Area-based Conservation Research Articles

Establishing a protected area network in Xinlong with other effective area-based conservation measures.

Protected areas (PAs) are pivotal to biodiversity conservation, yet their efficacy is compromised by insufficient funding and management. So-called other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) present a paradigm shift and address PA limitations. Such measures can expand conservation areas, enhance connectivity, and improve the existing system. To assess the conservation status of biodiversity in Tibetan cultural areas in China, we investigated the spatial distribution of wildlife vulnerable to human disturbance (large- and medium-sized mammals and terrestrial birds) in Xinlong, a traditional Tibetan cultural area. In particular, we compared a PA (Xionglongxi Nature Reserve) and OECMs targeting species conservation. We also investigated the relationship of wildlife with human temporal and spatial activities. The OECMs complemented areas not covered by PA, especially in rich understory biodiversity regions. More species in OECMs tolerated human presence than species in the PA. Existing biodiversity reserves failed to cover areas of high conservation value in Tibet and offered limited protection capacity. Expanding PAs and identifying OECMs improved Xinlong's system by covering most biodiversity hotspots. Building on the tradition of wildlife conservation in Tibet, harnessing OECMs may be an effective means of augmenting biodiversity conservation capacity. We recommend further evaluation of OECMs effectiveness and coverage in Tibetan area as a way to enhance the current PA system.

Clarifying ‘long-term’ for protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs): why only 25 years of ‘intent’ does not qualify

The concept of ‘long-term’ is a key part of the definitions of both protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). Draft principles for OECMs in Australia developed by the Australian Government propose a minimum period for OECMs of 25 years, where a landholder is not able to commit to in-perpetuity conservation. The proposal suggests this is consistent with IUCN Guidelines for Privately Protected Areas. As authors of the Guidelines for Privately Protected Areas we contend however that Australia’s proposed OECM guideline suggesting 25 years of “intention” to deliver biodiversity outcomes is ‘long-term’ is not supported by IUCN guidelines. Furthermore for protected areas, Australia has a long-established definition of ‘long-term’ – specifically a minimum timeframe of 99 years is required if permanent protection is not possible – embedded in both national policy and legal agreements. As national governments rapidly seek to define OECMs in response to the raised ambitions of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, there will be increasing interest in what counts towards Target 3. Ultimately, more land managed for conservation is good and all forms of area-based conservation should be encouraged. However, not all forms of area-based conservation qualify for inclusion in Target 3. Long-term intent and outcomes are fundamental, as outlined in the definitions of protected areas and OECMs.

Clarifying 'long-term' for protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs): why only 25 years of 'intent' does not qualify

The concept of 'long-term' is a key part of the definitions of both protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). Draft principles for OECMs in Australia developed by the Australian Government propose a minimum period for OECMs of 25 years, where a landholder is not able to commit to in-perpetuity conservation. The proposal suggests this is consistent with IUCN Guidelines for Privately Protected Areas. As authors of the Guidelines for Privately Protected Areas we contend however that Australia's proposed OECM guideline suggesting 25 years of "intention" to deliver biodiversity outcomes is 'long-term' is not supported by IUCN guidelines. Furthermore for protected areas, Australia has a long-established definition of 'long-term' - specifically a minimum timeframe of 99 years is required if permanent protection is not possible - embedded in both national policy and legal agreements. As national governments rapidly seek to define OECMs in response to the raised ambitions of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, there will be increasing interest in what counts towards Target 3. Ultimately, more land managed for conservation is good and all forms of area-based conservation should be encouraged. However, not all forms of area-based conservation qualify for inclusion in Target 3. Long-term intent and outcomes are fundamental, as outlined in the definitions of protected areas and OECMs.

Developing Statements of Compliance for UK protected areas and 'other effective area-based conservation measures'

The Protected Areas Working Group of the IUCN National Committee for the UK assessed 23 types of designation of land and sea for biodiversity conservation against IUCN definitions of 'protected area' and 'other effective area-based conservation measures'. This assessment supersedes Statements of Compliance published in 2014, reassigns several categories on the basis of new information and understanding, and provides guidance to UK and devolved governments, and their agencies, on which types of sites should be incorporated within the Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3 total. There is a need for urgent investment in improving the management effectiveness of all sites considered to ensure they can all effectively contribute to the achievement of UK's 30x30 target.

