Making Sense of Aichi Target 11
“Other Effective Area-based
Conservation Measures”
David MacKinnon, Robert Hélie, Jacques Perron, Tom Beechey,
Jessica Elliott, Claudia Haas, Jean Langlois, Chris Lemieux
(With support from CCEA & Environment Canada)
Overview
• What are Aichi Target 11 “other effective
area-based conservation measures”
(OECMs)?
• What traits are needed for areas to
effectively conserve biodiversity?
• Can standardized criteria be developed to
make reporting on OECMs meaningful?
• What are the risks of having no standards
for OECMs?
Identifying Aichi Target 11 Areas in Canada
• All areas should “improve the status
of biodiversity by safeguarding
ecosystems, species and genetic
diversity” (Goal C, Strategic Plan for
Biodiversity 2011-2020)
• CCEA and partners have developed a
science-based screening tool for
Canadian Aichi Target 11 areas
Using the tool
• The screening tool
allows areas or
measures to be
compared against
criteria for
conservation
effectiveness
• Play the video to
see how the tool
works (5 minutes)
• Move pointer over embedded
video to reveal Play button
Sample Outcomes from Screening Tool
A Canadian
National Park
A Canadian Land
Trust Property A Canadian
Water SupplyA Canadian
Protection Area
Seasonal Haddock A Canadian
Fishery Closure Aboriginal ICCA
A Case for Standards
• Science-based, consensus-based
standardization in definition and criteria
for OECMs should precede recognition in
global accounting.
• Filling Target 11 with areas of limited
conservation effectiveness risks not
achieving the intended outcomes of the
SPFB 2011-2020.
• Lack of standards for OECMs could, in
effect, create new low standards, and
undermine existing well-conserved areas.
An inspiring solution?
Innovative and effective
•
•
Consensus-based, science-based guidance on traits that help define Protected
Areas and OECMs for Target 11 reporting.
A model approach for making reporting and comparisons meaningful.
Evidence of implementation and impact
•
Intended to be applied by Canadian conservation agencies and organizations.
Applied elsewhere or more broadly
•
Relevant wherever efforts to ‘fill’ Target 11 with measures of limited
conservation effectiveness undermine the achievement of all aspects of Target
11 through expanded conservation efforts.
What makes it work?
Components that lead to success
•
•
•
Neutral, science-based forum which includes all stakeholders.
Constant communication and consensus-based decision making leads to
decisions that can be supported.
Approach could be scaled up (e.g., global task force level).
Enabling factors
•
•
Supportive agencies, organizations, and partners.
Willingness of participants to share their expertise and experience.