Yetunde “Diamond” Rotimi is currently a PhD candidate at Washington State University in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences. Her research focuses on ecological conservation and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs).
A central focus of her work and future interests is collaborating with conservation actors, particularly landowners and local stakeholders, to explore pathways for effectively preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services on their lands while gaining recognition as OECMs. In the past, many landowners have been unable to designate their lands as protected areas for various reasons, including a lack of recognition for collaboratively managed landscapes and concerns about losing ownership or control. OECMs aim to address many of these challenges, highlighting the need for greater education and awareness around this emerging conservation framework.
As a conservation scientist interested in the science-policy interface, Yetunde does not intend to conduct research solely for publication; she is committed to producing work that informs real-world implementation. She believes effective communication is essential to bridging science and practice and sees engagement as a key component of meaningful conservation outcomes.
For her outreach project, Yetunde designed an infographic to raise awareness of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) as an emerging conservation tool. Through this project, she sought to explain what OECMs are, how they differ from traditional conservation approaches such as protected areas, and what makes them truly effective in advancing biodiversity conservation. You can find her infographic to the left and at this link here!