A cost-effective approach to identify conservation priority for 30 × 30 biodiversity target on the premise of food security

There is a growing consensus on expanding protected and conserved areas for biodiversity conservation. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain where to expand conserved areas as well as what appropriate management modalities to choose. Moreover, conserved areas expansion should be balanced with crop-related food security challenges. We developed a framework to identify cost-effective areas for expanding protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), and applied it to China. By combining templates for biodiversity conservation priorities at global scale and the priority conservation areas based on 2413 vertebrates' extinction risk in China, we identified areas with high biodiversity conservation value. We then categorized the priority areas according to human impact, indicating the potential cost of management. As a result of combining the two aspects above, we identified the most cost-effective areas for expanding protected areas and OECMs while excluding both the current and predicted croplands that can be used for food security. The results show that China could expand its protected areas to 22.81 % of the country's land area and establish OECMs in areas accounting for 9.82 % and 17.37 % of the country's land area in a cost-effective approach in two scenarios. In the ambitious scenario, protected and conserved areas would account for a maximum of 40.18 % of terrestrial area, with an average 62.67 % coverage of the 2413 species' suitable habitat. To achieve the goals of protected and conserved areas in Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, countries could apply this framework to identify their protected areas and OECM expansion priorities.

An actor-centered, scalable land system typology for addressing biodiversity loss in the world’s tropical dry woodlands

Land use is a key driver of the ongoing biodiversity crisis and therefore also a major opportunity for its mitigation. However, appropriately considering the diversity of land-use actors and activities in conservation assessments and planning is challenging. As a result, top-down conservation policy and planning are often criticized for a lack of contextual nuance widely acknowledged to be required for effective and just conservation action. To address these challenges, we have developed a conceptually consistent, scalable land system typology and demonstrated its usefulness for the world's tropical dry woodlands. Our typology identifies key land-use actors and activities that represent typical threats to biodiversity and opportunities for conservation action. We identified land systems in a hierarchical way, with a global level allowing for broad-scale planning and comparative work. Nested within it, a regionalized level provides social-ecological specificity and context. We showcase this regionalization for five hotspots of land-use change and biodiversity loss in dry woodlands in Argentina, Bolivia, Mozambique, India, and Cambodia. Unlike other approaches to present land use, our typology accounts for the complexity of overlapping land uses. This allows, for example, assessment of how conservation measures conflict with other land uses, understanding of the social-ecological co-benefits and trade-offs of area-based conservation, mapping of threats, or targeting area-based and actor-based conservation measures. Moreover, our framework enables cross-regional learning by revealing both commonalities and social-ecological differences, as we demonstrate here for the world's tropical dry woodlands. By bridging the gap between global, top-down, and regional, bottom-up initiatives, our framework enables more contextually appropriate sustainability planning across scales and more targeted and social-ecologically nuanced interventions.

A standard lexicon of terms for area-based conservation version 1.0.

Target 3 in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) calls for protecting at least 30% of the world's lands and waters in area-based conservation approaches by 2030. This ambitious 30×30 target has spurred great interest among policy makers, practitioners, and researchers in defining and measuring the effectiveness of these types of approaches. But along with this broad interest, there has also been a proliferation of terms and their accompanying abbreviations used to describe different types of conservation areas and their governance, planning, management, and monitoring. The lack of standard terms is hindering the use and assessment of area-based approaches to conserve the world's biodiversity. It is difficult to track progress toward GBF Target 3 or to share learning with other practitioners if different groups of people are using different words to describe the same concept or similar words to talk about different concepts. To address this problem, the International Union for Conservation of Nature's World Commission on Protected Areas commissioned a task force to review existing terms and recommend a standard English-language lexicon for this field based on key criteria. The results were definitions of 37 terms across 6 categories, including types of protected and additional conservation areas (e.g., protected area, additional conservation area), sets of these areas (protected area network, protected area system), their governance and management (governance, rightsholders), assessment (effectiveness, equitability), spatial planning (key biodiversity area), and action planning (value, outcome, objective). Our standard lexicon can provide a common language for people who want to use it and a shared reference point that can be used to translate various terms used by different groups. The common understanding provided by the lexicon can serve as a foundation for collaborative efforts to improve the policies, implementation, assessments, research, and learning about this important set of conservation approaches.

Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in Australia: Key Considerations for Assessment and Implementation

Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) have been a feature of global biodiversity targets since 2010 (Aichi Targets, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework), although the concept has only relatively recently been formally defined. Although uptake has been limited to date, there is much interest in identifying OECMs to contribute to the target of protecting at least 30% of terrestrial, freshwater and ocean areas by 2030, in conjunction with protected areas. Australia has a long history of protected area development across public, private and Indigenous lands, but consideration of OECMs in policy has recently begun in that country. We review principles proposed by the Australian Government for OECMs in Australia and highlight where these deviate from global guidance or established Australian area-based policy. We examined various land use categories and conservation mechanisms to determine the likelihood of these categories/mechanisms meeting the OECM definition, with a particular focus on longevity of the mechanism to sustain biodiversity. We identified that the number of categories/mechanisms that would meet the OECM definition is relatively small. A number of potentially perverse outcomes in classifying an area as an OECM are highlighted in order to guide proactive policy and program design to prevent such outcomes occurring.

Safeguarding the last stronghold: Ecology and conservation of Asiatic Cheetah's prey species in Turan Biosphere Reserve (Iran)

Identifying suitable habitats for wild felids is essential for effective area-based conservation efforts. However, modeling habitat suitability for extremely rare and endangered taxa such as the Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) is challenging due to limited data availability. To address this, our study focused on analysing the distribution factors of the Asiatic Cheetah's main prey species, including the Wild Goat (Capra aegagrus), Urial (Ovis vignei), Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), Jebeer Gazelle (Gazella bennettii), and Cape Hare (Lepus capensis) in the Turan Biosphere Reserve (TBR), a critical Cheetah habitat in Iran. To determine habitat suitability for these prey species, we conducted a systematic field survey along 30 transects measuring 16 km each by collecting data in each 1 km interval, resulting in 1172 direct observations of their presence. These observations were then correlated with 44 variables grouped into four categories: bioclimatic, topography, vegetation, and distance to anthropogenic and natural features. Suitability maps were generated using a hierarchical modeling approach. Among the observed prey species, Urial had the highest frequency of sightings (675 visual observations over eight seasons), followed by Goitered Gazelle (564 observations), Cape Hare (278 observations), Jebeer Gazelle (232 observations), and Wild Goat (208 observations). The most influential predictors affecting prey species distribution were mean summer temperature (with optimal ranges at lower temperatures), terrain relief roughness (with optimal ranges at intermediate roughness), distance to wells (with optimal ranges at shorter distances), and distance to corrals (with variable optimal ranges across species). Our findings indicate that the western and eastern mountainous areas, along with their hilly surroundings, as well as the northwest and western plains of TBR, constitute the most suitable habitats for these five prey species. These models and suitability maps provide crucial evidence for implementing conservation measures in the vulnerable habitats of the Asiatic Cheetah and its primary prey species. Environmental conditions can be enhanced through the management of water sources, roads, corrals, and livestock grazing. In addition, the fragmentation of suitable areas within TBR highlights the importance of preserving corridors between these fragmented habitats. We recommend re-evaluating and expanding the boundaries of Turan National Park, Turan Wildlife Refuge, and Turan Biosphere Reserve to ensure the long-term conservation of this threatened felid species and its associated ecosystems.

The potential for Indigenous-led conservation in urbanized landscapes in Canada

Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) are an important pathway and governance system for area-based conservation led by Indigenous Peoples. While IPCAs have been established across rural and northern regions of Canada, they have received little attention in urbanized landscapes, even though all of Canada’s urban areas coincide with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis territory (and thereby underlying Indigenous jurisdiction) and the majority of Indigenous Peoples in the country live in urban centers. Canada’s federal government is in the process of establishing six new urban national parks and has committed to working with local Indigenous governments and organizations in parks planning. This study examined the potential for strengthening Indigenous participation in urban parks planning, governance, and management, including the establishment of new urban Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (UIPCAs). The results of spatial analyses of urban Indigenous territory, a review of relevant domestic and international policy and interviews with local Indigenous conservation leaders illuminate the potential for new forms of urban conservation governance that are grounded in Indigenous rights and responsibilities and reflective of Indigenous knowledge systems and biocultural priorities. However, it remains to be seen how urban Indigenous-led conservation, such as UIPCAs, can fit and operate within proposed government urban conservation initiatives, such as Canada’s Urban National Parks Program, which do not currently foreground Indigenous-led conservation in the governance of urban green space.

