A Guide to Expanding Protected & Conserved Areas under the UN Global Biodiversity Framework
In December 2022, more than 190 countries sealed a landmark deal to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework -- the GBF -- calls upon governments to take urgent action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.
Six broad principles that can guide planning and ensure protected and conserved areas are well sited.
Protected and conserved areas will play a key role. Currently, the world only safeguards 17% of terrestrial areas and 8% of marine areas, and many of these areas are not effectively managed or well-placed to achieve biodiversity outcomes.
Target 3 of the framework greatly expands these areas, setting a '30 by 30' goal -- to effectively and equitably protect and conserve 30% of all lands, freshwater bodies, and oceans by 2030.
With just seven years remaining, it's vitally important that we prioritize quality over quantity when designating new areas to support biodiversity and ecosystems.
In a recently published paper, we lay out six principles that guide governments to achieve a high-quality protected area network, providing the best chance of halting and reversing biodiversity loss while upholding the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Read the full article here
Access full paper here
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