Peru Advances Towards the Global 30x30 Goal: Challenges and Opportunities of OECMs and Indigenous Territories

With the aim of strengthening Peru's role in biodiversity conservation, on February 5, the discussion "Opportunities and Challenges for Peru to Contribute to the Global 30x30 Target through Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) and Indigenous Territories" was held. During the event, environmental sector leaders analyzed progress and challenges in contributing to Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

OECMs and indigenous territories are key to biodiversity conservation outside protected natural areas, as they meet criteria for effective and sustained biodiversity management. In Peru, 13 conservation modalities in terrestrial and coastal marine ecosystems have been evaluated for potential recognition as OECMs, managed by various sectors, government levels, and civil society.

The discussion highlighted the need to ensure the 30x30 conservation target, meaning ensuring a real and effective contribution to biodiversity conservation.

During the event, the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP) showcased the contribution of indigenous territories to the global 30x30 target and presented the main demands of indigenous peoples for demonstrating the conservation and effective management of their areas.

"It is important to ensure the effectiveness of each OECM’s conservation to promote the long-term in situ conservation of biological diversity," emphasized Dr. Madhu Rao, President of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas.

However, key challenges remain for the effective implementation of OECMs in Peru. For indigenous peoples, one challenge is the need to establish guidelines and indicators to analyze and register Peru’s native communities to contribute to the 30x30 target.

During the panel discussion, which included representatives from public institutions such as MINAM, SERFOR, PRODUCE, and INIA, the need to strengthen coordinated action among State sectors, government levels, and civil society to achieve Target 3 was emphasized. Specific points included implementing a dedicated action plan for coastal marine OECMs with governmental and regional stakeholders, consolidating citizen participation, ensuring transparency and accountability in OECM identification and management processes, and designing innovative strategies to prevent and mitigate threats to biodiversity.

The event brought together 21 organizations and was jointly organized by Conservation International (CI), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), German Cooperation GIZ, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Amazónicos por la Amazonía (AMPA), the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law (SPDA), and Re-Wild. It featured special participation from Dr. Madhu Rao, President of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, as well as representatives from AIDESEP, the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM), the National Forest and Wildlife Service (SERFOR), the Supervisory Body for Forest and Wildlife Resources (OSINFOR), the Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), and the National Institute of Agricultural Innovation (INIA).

With a growing 30x30 agenda and support from various national and international stakeholders, Peru has the opportunity to position itself as a leader in area-based conservation. The key now is to translate these advancements into concrete actions that enable the fulfillment of Target 3 as soon as possible, ensuring that the country's biodiversity continues to be effectively conserved for future generations.