Effectively Incorporating Small Reserves into National Systems of Protected and Conserved Areas

Received wisdom has argued that large protected areas are superior to small reserves, based on island biogeography theory, economies of scale, and the need to sustain viable populations of top predators and other large ranging or dispersive species. But this position overlooks evidence that, for many species, strategically placed smaller reserves are extremely important, especially in areas highly altered by humans. Many countries are reluctant or unable to designate additional large protected areas. We provide evidence that carefully designed support networks of smaller protected areas can be an important complement to activities to reach the Global Biodiversity Framework’s target of 30% of the planet in protected and conserved areas by 2030. We identify seven benefits from small reserves, when correctly located and well-managed: (1) conserving critical habitat of range-limited or relic species; (2) conserving remaining areas of sensitive or threatened habitat in altered ecosystems; (3) conserving habitat for sensitive, time-limited lifecycle stages, such as raptor nesting sites and fish spawning grounds; (4) maintaining and enabling connectivity by providing stepping stones of suitable habitat through inhospitable ecosystems; (5) providing increased protection for critical habitat within Category V protected landscapes and seascapes to boost their overall conservation potential; (6) taking advantage of conservation opportunities at cultural sites, sacred natural sites, and other faith-based sites in transformed landscapes; (7) integrating different management approaches and governance types in a range of connected small reserves to multiply conservation impacts. We propose a typology based on these benefits that can guide steps for policy makers to help plan and monitor small reserves in area-based conservation efforts. Using these principles, the role of small reserves in area-based conservation efforts can be further enhanced.

Overcoming confusion and stigma in habitat fragmentation research.

Anthropogenic habitat loss is widely recognized as a primary environmental concern. By contrast, debates on the effects of habitat fragmentation persist. To facilitate overcoming these debates, here we: (i) review the state of the literature on habitat fragmentation, finding widespread confusion and stigma; (ii) identify consequences of this for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management; and (iii) suggest ways in which research can move forward to resolve these problems. Confusion is evident from the 25 most-cited fragmentation articles published between 2017 and 2021. These articles use five distinct concepts of habitat fragmentation, only one of which clearly distinguishes habitat fragmentation from habitat area and other factors ('fragmentation per se'). Stigmatization is evident from our new findings that fragmentation papers are more charged with negative sentiments when compared to papers from other subfields in the environmental sciences, and that fragmentation papers with more negative sentiments are cited more. While most empirical studies of habitat fragmentation per se find neutral or positive effects on species and biodiversity outcomes, which implies that small habitat patches have a high cumulative value, confusion and stigma in reporting and discussing such results have led to suboptimal habitat protection policy. For example, government agencies, conservation organizations, and land trusts impose minimum habitat patch sizes on habitat protection. Given the high cumulative value of small patches, such policies mean that many opportunities for conservation are being missed. Our review highlights the importance of reducing confusion and stigma in habitat fragmentation research. To this end, we propose implementing study designs in which multiple sample landscapes are selected across independent gradients of habitat amount and fragmentation, measured as patch density. We show that such designs are possible for forest habitat across Earth's biomes. As such study designs are adopted, and as language becomes more precise, we expect that confusion and stigma in habitat fragmentation research will dissipate. We also expect important breakthroughs in understanding the situations where effects of habitat fragmentation per se are neutral, positive, or negative, and the reasons for these differences. Ultimately this will improve efficacy of area-based conservation policies, to the benefit of biodiversity and people.

Use of ecosystem services and land ownership to prioritize conservation areas on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea

In the face of ecological challenges, sustainable implementation of conservation strategies necessitates a delicate balance between ecosystem services, biodiversity, land ownership, and cost considerations. This study presents a conservation strategy for Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, an area renowned for its unique ecological features. We developed the strategy by evaluating 12 scenarios involving the establishment of protected areas (PAs) and the use of other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). The purpose of this evaluation was not to enhance ecosystem services and biodiversity directly but rather to identify strategies that could achieve these goals in a financially feasible way, considering the various cost and land ownership factors. Our findings revealed that conservation prioritization targets are primarily located in the central and eastern regions of Jeju Island, where ecosystem services are concentrated, and levels of biodiversity are high. The expansion of conservation targets from 17% to 30% entailed increased costs, largely due to the increased inclusion of private lands and agricultural areas. The introduction of OECMs provided a means to improve ecological network and representation within conservation networks. We also found that applying penalties to improve the boundary lengths of PAs could lead to more cost-effective conservation strategies. Although expanding conservation targets to 30% led to significant shifts in land ownership patterns and increased conservation costs, the benefits to biodiversity and provision of ecosystem services were substantial. This study provided valuable insights into the determination of conservation planning through the harmonization of biodiversity prot ection, provision of ecosystem services, and consideration of economic costs related to patterns of land use and ownership. The results can aid policymakers and stakeholders in making informed decisions about resource allocation in biodiversity conservation.

