What is IMET? The Integrated Management Effectiveness Tool (IMET) is an approach to assist protected areas planning, monitoring and evaluation and to improve management patterns and conservation outcomes. IMET is supported by a computer-based application that collects, organizes and analyses data to facilitate informed decision-making for protected area management, operations and planning.

The tool is available in both online and offline versions. It contains several forms which allow the compilation of a variety of data from many sources: raw data, documents and personal knowledge from different stakeholders such as management teams, scientists and community members.

IMET structures the information with quantified targeted outcomes, and the internal statistics module provides a score-based estimation of level and quality of management with visual graphics of the relative contribution of each indicator to management effectiveness.

The IMET tool has been designed in the context of BIOPAMA to directly support managers, both in the field and at the national level, to improve the effectiveness of protected area management and, more generally, biodiversity conservation.

Besides learning what IMET is, how it works and how it is different from other protected area management (PAME) tools, the participants were able to understand the IUCN protected area management effectiveness evaluation framework and to discuss the capacity, skills and funding required to implement IMET at an institutional and site level.

BIOPAMA is open to establish partnerships with national agencies and other conservation partners aiming to roll out IMET assessments across their protected and conserved area network.

Try out IMET! In case you would like to know how to start, please check the IMET brochure here. All content shared during the workshop is systematized in the visual map below.