Global Biodiversity Protection Progress Assessed Ahead of Key UN Conference
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The first official evaluation of progress toward the global '30×30' biodiversity conservation goal has been released. It finds that 17.6% of land and inland waters, and 8.4% of marine and coastal areas, are currently protected or conserved. The report coincides with a major UN biodiversity conference hosted by Colombia, a nation with exceptional ecological diversity.
Facts First
- The first progress report on the '30×30' biodiversity target has been published
- Current global protection stands at 17.6% of land/inland waters and 8.4% of marine/coastal areas
- The 30×30 goal aims to protect 30% of these areas by 2030
- The framework requires respecting Indigenous and community territories and rights
- The report coincides with a UN conference hosted by biodiverse Colombia
What Happened
The 'Protected Planet Report 2024' was released to coincide with the most recent United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia. This report provided the first evaluation of progress toward the '30×30' target, which is officially known as Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The report found that 17.6% of land and inland waters, and 8.4% of marine and coastal areas, were protected or conserved. The 30×30 pledge was made by 196 nations at the 2022 U.N. Biodiversity Conference in Montreal.
Why this Matters to You
The global effort to conserve biodiversity may help to preserve ecosystems that provide essential services, from clean water and air to climate regulation. The framework's requirement to respect Indigenous and community territories and rights suggests that implementation could support local stewardship and traditional knowledge. Progress toward these targets could influence the health of global food systems, natural resources, and resilience to environmental changes.
What's Next
The 2024 conference in Colombia will likely focus on accelerating action to meet the 2030 targets. Nations may need to significantly increase conservation efforts to bridge the gap from the current 17.6% and 8.4% figures to the 30% goal for both land and marine areas.