As countries work to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), increasing attention is being paid to how area-based conservation can support biodiversity while also benefiting human and animal health. The 1Health4Nature webinar, Beyond Protected Areas: understanding the role of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), held on 9 December 2025, explored how OECMs can complement formal protected areas by recognising effective conservation in working landscapes. In Central Asia, where rangelands, cultural landscapes, and community-managed natural resources are crucial, OECMs contribute to ecological connectivity, resilience, and One Health outcomes.
The Convention on Biological Diversity recognises OECMs as geographically defined areas delivering long-term, effective in situ biodiversity conservation, even if conservation is not the primary management objective. These areas can include community-managed pastures, sacred natural sites, sustainably managed forests, wildlife migration corridors, and cultural landscapes shaped by traditional land use. OECMs provide a way to acknowledge existing conservation outcomes without altering local practices, while respecting the values and rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities.
OECMs are central to achieving GBF Target 3, which calls for at least 30% of land, freshwater, and ocean areas to be effectively conserved by 2030. They enable countries to recognise the contributions of Indigenous peoples, local communities, pastoralists, and private actors, whose traditional knowledge and sustainable resource use help maintain biodiversity. However, uptake remains limited due to knowledge gaps, technical capacity constraints, and insufficient incentives for custodians, highlighting the need for targeted guidance, capacity-building, and support.
Global reporting ensures visibility and accountability for OECMs. Platforms like Protected Planet collect and share data on both protected areas and OECMs, helping track progress toward GBF Target 3, identify gaps in ecological representation, and strengthen conservation planning. Reporting an OECM requires the consent of the governing authority, particularly in cases involving Indigenous peoples and local communities, alongside documentation, verification, and adherence to data standards.
The One Health approach underscores the interdependence of ecosystem, animal, and human health. Intact and well-managed ecosystems can regulate ecological processes and reduce disease transmission risks, while degraded landscapes heighten zoonotic threats. OECMs are particularly valuable in areas where humans and nature interact daily, maintaining ecological integrity while supporting livelihoods. In Central Asia, climate change, land degradation, overgrazing, and habitat fragmentation pose growing risks, making OECMs a practical tool for biodiversity conservation, zoonotic risk reduction, sustainable resource use, and climate adaptation.
OECMs offer cross-sectoral benefits: they expand conservation networks for environmental authorities, help health and veterinary institutions identify landscapes that reduce disease risk, reinforce sustainable resource use for communities, and provide entry points for development partners to invest in landscape management, climate adaptation, and rural resilience. National examples, such as Japan’s 30×30 alliance involving over 1,000 organisations, illustrate how broad coalitions can support effective, whole-of-society conservation strategies.
Site-level pilots in Kazakhstan demonstrate the practical application of OECMs. Initial efforts focused on hunting areas, but assessments expanded to buffer zones, border protection areas, state forests, wetlands, and semi-natural grasslands under pastoral use. Challenges include the cost and logistics of site assessments, the need for trained assessors, long-term governance mechanisms, and strategies to manage competing land-use pressures. These lessons highlight the importance of scalable methods, capacity development, and clear guidance for successful implementation.
Through the 1Health4Nature initiative, IUCN and partners are strengthening technical capacity, cross-sectoral collaboration, and understanding of how OECMs contribute to biodiversity conservation and public health outcomes. Recognising effective conservation wherever it occurs, especially in landscapes deeply intertwined with communities, represents a practical, forward-looking strategy for supporting ecological connectivity, resilience, and the One Health approach in Central Asia.
