Young people everywhere are stepping up to protect biodiversity — not only in national parks or wildlife reserves, but in everyday landscapes that matter to their communities. That’s why we’re launching the Youth OECM Opportunities campaign: to spotlight these efforts and invite others to join in.
We want this to be a global movement, with youth everywhere identifying and uplifting conservation efforts in their communities. Want to be featured or support the movement? To join the campaign, simply follow @GYC_Sustainability, where you can explore inspiring examples, and then share your own posts using #IdentifyOECM, #OECMOpportunity, and #OECMChallenge. Together, we’re redefining what conservation looks like — and who leads it.
As part of this vision, our interns are leading the Youth OECM Opportunities social media campaign to spotlight local efforts to conserve nature through Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs). From community-managed wetlands to Indigenous conservation zones, these often-unrecognized areas play a vital role in meeting global biodiversity goals. The campaign invites young leaders across the globe to share stories, insights, and examples that highlight the power of non-traditional conservation approaches.
On Instagram, interns have shared powerful snapshots from places like the Norwegian Fjords, where marine ecosystems flourish beyond official protection zones, and Stanton Moor in Derbyshire, where sacred landscapes and centuries-old stewardship connect cultural heritage with biodiversity.
One post highlights the coastal Sahara, where desert communities help sustain unique species such as the Egyptian mongoose, North African ostrich, and red fox — showing how conservation happens far from formal reserves. Each post ends with the campaign’s signature question: “Could this be an OECM?” — prompting viewers to consider how overlooked or unconventional spaces might meet global conservation standards. Through reels, maps, and storytelling, the campaign brings OECMs to life and invites others to join in reimagining conservation from the ground up.
Harmony Online Journal - Youth Voices on Science, Law and Sustainability 