30 by 30

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Percentage of land in protected areas by country, 2017 Share of land area that is protected, OWID.svg
Percentage of land in protected areas by country, 2017

30 by 30 (or 30x30) is a worldwide initiative for governments to designate 30% of Earth's land and ocean area as protected areas by 2030. [1] [2] The target was proposed by a 2019 article in Science Advances, "A Global Deal for Nature: Guiding principles, milestones, and targets", highlighting the need for expanded nature conservation efforts to mitigate climate change. [3] [4] Launched by the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People in 2020, more than 50 nations had agreed to the initiative by January 2021, [5] which has increased to more than 100 countries by October 2022. [6]

Contents

US$5 billion in funding for a project called the "Protecting Our Planet Challenge" was announced for the initiative in September 2021. [7]

In December 2022, 30 by 30 was agreed at the COP15 meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and became a target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. [8] [9] [10] This includes the G7 [11] and European Union.

The initiative has attracted controversy over indigenous rights issues. [1] [12]

Global

30 by 30 is the third of 23 global biodiversity targets for 2030 in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in December 2022:

Ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, recognizing indigenous and traditional territories, where applicable, and integrated into wider landscapes, seascapes and the ocean, while ensuring that any sustainable use, where appropriate in such areas, is fully consistent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, including over their traditional territories. [13]

European Union

The European Commission's Biodiversity strategy for 2030 was proposed on May 20, 2020, as the European Union's contribution to a post-2020 global biodiversity framework. The strategy contains several biodiversity-related commitments and actions to be delivered by 2030, including: [14]

The plan includes turning 30% of EU territory to protected area by 2030 and 10% to strictly protected area. However as of 2023 EU is not on track to meet the targets. [15]

The biodiversity strategy is a core part of the European Green Deal, and also intended to support green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. [14]

In July 2023 after many debates the European parliament adopted a version of the Nature restoration law, aiming to restore nature on 20% of the territory of the European Union by 2030. [16]

In 2024, the European Union passed a nature restoration law aiming to restore 20% of degraded ecosystems by 2030 and 100% by 2050. [17]

United States

On January 27, 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order on "Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad". Among several initiatives to address the climate crisis, the order directed federal departments to issue a report within 90 days "recommending steps that the United States should take, working with State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, agricultural and forest landowners, fishermen, and other key stakeholders, to achieve the goal of conserving at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030." [18]

On 6 May 2022, the Biden administration issued Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful, a preliminary report to the National Climate Task Force outlining the proposed principles, measures, and early focus areas for a national "ten-year, locally-led campaign to conserve and restore the lands and waters upon which we all depend". Participating federal agencies included the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Commerce, and Council on Environmental Quality. [19]

The report identified eight principles to guide the effort: [19]

The report outlined six early focus initiatives: [19]

The report proposed tracking progress through an American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas, an accessible online database and mapping tool which would provide current information on lands and waters conserved and restored, and an annual America the Beautiful public report, which would track fish and wildlife populations, and progress on conservation and restoration efforts across the country. [19]

California

On 7 October 2020, California governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order declaring it "the goal of the State to conserve at least 30 percent of California’s land and coastal waters by 2030", and directing state agencies to develop and report strategies for achieving the goal by February 1, 2022. The order also established a California Biodiversity Collaborative composed of representatives of government agencies, Native tribes, experts, and other stakeholders. [20]

The official report, Pathways to 30x30 California, was issued by the California Natural Resources Agency on 22 April 2022. The report outlines ten pathways, or strategies, to achieving California's biodiversity and protected area goals by 2030: [21]

  1. Accelerate Regionally Led Conservation
  2. Execute Strategic Land Acquisitions
  3. Increase Voluntary Conservation Easements
  4. Enhance Conservation of Existing Public Lands and Coastal Waters
  5. Institutionalize Advance Mitigation
  6. Expand and Accelerate Environmental Restoration and Stewardship
  7. Strengthen Coordination Among Governments
  8. Align Investments to Maximize Conservation Benefits
  9. Advance and Promote Complementary Conservation Measures
  10. Evaluate Conservation Outcomes and Adaptively Manage

Controversies and International Reactions

Criticism from Members of the Scientific Community

Despite positive media coverage received by this global environmental decision, some scientists have nuanced the supposed benefits of this policy to cope with the biodiversity crisis. Hélène Soubelet, for example, underlined that in the last 60 years in Germany in protected areas, the decline in the number of insects neared 80%, thus nuancing the idea that protected areas enable to protect biodiversity. [22] Kareiva, Lalasz and Marvier further underline that the rhythm at which wild species have been disappearing has increased, even though the number of protected areas raised from less than 10 000 in 1950 to over 100 000 in 2009. [23] Some scientists thus seem to dispute the idea that there is a direct link between increase in the number of protected areas and slowdown of the biodiversity crisis.

