• Biodiversity
• Climate Change

Delivering 30×30: Regions turning global biodiversity commitments into coordinated territorial action

In April 2025, the Aichi Prefectural Government launched a program to support “Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites”, anticipating their recognition as Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs). This initiative is part of the prefecture’s commitment to align local conservation efforts with national and global biodiversity frameworks promoting biodiversity protection across the region.

The Aichi Prefecture, in Japan, is home to diverse ecosystems, including rivers, forests and coastal wetlands, which support both biodiversity and local communities. To preserve these natural areas, the Aichi Prefectural Government has introduced measures to help private and community-managed contribute to wider conservation goals.

Supporting local conservation through regional action 

A key objective of the program is to lower the technical and administrative barriers that organizations and landowners face when applying for national certification as the Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites. Many potential sites already contribute to biodiversity conservation through sustainable management practices but may lack the resources or expertise required to formalize these efforts. 

 • To address this, the Aichi Prefectural Government provides practical and technical support throughout the application process. This includes confirming landowners and stakeholders associated with potential sites 
• Assisting with the preparation of GIS data to accurately map and document the area
• Conducting ecological surveys to assess biodiversity values and management practices
• Supporting the development of monitoring plans to track ecological outcomes over time

Through this assistance, the program helps translate existing stewardship efforts into recognized conservation contributions, strengthening the link between local land management and national biodiversity strategies. 

Integrating subnational and national objectives 

The land certification process links local action to national conservation goals. Once a site is successfully certified, it may contribute to Japan’s network of OECMs, supporting national targets such as conserving at least 30% of land and marine areas and ensuring effective management across protected and conserved areas. 

This approach ensures that local initiatives are recognized, supported, and harmonized with broader biodiversity priorities, creating a stronger foundation for ecosystem protection and sustainable use. 

Monitoring progress and learning from practice 

Although the program is still in its early stages, Aichi Prefectural Government is establishing mechanisms to monitor outcomes. Indicators under consideration include applicant satisfaction, the number of sites successfully certified, and improvements in management effectiveness.  

The program also provides an opportunity to identify challenges and lessons learned, which can guide future improvements. These lessons will inform ongoing capacity building for local stakeholders, strengthening the long-term sustainability of certified sites. 

Early achievements and impact 

Since its launch in April 2025, the program has begun assisting multiple applicants, including NGOs, private landowners, and local communities, in preparing their certification applications. While full certification results are pending, early feedback indicates that the program is: 

• Increasing awareness and interest in sustainable site management
• Further encouraging local engagement and increasing a sense of contribution to conservation actions
• Strengthening the alignment of local initiatives with national biodiversity objectives

Over time, this support is expected to expand the area under effective conservation management, contributing to both biodiversity outcomes and community stewardship. 

Lessons learned 

Even in the early stages, the Aichi experience highlights several important lessons: 

1. Proactive support helps bridge gaps between local action and national recognition. 

2. Guidance and technical assistance are essential for enabling landowners and communities to conduct more effective and meaningful conservation activities. In fact, some conservation groups lack monitoring plans and/or enough data accumulated systematically, making scientific evaluation of their conservation inadequate, although they have activity plans. For these cases, it would be necessary to provide expert advice for reasonable data accumulation such as the use of national “indicator insect monitoring” in conjunction with the use of IT tools, or to provide periodic expert advice. 

3. More suitable monitoring and adaptive management ensure that sites can achieve and maintain sustainable management standards more easily. 

4. It is desirable that OECM registration and national certification function as incentives that attract external resources including from private companies, since many conservation groups face a shortage of future successors. 

These insights underscore that subnational initiatives can play a critical role in advancing national and global biodiversity targets, even before formal recognition is granted. 

Why this matters for COP17 

The program of the Aichi Prefectural Government shows that subnational governments can drive innovation in biodiversity conservation. By supporting locally managed sites and anticipating OECM registration, the prefectural government is building capacity, fostering local stewardship, and contributing to measurable conservation outcomes. 

As global leaders prepare for COP17, the Aichi case demonstrates that achieving biodiversity goals requires anticipatory action across all levels of governance. Subnational programs that empower communities, integrate with national frameworks, and anticipate global conservation standards can provide scalable models for other regions seeking to meet the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). 

By connecting local action with national and global priorities, Aichi Prefectural Government is helping to ensure that biodiversity conservation is both effective and inclusive, laying out the groundwork for long-term ecological resilience. 

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets addressed: 1, 3
Focus areas: Subnational action; OECMs; Sustainable site management; Community engagement; Biodiversity monitoring 

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