OECMs are areas outside protected areas where nevertheless effective conservation takes place. The primary purpose of OECMs is not the conservation of nature, but conservation can be reached as a by-product. For example, areas used by the military with high conservation value or, indigenous territories with low human activity could qualify as an OECM, if they deliver long-term in situ conservation of biodiversity through effective management. The actual conservation success is a prerequisite for their recognition. OECMs are an important complement to protected areas and are recognized within the CBD as a significant conservation measure. However, countries hardly recognize OECMs so far and often do not provide them with the necessary support.

During this project, training events were held that addressed stakeholders in two different regions - in Africa and Asia. To establish a community of practice follow-up online trainings were conducted. Participants from all over the world joined another online training session on OECMs at the World Conservation Congress 2021. The trainings developed through this project are intended to assist individuals and Parties to correctly identify, recognize, and report OECMs and thus contribute to reach area-based conservation targets.

At the same time, training materials were developed and made available online (free of charge) for face-to-face or online trainings. The materials support potential trainers but can also partially be used for self-paced learning. Materials comprise instructions, learning plans, detailed training notes, presentations and films as well as supplementary background literature in English.