China OECM is Getting Ready for Scaling Out: The Road to Expansion

This initiative not only marks a milestone in IUCN’s dedication to OECM localization in China, but also signifies the crucial support from esteemed experts. IUCN will continue to lead the way in promoting OECMs in China, facilitating the production of localized guidance and mechanisms. It also aims to foster multi-stakeholder participation while strengthening communication between Chinese experts and the international OECM communities.

IUCN commenced the writing process of a comprehensive Chinese OECM Stocktaking Report in September 2023, as part of the work plan. Alongside this, four advisory meetings were organized to gather insights and discuss the challenges and reflections on OECM status in China.

Discussion on the draft of China OECM stocktaking report

Photo: IUCN China office

After substantial effort and collaboration, the first Chinese OECM report, titled “A Stocktaking Report on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECM) in China (Version 1.0)”, was completed in December 2023. This report, apart from a concise overview of OECM, offers an in-depth analysis of OECM-related policies in both territorial and marine areas of China. Furthermore, it showcases 21 potential OECM cases, spanning primary, secondary and auxiliary conservation, and categories these cases based on the four governance types identified by IUCN. The report concludes with a surveyed outcome on the localized Chinese terminology of OECM, an endeavor to establish a national OECM hierarchy consistent with China’s protection policy, and reflections on the next steps to further OECM efforts.

Case numbers falling within each category listed in the report

Source: A Stocktaking Report on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECM) in China (Version 1.0)

Volunteers from local NGOs engaged in environment monitoring, habitat maintenance and public awareness services at the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing, a potential OECM governed by government.

Photo: Olympic Forest Park

Volunteer rangers from local communities checking monitoring devices in a golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) reserve in Yunnan Province, a potential OECM governed by LPLC

Photo: Shan Shui Conservation Center

Simultaneously, the IUCN report, “Site-level tool for identifying other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs)”, has been successfully localized and translated into Chinese. This localized version will greatly facilitate the future screening and identification of potential OECMs in China.

IUCN China will be organizing an online “Exchange Workshop on OECMs in China, Japan and Korea” recently, in the first quarter of 2024. As China prepares to scale out its OECM efforts, these achievements serve as a solid foundation for further advancements. With the strong alliance formed by the OECM China Expert Working Group and the support of IUCN, China is primed to take significant strides in the realm of conservation and keep striving forward mainstreaming this as a part of Target 3 (30x30) approach under the Kuming Montreal – Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) cementing the OECM process and simultaneously sharing their experiences and engaging on OECM knowledge with other proximate countries.

Contributed by (for further details contact):

Yiyun SUN 孙艺芸

Programme Officer 项目及宣传事务经理

China Office 世界自然保护联盟中国代表处

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

5-1-72 Tayuan Diplomatic Compound, No.1 Xindong Rd

Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100600, CHINA

中国北京市朝阳区新东路1号塔园外交公寓5-1-72室，100600