Moreover, S. Counsel underlines that the protecting 30% of areas target is not enough, as nothing guarantees that the areas that will be chosen to be protected will be the most important and relevant ones to actually protect. More affluent nations would have the possibility to select vast natural parks and classify them as protected areas, without any additional benefit for flora and fauna. [24]

Several NGOs have also underlined that the 30% target is not based on a scientific consensus, but is a random choice: why not 25% or 35% ? [25] Some researchers and public groups advocate for 50% of terrestrial and marine areas to be biologically conserved (i.e., the 'half earth' project). [26]

Accusations of Green Colonialism

The 30 by 30 initiative has been openly accused of embodying a form of green colonialism or green grabbing.

On November 30, 2022, a group of NGOs composed of Amnesty International, Minority Rights Group International, and Rainforest Foundation UK wrote an open letter citing concerns about potential human and indigenous rights violations if the 30 by 30 plan were to be applied. [25]

More broadly, the plan has been criticized for appropriating Indigenous lands under the guise of biodiversity conservation. The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs notably claimed the plan has “all the hallmarks of green colonialism”, due to its lack of consideration of Indigenous titles and rights. [27]

International Reactions

The COP15 included 196 parties in negotiations, with competing views regarding the adoption of the 30 by 30 target being wide-spread and well documented. [28] The resulting agreement of the conference, the Convention on Biological Diversity, was signed by every party, with the exception of two: the United States and the Vatican. [29] Towards the end of the talks, a negotiator from Democratic Republic of the Congo raised objections to the agreement, citing a lack of funding separate from the current Global Environment Facility (GEF). After a delay, COP15 president and Chinese environment minister Huang Runqiu overruled the objection due to a legal technicality, resulting in the passage of the agreement. Delegates from the DRC, Cameroon, and Uganda were reportedly displeased with the outcome. [30] After the agreement was passed, the DRC’s government announced that it would not recognize it as valid. [31]


See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convention on Biological Diversity</span> International treaty on biological diversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is a multilateral treaty. The Convention has three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity ; the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. Its objective is to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and it is often seen as the key document regarding sustainable development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biodiversity</span> Variety and variability of life forms

Biodiversity is the variability of life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels. There is for example genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distributed evenly on Earth. It is greater in the tropics as a result of the warm climate and high primary productivity in the region near the equator. Tropical forest ecosystems cover less than one-fifth of Earth's terrestrial area and contain about 50% of the world's species. There are latitudinal gradients in species diversity for both marine and terrestrial taxa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nature conservation</span> Movement to protect the biosphere

Nature conservation is the moral philosophy and conservation movement focused on protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats, enhancing ecosystem services, and protecting biological diversity. A range of values underlie conservation, which can be guided by biocentrism, anthropocentrism, ecocentrism, and sentientism, environmental ideologies that inform ecocultural practices and identities. There has recently been a movement towards evidence-based conservation which calls for greater use of scientific evidence to improve the effectiveness of conservation efforts. As of 2018 15% of land and 7.3% of the oceans were protected. Many environmentalists set a target of protecting 30% of land and marine territory by 2030. In 2021, 16.64% of land and 7.9% of the oceans were protected. The 2022 IPCC report on climate impacts and adaptation, underlines the need to conserve 30% to 50% of the Earth's land, freshwater and ocean areas – echoing the 30% goal of the U.N.'s Convention on Biodiversity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protected area</span> Areas protected for having ecological or cultural importance

Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources is limited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Community-based conservation</span> Conservation movement emerging in the 1980s

Community-based conservation is a conservation movement that emerged in the 1980s, in response to escalating protests and subsequent dialogue with local communities affected by international attempts to protect the biodiversity of the earth. These contentions were a reaction against traditional 'top down' conservation practices, whereby governments or large organisations exert control at a local level, which were perceived as disregarding the interests of local inhabitants. This stems from the Western idea on which the conservation movement was founded, of nature being separate from culture. The objective of community-based conservation is to actively involve and give some control to members of local communities in conservation efforts which may affect them, and incorporate improvement to the lives of local people while conserving areas through the creation of national parks or wildlife refuges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ecological restoration</span> Scientific study of renewing and restoring ecosystems

Ecological restoration, or ecosystem restoration, is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, destroyed or transformed. It is distinct from conservation in that it attempts to retroactively repair already damaged ecosystems rather than take preventative measures. Ecological restoration can reverse biodiversity loss, combat climate change, support the provision of ecosystem services and support local economies. The United Nations has named 2021-2030 the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine protected area</span> Protected areas of seas, oceans, estuaries or large lakes

A marine protected area (MPA) is a protected area of the world's seas, oceans, estuaries or in the US, the Great Lakes. These marine areas can come in many forms ranging from wildlife refuges to research facilities. MPAs restrict human activity for a conservation purpose, typically to protect natural or cultural resources. Such marine resources are protected by local, state, territorial, native, regional, national, or international authorities and differ substantially among and between nations. This variation includes different limitations on development, fishing practices, fishing seasons and catch limits, moorings and bans on removing or disrupting marine life. MPAs can provide economic benefits by supporting the fishing industry through the revival of fish stocks, as well as job creation and other market benefits via ecotourism. The value of MPA to mobile species is unknown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biodiversity action plan</span>

A biodiversity action plan (BAP) is an internationally recognized program addressing threatened species and habitats and is designed to protect and restore biological systems. The original impetus for these plans derives from the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). As of 2009, 191 countries have ratified the CBD, but only a fraction of these have developed substantive BAP documents.