Examination of Neediness of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures in Conservation of Threatened Migrant Birds and Breeding Residents in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka offers habitats to 522 avifauna species at present, including 278 migrant species. Many migrant species are waterbirds and 75% of migrants depend on Sri Lankan w Sri Lanka is a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity and has legal obligations to conserve biodiversity. Except for the migratory avifauna, the bird species in schedule IV of the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance receive legal protection outside PAs. Sri Lanka is also a party to the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS) which holds states responsible for the protection of migrant species, however, according to the National Report–2019, No arrangements and agreements affecting migratory species changed recently, and no waterbirds are included in Appendix I. Against this backdrop, the objective of the study was to examine the appropriate and effective conservation approach. Gangewadiya area in the Lower Kala Oya Basin in Puttalam is one of the four richest waterbird regions in Sri Lanka having ideal habitat for migratory waterbirds, was selected as the study area to examine the neediness for other area-based conservation measures. The study was limited to the threatened, migratory avifauna species, and desk review, conceptual modeling, and Pressure-State-Response methods were chosen to identify and analyze threats and responses. The Biodiversity Baseline Survey Report, 2017; reported 39 Migratory Birds (M) and 142 Breeding Residents (BR) including 03 Critically Endangered (CR), 01 Endangered (EN), and 02 Vulnerable (VU) species in the study area. Sterna Nilotic Gmelin, 1,789, Sterna albifrons Pallas, 1,764, and Merops philippinus Linnaeus, 1,766 are BR & M, CR species, not found in Appendix II of CMS. Falco tinnunculus is an Uncertain M, EN found in schedule IV of FFPO, while mentioned in Appendix II of CMS. Charadrius dubius and Charadrius alexandrines are BR & M, VU is identified as the Appendix II taxa for which Sri Lanka is a Range State that demands international cooperation for conservation. These threatened, migratory/breeding residents range not managed as PAs and are adversely impacted due to conversion of land uses, changes in salinity, hydrology, water pollution, and expansion of prawn and salt production. This poses threat to species already nationally threatened, and species called for international obligation for conservation; since disturbances in strategic points along the flyways, breeding, and wintering grounds can badly affect them. Therefore, Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures are required to minimize the key threat to ranges of migratory birds and breeding residents of Sri Lanka.
 Keywords: Threatened migratory waterbirds, Obligation for conservation, Range, Protected areas, Other effective area-based conservation measures

The contribution of private land conservation to 30x30 in Germany

In line with Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the European Union (EU) aims to protect 30% of its land and sea by 2030 (known as 30x30). Germany has been a vocal supporter of this goal in the international arena but has yet to achieve sufficient protected area coverage domestically. We estimate that Germany needs to report an additional 4.65 million hectares of protected land to achieve 30x30. This article examines the potential of privately protected areas (PPAs) and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) to contribute to this goal. We explore the German Federal Nature Conservation Act and identify the legal hurdles for the designation and recognition of PPAs. Furthermore, we argue that OECMs have the potential to contribute significantly to 30x30 in Germany. We estimate that close to one million hectares of land could be classified as OECMs and outline potentially qualifying sites. In conclusion, we discuss the prerequisites for upscaling private land conservation in Germany, focusing on required conditions for establishing OECMs and incentivising conservation easements and long-term conservation leases through national funding programmes.

Research on the relationship between area-based conservation and tourism: Ideological origins and theory evolution

Research on the relationship between area-based conservation and tourism: Ideological origins and theory evolution

Climate bottlenecks off Newfoundland and Labrador for Atlantic cod in relation to eastern Canadian marine protected areas

Climate change presents challenges for marine area-based conservation measures through altered habitat and associated species range shifts. We conducted statistical downscaling for the eastern Canadian coastal domain over a range of global climate models, focusing on habitat suitability for Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua), a numerically depressed, but ecologically, economically, and culturally important species in this region. We examined cod egg survival, juvenile growth, and spawning habitat suitability, combining these into one habitat index to compare within-closure habitat suitability for multiple life stages through time. Areas of high cod egg habitat suitability are projected to shift northward and increase across all area closures studied, while optimum juvenile habitat shifts north and eastward, increasing in almost all closures except the south. Spawning habitat as a function of temperature and oxygen will likely decrease through time across the entire region, but less in northern locations. Overall cod habitat is forecasted to decline in the south of the region while increasing at central and northern latitudes, highlighting the importance of existing and developing northern shelf area closures. While warming will bring temperatures closer to optimum levels for cod in this cold-water system, oxygen limitation will become more prevalent in the south of the region and should be monitored as an important ocean health indicator.

