Opportunities, Challenges and Policy Analysis of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) for Biodiversity Conservation

Biodiversity is the material basis for human survival and development, and it provides rich and diverse food, energy, medicine, and genetic resources for humankind. However, affected by anthropogenic activities, biodiversity loss has become one of the most significant risks and threats facing human health and well-being. From the "Aichi Biodiversity Targets" to the "Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework" (hereinafter referred to as the "Post-2020 GBF"), the proportion of protected areas has always been one of the most important and remarkable targets under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Other area-based protection measures (OECMs) is an emerging international important issue, which has become an indispensable supplement to protected areas, and has important practical significance for promoting in-situ conservation and the diversification of conservation methods. Through collecting materials referring to the original proposal, concept formation, development history, and research progress of OECMs worldwide, the differences and connections between OECMs and protected areas have been analyzed in-depth, and the challenges that OECMs face in the fields of scientific basis, multilateral consultations, and capital investment have been revealed. On this basis, from clearly identifying the necessity of OECMs, deeply participating in the formation of OECMs rules and standards, balancing the scientificity and the effectiveness of OECMs, strengthening department planning and management, suggestions on the implementation of OECMs are put forward in order to scientifically identify the measures in line with China's national conditions, further support the achievement of the Post-2020 GBF, and also provide important support for the realization of protected areas related targets.