Global conservation goal ‘within reach’
The global goal to protect 30% of the planet by 2030 is within reach, but governments must accelerate action to achieve it.
That’s according to a major review of the policy, published this week. It found that around 20% of land and inland waters are already designated protected. Existing commitments, it adds, would increase that to 27% by 2030 – just shy of the target.
“Real progress is being made,” said Brian O’Donnell, director of Campaign for Nature. “Countries have expanded protected and conserved areas around the world – safeguarding critical ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, and mangroves.”
However, the Global Assessment 30×30 report warns that progress at sea is much slower. It finds that just 10% of the ocean is designated protected – a gap authors say could be closed by the High Seas Treaty (more on that below), which gives nations new powers to protect waters outside of their national boundaries.
Enforcing protected areas is another challenge. The report warns that bottom trawling and other damaging practices are still happening in many conservation zones.
O’Donnell called on governments to accelerate action and reframe the 30×30 target “not only as a conservation imperative, but as an investment in economic resilience, climate stability, food and water security, health, and long-term prosperity”.
Image: iStock
