How can urban areas contribute to achieving the 30×30 target? Application potential of other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs)

To achieve the “30×30” conservation target, Other Effective Area Conservation Measures (OECMs) serve as an innovative conservation approach that can provide a critical supplement to existing protected areas. However, related research and practice remained in their infancy, with particularly limited exploration in urban ecosystems. To address the challenge of ongoing biodiversity loss amid rapid urbanization, this study took the biodiversity-rich Yunnan Province in China as an example. Utilizing the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria for identifying OECMs, we constructed a systematic identification framework for potential OECMs in urban areas. This framework assessed conservation value across three dimensions: habitat importance, ecosystem services, and functional connectivity. We employed the Zonation model for spatial conservation prioritization and identified potential OECMs within the top 30% conservation priority areas by selecting urban units with clear spatial boundaries and management entities. The result showed that 104 potential urban OECMs were identified in Yunnan, predominantly distributed in Kunming, Dali, and Qujing. These sites were primarily small-to-medium-sized patches averaging approximately 0.29 km². Urban parks and campuses constituted the main types. High-connectivity patches are predominantly larger campuses, while patches with high habitat importance and ecosystem services were mainly small-to-medium-sized parks. Based on the categorical characteristics of these potential OECMs, the study further recommended tailored management strategies to promote long-term and effective urban biodiversity conservation. By focusing the OECMs identification framework on urban areas, this study provided an operational approach for implementing conservation goals within highly artificial landscapes and presented a new practical pathway toward achieving the “30×30” target.