Protected areas and other effective conservation measures: A look at the differences
16 septembre 2025
In the environmental field, acronyms abound: PA, OECM, IUCN, FSL, PASU, and so on. These abbreviations make communicating easier for those of us who work in the field, but to those who don’t, we seem to be speaking another language. After reading this blog, though, you won’t need a translator to understand us when we talk about conservation! Let’s have a look at the differences between protected areas and other effective conservation measures.
What is a “protected area”?
What does PA stand for? Preservation Advocacy? Presence of Amphibians? No; the initials “PA” are an abbreviation for “protected area,” that is, a clearly defined geographical area that comprises landscapes, ecosystems, cultural values, or significant species that we want to conserve. PAs are protected by laws, regulations, or other effective means designed to regulate permitted uses—this includes preventing certain activities such as mining or real estate development, with the primary aim of ensuring nature conservation.
Official Definition
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) officially defines a protected area as “a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values.”1
Protected areas are a method of conservation comprising several subcategories with various names designed to reflect the diversity of natural environments and the ways in which they are used.
Spectre des usages permis d’une aire protégée
Usages restrictifs ⮕ Usages moins restrictifs
Réserve écologique
Présence humaine contrôlée et restreinte
⮕
Réserve biologique
⮕
Réserve naturelle
APUD
Utilisation durable des ressources naturelles
The IUCN, an international group of conservation experts and decision-makers, divides protected areas into six categories. They are classified on a spectrum of permitted uses, ranging from the most to the least restrictive. The first category is the strict nature reserve; in these designated areas, human access is limited and controlled. At the other end of the spectrum is the protected area with sustainable use of natural resources, which allows for the low-level non-industrial use of natural resources.
Biodiversity reserve
One of Québec’s 32 protected area designations, the purpose of this category of protected area is to conserve representative samples of biodiversity in Québec’s various regions. In addition to nature conservation, this type of protected area also encourages local citizens to explore these spaces.3
Each country or province is expected to adapt the IUCN’s protected area management categories in ways that are consistent with their own governance systems. In Québec, there are 32 protected area designations, including ecological reserves, biodiversity reserves, exceptional forest ecosystems, voluntary conservation areas and, more recently, Indigenous-led protected areas and sustainable use protected areas (SUPAs or APUDs in French for aires protégées d’utilisation durable).2
To date, To date, 16.95 percent of the territory of Québec is now protected, and the government has set a goal of protecting 30 percent by 2030. This will require a joint effort on the part of the government, several different organizations, and Quebecers generally. Nature Québec is actively working to drive progress on protected-area projects across the province., and the government has set a goal of protecting 30 percent by 2030. This will require a joint effort on the part of the government, several different organizations, and Quebecers generally. Nature Québec is actively working to drive progress on protected-area projects across the province.
An example of a protected area
Forêt de la Seigneurie-de-Lotbinière
Among these many projects is the Forêt de la Seigneurie-de-Lotbinière (FSL), the largest public forest in the Basses-terres du Saint-Laurent (St. Lawrence Lowlands). Working with a citizens’ group as well as five local and Québec-wide organizations, we made a concerted effort to conserve this area, which has led to the creation of an 18.2 sq. km biodiversity reserve on this site. This is a significant ecosystem as it harbours a high concentration of old-growth forests and rare stands, as well as species at risk, such as the wood turtle. Nature Québec is currently campaigning for the conservation of the remaining part of the FSL, a vast 162 sq. km area, as a sustainable-use protected area. The idea is to combine biodiversity conservation with the various activities practised there, such as hiking, hunting, maple syrup production, and forest management.
Are protected areas open to visitors?
Yes, with some exceptions. In Québec, the creation of protected areas increasingly revolves around providing access to nature, especially for recreational activities. This tracks with the trend in conservation toward seeing humans as part of nature, which is reflected in the new designations of “sustainable-use protected areas” and “Indigenous-led protected areas.” This makes sense considering the importance of access to nature for human health, especially since many protected areas have come about as the result of citizens’ initiatives and are, moreover, established on lands that have been inhabited since time immemorial.
In Québec, as a general rule, only ecological reserves place restrictions on public access, since the objective of this type of protected area is to conserve land in its natural state, without human intervention. Access to these sites is only permitted for research and educational purposes, provided these activities do not impede the integral and permanent conservation of the ecological reserve’s natural features.5
Can conservation be done outside the confines of a protected area?
