India Releases OECM Guidelines at CBD COP-17 with $60.79 Million Implementation Project
The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, released the "Guidelines for the designation of India's Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (I-OECMs) 2026" at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP-17) in Yerevan, Armenia on November 3, 2026. The guidelines provide a framework for recognizing and reporting areas outside legally protected zones that deliver sustained long-term outcomes for in-situ biodiversity conservation, supporting India's implementation of Target 3 (30x30) of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and National Biodiversity Target 3 under the updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP, 2024–2030).
The guidelines cover terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine ecosystems, with illustrative sites including biodiversity parks, sacred groves, community-managed irrigation tanks, seagrass and seaweed beds, and fisheries seasonal ban areas. Four mandatory criteria must be met for recognition: the area must not be a legally protected or conserved area; it must be governed and managed under Central or State Government frameworks or by government-recognized local institutions such as Panchayats and Biodiversity Management Committees; it must have defined boundaries and not overlap with any area already reported to the World Database on Protected Areas; and recognition must not alter existing activities, governance, or regulatory regimes.
Applications can be submitted to the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) by Central and State Government departments, agencies, institutions, local self-governments, and Biodiversity Management Committees. The NBA will conduct preliminary examinations within 30 days and forward applications to State Biodiversity Boards or Union Territory Biodiversity Councils for validation and recommendation within another 30 days. Final decisions will be made by NBA with support from an Inter-Departmental I-OECM Committee in coordination with MoEFCC. Each recognized site requires a monitoring framework with measurable indicators assessed at least once every five years, and State Biodiversity Boards/UT Biodiversity Councils will maintain records of sites in their states.
A significant GEF-8 Project titled "Enhancing the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity to meet India's commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets by 2030" has been commissioned to implement these guidelines. The project has total financing of USD 60.79 million, comprising a GEF Trust Fund grant of USD 6.65 million and confirmed co-financing of USD 54.14 million. It will run for 72 months from May 15, 2026, to May 15, 2032, and is being executed by NBA and MoEFCC with UNDP support under National Implementation Modality, approved by the Local Project Appraisal Committee on December 29, 2025.
The project aims to add 3% of India's land and marine area to the country's conservation estate beyond the existing 27% under protection through OECMs and other conservation initiatives. It is structured around five components: enabling framework for expanding conservation network; financing, incentives and capacities for operationalizing OECMs; increased coverage and management effectiveness of conservation network; knowledge management; and monitoring and evaluation. Specific targets include establishing 50,000 hectares of new terrestrial conservation areas, restoring at least 5,000 hectares of degraded land, and directly benefiting at least 50,000 people (50% women).
Six demonstration sites have been identified: Gori Valley in Uttarakhand; Kumbhalgarh–Mount Abu–Jaisalmer landscape in Rajasthan; Satkosia–Kalahandi landscape in Odisha; Srisailam–Cumbum landscape in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana; Sahyadri–Konkan landscape in Maharashtra and Goa; and Lakshadweep Islands Marinescape. The project will establish State-level OECM coordination mechanisms and a monitoring, reporting and verification system. I-OECM recognition does not convert areas into protected areas or change ownership or legal status, and the guidelines provide for capacity-building programs and non-monetary recognition of good practices.