IUCN WCPA Technical Note 12 : FAQs on Establishing Marine OECMS under the CBD
Decision 14/8 of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) established the definition and criteria for “Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures” (OECMs). In that decision, agreed to by all parties, the IUCN was invited to assist in identifying OECMs and in applying the scientific and technical advice. To that end IUCN’s World Commission of Protected Areas (WCPA) has developed two key documents. These documents also reflect CBD decision 15/4, known as Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF
The OECM technical guidance and site identification tool apply to all ecosystems, including marine. However, in response to a high level of interest and questions from parties to the CBD around marine OECMs, WCPA has prepared this additional information based on key questions received on marine ecosystems.