The IMET 2.10 Technical Note provides the detailed list of all the additional functions with regards to the previous versions. 

IMET approach

IMET aims to strengthen analytical capacities of its users and facilitate decision-making. Data collection and analysis is done in a computer application which encodes data into an internal database. Embedded statistical formulas allow for automated data analysis and visualization to facilitate better understanding of complex issues. IMET coaches (protected area professionals trained in IMET) can train on IMET and facilitate the assessment workshop.

The IMET Handbooks, the COMIT (2016 in English and French) and the COMIT 2 (2022 only in French), explain each assessment question and presents guidelines on assessment implementation with the coaching process. It also provides avenues for increasing capacity in protected area management and analysis.

Scaling-up function

This IMET feature allows a semi-automated analysis of several IMET assessments for a system (group, network) of protected areas or a single protected area over time. This function can produce a national or regional roadmap for further progress in protected area management, such as management policies, operations, capacity-building, threats’ mitigation strategies, species conservation.

Cross-analysis

This IMET feature aims to increase accuracy of an IMET assessment by spoting possible inconsistencies in IMET scores. It investigates whether scores within a pair (or a triplet) of IMET items were significantly different.

Links with Green List

IMET is the favoured tool for in-depth analysis of protected area management effectiveness (PAME). 88% of its indicators match with those of management effectiveness in the Green List. IMET also contribute to enhance capacities of protected area managers for increasing standards of operations required by labels such as Green List.

IMET is a PAME tool – but also much more: 

•  As a PAME tool, IMET identifies management strengths, constraints, and weaknesses of a protected area management.  
• IMET considers the key values of the protected area throughout the assessment to ensure that the overall scope of management is results-oriented. In this way, it supports the identification of the urgency and conservation priorities.  
• IMET embeds an inherent dimension of capacity building on protected area planning, monitoring, and evaluation to serve outcome-oriented management. 
• IMET exercise also supports the application of the protected area to the Green List. 

IMET unique characteristics 

• IMET is a software that can be downloaded free of charge on a PC, that does not require an internet connection.  
• IMET combines the analysis of the protected area surrounding environment with the internal management assessment to obtain a clearer understanding of the management context and challenges. 
• IMET encourages participatory assessment and decision-making process, building a collective understanding of how the management functions. It is helpful to develop or renew a work plan or a management plan.  
• IMET includes data visualization that facilitates the analysis and presentation of results at soon as the assessment is completed.  
• IMET provides an automatic management analysis report that can be easily shared to protected area authorities and partners, the IMET (PAME) Analysis Report. 
• IMET stores the information in a database allowing processing and visualisation for more detailed analysis at site or system level. 
• IMET specialists (coaches) are available to support the IMET assessment, and result analysis. They form a supportive community to leverage capacity for planning, management, and even policy-making.   

Key features of the IMET 2.10 version 

This new IMET version (IMET 2.8, June 2022) includes several new features. The main ones are: 

• Two additional languages: Spanish, and Portuguese, in addition to English and French. 
• A third module, the IMET Analysis Report, which is automatically generated, editable, and printable for PAME reporting. 
• Possibility to work on any protected area, including those not featured in the WDPA. 
• Self-updating: no need to download any future version anymore! 
• Export/import functionality which allows sharing assessments in JSON format. 
• Possibility to generate a new IMET pre-filled with data from previous ones. 
• Merge conflicting or duplicates assessments (same PA and same year). 
• More user-friendly and ergonomic: visually attractive, a printing function, automatic information transfer, and more straightforward navigation between modules. 
• Increased software quality: self-updating, maintainability, stability. 

The IMET 2.10 Technical Note provides the detailed list of all the additional functions with regards to the previous versions.