The international community has made progress in pledges to protect 30% of Earth’s land and seas by 2030. However, a new report from the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) highlights the need for acceleration. The Protected Planet Report 2024 shows that 17.6% of land and 8.4% of ocean areas are within protected zones.
CURRENT COVERAGE STATUS
Since 2020, the coverage of protected areas has increased. This growth is equivalent to an area larger than Colombia. But, the rise is less than 0.5 percentage points for both land and sea. A land area equivalent to Brazil and Australia combined remains unprotected. A sea area larger than the Indian Ocean is still unprotected.
To meet the 30% target, global protected areas must increase by 12.4% on land and 21.6% in the ocean by 2030. The urgency is clear.
QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
Governments have committed to ensuring that protected areas are effective and equitably governed. While progress has been made, the data indicates shortcomings in both the quality and coverage of these areas. Effective management is essential for biodiversity and community benefits.
Protected areas play a vital role in halting biodiversity loss. They also offer cultural, spiritual, and economic benefits. In December 2022, Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) agreed to the 30% target. This is part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
REPORT FINDINGS
The Protected Planet Report 2024 offers insights into the progress towards Target 3. Key findings include:
- Land Coverage Needs Doubling. Protected areas on land must nearly double. In the ocean, they must triple to achieve the 30% target by 2030.
- Marine Progress: The strongest progress has occurred in national waters, with coverage in areas beyond national jurisdiction remaining low.
- Management Effectiveness: Less than 5% of land is covered by areas with assessed management effectiveness. The figure is only 1.3% for marine areas.
- Biodiversity Gaps: One-fifth of critical biodiversity areas are fully protected. One-third of these important areas lack any protection.
- Connection Issues: Only 8.5% of the world’s land is both well-connected and protected.
- Governance Challenges: Only 0.2% of land and less than 0.01% of marine areas have undergone governance assessments. Indigenous governance covers less than 4% of protected areas.
INDIGENOUS RIGHTS AND TERRITORIES
Indigenous Peoples and local communities cover an extra 13.6% of global terrestrial areas. Their contributions to conservation are significant and must be recognized.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, emphasizes the need for effective protected areas. “We are not moving nearly far or fast enough,” she states. 51 countries have exceeded 30% coverage on land. 31 countries have done so at sea. This shows that progress is possible.
IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE PROTECTED AREAS
Protected and conserved areas are crucial for people and nature. They halt biodiversity loss and supply essential ecosystem services. The report’s findings serve as a baseline between previous targets and the 2030 goal.
Dr. Grethel Aguilar from IUCN stresses the urgency. “With only six years remaining until 2030, the window is closing,” she warns. Collaboration across borders and demographics is essential.
DATA GAPS AND CHALLENGES
The 2021 evaluation identified weaknesses in assessing the effectiveness of protected areas. Data deficiencies hinder understanding of biodiversity outcomes, governance fairness, and rights recognition.
Three years later, this report indicates that not enough attention is given to equitably governing protected areas. Greater efforts are needed to support Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
PATH FORWARD TO 2030
Despite the challenges, there is optimism. The CBD Parties have agreed to develop a consistent approach for tracking progress. This could revolutionize how protected areas work.
The report outlines essential actions:
- Increase Coverage: Accelerate efforts to expand protected areas while ensuring they are well-connected.
- Support Indigenous Territories: Recognize and support the role of Indigenous and traditional territories.
- Financial Commitments: Offer international financing to developing countries. Countries committed to increasing biodiversity investments to USD 200 billion per year by 2030.
