would bring much needed clarity, certainty and consistency.