Bioecological lessons learned from the neonate longnose spurdogs Squalus blainville (Squaliformes: Squalidae) suggest a potential nursery ground in the Marmara Sea

The capture of 176 neonate longnose spurdogs Squalus blainville (Risso, 1827), suggests a potential nursery ground in the eastern Marmara Sea (GFCM GSA28). Sampling was performed by means of a scientific bottom trawl hauled at a depth range of 121-126 m on 21 February 2024. Available data show that S. blainville may be captured in demersal fishery within their first year of life. Total length (TL) and total weight (TW) of the examined males ranged from 169 to 279 mm (238.4±20.7 mm) and from 21.4 to 117 g (66.5±19.8 g), respectively. The TL and TW of the examined females ranged from 187 to 292 mm (241.1±25.3 mm) and from 30.1 to 146 g (66.8±29.2 g), respectively. A male neonate (TL=169 mm) examined is believed to be the smallest free-swimming longnose spurdog caught to date. Under current fisheries regulations, S. blainville is a protected shark species in the waters of Türkiye and therefore should be released if caught as bycatch. However, in addition to reducing fishing pressure on the species by prohibiting targeted fishing, area-based conservation actions, which are based on closing areas that are critical for chondrichthyans (e.g., nurseries) to fishing either on a year-round or seasonal basis, should now be included in the conservation plans for S. blainville and other protected species in Turkish waters.

Assessing the potential of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) for contributing to conservation targets: A global scoping review protocol

This scoping review (ScR) protocol aims to establish the methodological approach for identifying and mapping the evidence regarding the actual contribution of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) to spatial conservation targets. Emphasis will be placed on examining the research conducted, including the methodologies applied. OECMs, introduced by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2010, refer to areas outside of protected areas, such as fisheries restricted areas, archaeological sites, and military areas, that effectively conserve biodiversity in-situ over the long term. OECMs are recognized rather than designated. Many countries currently endeavor to identify, recognize and report OECMs to the CBD for formal acceptance to support the implementation of spatial conservation targets. Studies that assess the contribution of OECMs to spatial conservation targets will be considered. Potential OECMs with primary, secondary or ancillary conservation objectives established by all sectors in the terrestrial, freshwater and marine realm worldwide will be considered. Peer-reviewed and grey literature will be considered without imposing limitations based on publication year, stage, subject area and source type. Both experimental and observational studies in English, French, German, Greek, Italian, and Spanish will be reviewed. The ScR will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. The protocol will be guided by the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) extension for scoping reviews. The search will encompass bibliographic databases such as Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Grey literature sources will include databases, pre-print archives and organizational websites. The Covidence platform will be utilized for data management and extraction.

Coverage and beyond: how can private governance support key elements of the Global Biodiversity Framework’s Target 3?

A vast cross-societal effort will be needed to achieve the ambition of protecting and conserving 30% of the earth’s lands and oceans by 2030, as called for in Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. While focus is often given to the 30% coverage aspect of this target, other elements – on the location and effectiveness of protected and conserved areas – are equally important. As the implementation of Target 3 progresses, it is increasingly acknowledged that non-profit organisations, for-profit organisations, and individual landowners play a key role by choosing to manage their lands and waters to deliver conservation outcomes. However, privately protected and conserved areas lack recognition by many governments charged with reporting progress on the target. For countries and territories where these areas have been reported, we use the World Database on Protected Areas to explore their contribution towards elements of Target 3, particularly coverage, connectivity and ecological representation. In addition, we explore how privately governed ‘other effective area-based conservation measures’ contribute to Target 3 in countries and territories where they have been identified. Our results demonstrate that privately protected and conserved areas play a significant role in some countries’ efforts to meet Target 3. Since these areas are known to be under-reported, we stress the need for scaled up efforts for their recognition and documentation. This is vital not only for Target 3 tracking and implementation, but to ensure private actors receive appropriate recognition and support for their role in tackling the biodiversity and climate crises.