Of course! There are already many sites outside protected areas where various methods of contributing to long-term biodiversity conservation are employed. Whether these sites are managed by municipalities, by Indigenous or local communities, by private landowners, or by businesses, they play as essential a role in conserving biodiversity as protected areas. Since February 2025, these areas can be officially recognized in Québec as other effective area-based conservation measures, or OECMs.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defines an OECM as:
« A geographically defined area, other than a protected area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in situ conservation of biodiversity, with associated ecosystem functions and services and, where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socioeconomic, and other locally relevant values.6«
Other effective area-based conservation measures
The main distinction between an OECM and a protected area lies in the role that conservation plays in managing the site. In protected areas, nature conservation always plays a central role. We refer to the creation of a protected area because the process involves adding a layer of legal protection and setting up a new management system with the specific aim of fulfilling the conservation objectives of the site. In the case of an OECM, it’s more a matter of recognizing measures (or “effective means”) already employed at a given site that ensure biodiversity conservation, whatever the site’s management objectives.
| Protected Area (PA) | OECM (Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures) |
|---|---|
| Conservation is always the main objective | Ensures effective in situ conservation, whatever the main management objective |
| Boundaries defined to align with specific conservation objectives; A management system is established to achieve them | A management system already exists in an area with defined boundaries |
| Often a permanent status conferred by law that ensures enhanced protection by prohibiting certain activities harmful to biodiversity | There is no specific law governing OECMs, but any effective measure to limit adverse impacts on biodiversity—whether legal, administrative, or voluntary—can support the official recognition of these sites |
| Examples include national parks, private nature reserves, and biological refuges | Examples include lands with conservation easements, exceptional geological sites, sites of spiritual or cultural value, and Indigenous lands managed in keeping with traditional knowledge |
These effective measures can take a variety of forms, including legal conservation agreements, management or conservation plans, regional planning tools, regulations or laws—in short, any means of controlling and preventing activities potentially harmful to biodiversity.
In other words, an OECM is an area that makes an active contribution to biodiversity conservation, whether or not that is its main objective.
OECMs can be classified into three distinct types of approaches according to the role assigned to conservation among the objectives of any given site.
This refers to a site which is managed with a central focus on conservation comparable to a protected area; however, the site managers made a decision to have it recognized as an OECM rather than establish it as a protected area.
This refers to a site where conservation is integrated into the management system even though conservation is not the site’s main objective. Examples here include certain parks which have a recreational tourism vocation but where the management practices promote conservation.
This refers to a site where conservation is not an explicit aim but where management practices contribute indirectly to protecting biodiversity. This may be the case for places with high cultural, spiritual or historic value.
Obtaining recognition for OECMs contributes to promoting and supporting a variety of local initiatives that are already effective in promoting biodiversity conservation. OECMs can also complement protected areas by helping to meet the target of conserving 30% of Québec’s territory by 2030.
How to take part in creating a protected area or gaining recognition for an OECM
Public lands
Participating in conservation on public lands (i.e., lands under the jurisdiction of the Québec government) is difficult, but not impossible. A simple way to preserve nature is to follow the rules when visiting national parks, biodiversity reserves, or other protected areas. You can also keep an eye out for calls for protected area projects by the Québec government. You can then propose a project of your own or participate in supporting a project near you.
Privately owned lands
If you own or manage private land which harbours one or more significant biodiversity values7, such as natural environments or threatened or vulnerable species, and you want these values to be preserved or recognized, you may want to think about protected areas or OECMs. Your site may already meet the criteria for recognition as an OECM; if so, you could apply for OECM recognition with the help of Nature Québec. If you would rather institute a legal or other type of measure to conserve your site’s natural attributes, there are several voluntary conservation tools available. Contact your local conservation organization for more information or consult these resources we created specifically to help you protect nearby nature.
If you would like to get involved in protecting natural environments, don’t hesitate to reach out to Québec conservation organizations. They will be happy to provide you with the necessary tools so that we can work together to protect nature in Québec!
References
- Dudley. 2008. Lignes directrices pour l’application des catégories de gestion aux aires protégées (accessed May 22, 2025).
- Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs. Registre des aires protégées et des AMCE au Québec.
- Institut de la statistique du Québec. Territoires protégés et conservés (accessed May 22, 2025).
- Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs. 2011. Régime d’activités dans les réserves de biodiversité et les réserves aquatiques, Québec, Gouvernement du Québec (Accessed May 22, 2025)..
- Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs. Des habitats protégés au naturel.
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). (2018). Aires protégées et autres mesures de conservation efficaces par zone (Decision 14/8).
- Direction principale du développement de la conservation du ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP). 2024. Reconnaissance des autres mesures de conservations efficaces (AMCE en milieu continental au Québec, Lignes directrices 2024, 1re édition.
Partners
The project OECM: Conservation Done Differently is funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs, as part of the Plan nature 2030.
Written by
Anthony Drouin, project manager, biodiversity and forests
Chloé Allard, communications officer, biodiversity
Gabrielle Côté, project manager, biodiversity
Simon L’Allier, project manager, biodiversity
Revised by
Chloé Allard, communications officer, biodiversity
Marianne Caouette, project manager, biodiversity and forests