Trang chủAccording to the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper, on September 29th, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Vietnam, in collaboration with the Institute of Agricultural Planning and Design, organized a workshop on opportunities to promote the application of Areas with Effective Conservation Measures (OECM). This is considered an important step for Vietnam to take advantage of the 2025-2027 period as a “golden” time to pilot and refine the institutional framework for OECM, contributing to achieving the goal of conserving 30% of land and sea area by 2030 according to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
OECM recognizes the effective and long-term conservation efforts of local communities, religious organizations, and individuals, which is a characteristic of biodiversity conservation in the region.
OECM is not a new initiative. The IUCN issued technical guidance in 2019, and the Vietnamese version was published in 2024. International organizations such as IUCN, GIZ, WWF, and UNDP have collaborated on research and assessment of the potential of this model in Vietnam. According to IUCN representatives, instead of issuing new regulations, Vietnam can rely on the existing legal framework to recognize and encourage effective management models in forestry, fisheries, or ecological agriculture.
Currently, only about 7% of Vietnam’s land area and 2% of its sea area are under the protected area system. The OECM is expected to supplement protected areas through regions not officially listed but still maintaining biodiversity value. Shrimp-rice and shrimp-forest models in the Mekong Delta, or agroforestry in the Central Highlands, are potential examples that both create livelihoods and support conservation.
In fact, many natural forests, wetlands, and community-managed fisheries co-management areas have demonstrated their ability to sustain biodiversity. Recognizing these areas as OECMs will encourage communities, businesses, and localities to continue practicing sustainable development. According to recommendations from WWF-Vietnam, the pilot program should be implemented no later than 2027 to ensure the 30×30 target is achieved.
OECMs can be managed in various ways, from the state, communities, and businesses to co-management models. A key strength is that they do not require the establishment of new protected areas, but instead focus on identifying and supporting existing areas, reducing administrative pressure.