Andhra Pradesh: New Conservation Zones Outside Reserves

Andhra Pradesh is launching extensive Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) to protect biodiversity outside of formal reserves. These OECMs are designed to conserve nature even when land is managed for other primary goals, such as industrial greenbelts or water management.

This strategy aligns with the global '30x30' target to protect 30% of the Earth's land and oceans by 2030. Andhra Pradesh, with its varied ecological landscape, is using OECMs as a flexible alternative to traditional Protected Areas, aiming to avoid potential socio-economic conflicts.

The planned OECMs include urban micro-forests in cities like Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, along with protecting marine breeding grounds. This approach will help bridge fragmented ecosystems and boost the conservation footprint. It also facilitates rapid scaling of legally recognized conservation measures.

Furthermore, OECMs integrate with Access and Benefit Sharing mechanisms, providing economic incentives for local communities to protect bio-resources. The state has also initiated City Biodiversity Indices for urban planning, with baseline assessments completed for Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Tirupati.