An endangered species recovery plan, also known as a species recovery plan, species action plan, species conservation action, or simply recovery plan, is a document describing the current status, threats and intended methods for increasing rare and endangered species population sizes. Recovery plans act as a foundation from which to build a conservation effort to preserve animals which are under threat of extinction. More than 320 species have died out and the world is continuing a rate of 1 species becoming extinct every two years. Climate change is also linked to several issues relating to extinct species and animals' quality of life.

Environmental governance (EG) consists of a system of laws, norms, rules, policies and practices that dictate how the board members of an environment related regulatory body should manage and oversee the affairs of any environment related regulatory body which is responsible for ensuring sustainability (sustainable development) and manage all human activities—political, social and economic. Environmental governance includes government, business and civil society, and emphasizes whole system management. To capture this diverse range of elements, environmental governance often employs alternative systems of governance, for example watershed-based management.

The Wyss Foundation is a charitable organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded by philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss, it was established in 1998. The foundation has provided funding to conservation, environmental journalism, education, museums, and progressive political advocacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Green Deal</span> Plan to transform the EU into a climate-neutral economy by 2050

The European Green Deal, approved in 2020, is a set of policy initiatives by the European Commission with the overarching aim of making the European Union (EU) climate neutral in 2050. The plan is to review each existing law on its climate merits, and also introduce new legislation on the circular economy (CE), building renovation, biodiversity, farming and innovation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable Development Goal 15</span> 15th of 17 Sustainable Development Goals to protect life on land

Sustainable Development Goal 15 is about "Life on land". One of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015, the official wording is: "Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss". The Goal has 12 targets to be achieved by 2030. Progress towards targets will be measured by 14 indicators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference</span> COP 15 (Biodiversity)

The 2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was a conference held in Montreal, Canada, which led to the international agreement to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030 and the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fortress conservation</span> Conservation model

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework</span> International agreement on conservation of biodiversity

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is an outcome of the 2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference. Its tentative title had been the "Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework". The GBF was adopted by the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on 19 December 2022. It has been promoted as a "Paris Agreement for Nature". It is one of a handful of agreements under the auspices of the CBD, and it is the most significant to date. It has been hailed as a "huge, historic moment" and a "major win for our planet and for all of humanity."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference</span> COP 16 (Biodiversity)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Jonas</span>

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References

  1. 1 2 Mukpo, Ashoka (26 August 2021). "As COP15 approaches, '30 by 30' becomes a conservation battleground". Mongabay Environmental News. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  2. ↑ "30 by 30: why humanity should protect 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030". New Scientist. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  3. ↑ Dinerstein, E.; Vynne, C.; Sala, E.; Joshi, A. R.; Fernando, S.; Lovejoy, T. E.; Mayorga, J.; Olson, D.; Asner, G. P.; Baillie, J. E. M.; Burgess, N. D. (19 Apr 2019). "A Global Deal For Nature: Guiding principles, milestones, and targets". Science Advances. 5 (4): eaaw2869. doi:10.1126/sciadv.aaw2869. PMC   6474764 . PMID   31016243.
  4. ↑ Jones, Benji (2021-04-12). "The hottest number in conservation is rooted more in politics than science". Vox. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  5. ↑ Rowling, Megan. "Drive to protect 30% of planet by 2030 grows to 50 nations". Thomson Reuters Foundation. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  6. ↑ Subramaniam, Tara (2022-10-04). "Australia commits to zero extinctions with new plan to protect 30% of land". CNN. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
  7. ↑ Rendon, Jim (September 28, 2021). "$5B conservation plan offers new approach, but faces hurdles". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  8. ↑ "High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People". HAC for Nature and People. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  9. ↑ Briggs, Helen (2022-12-19). "COP15: Nations reach 'historic' deal to protect nature". BBC News. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  10. ↑ "COP15: Key outcomes agreed at the UN biodiversity conference in Montreal". Carbon Brief. 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  11. ↑ "G7 commits to end support for coal-fired power stations this year". euronews. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  12. ↑ "Major U.N. Biodiversity Deal Recognizes Indigenous Rights But Lacks Critical Enforcement Measures". Democracy Now! . December 21, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2022. 'In Canada, where I come from, I can speak to this directly, where we are committing to "30×30," millions and millions of dollars for biodiversity protection, Indigenous protection and conservation areas, yet we are not talking about ending the expansion of the Alberta tar sands. We are not talking about ending the destruction to biodiversity in other areas. We're creating the optics of sacrifice zones, so we can choose which areas to save, which areas to diminish. And this results in human rights abuses, Indigenous rights abuses and the risking the planetary health for everyone.' - Eriel Deranger, indigenous rights activist
  13. ↑ "Kunming-Montreal Global biodiversity framework: Draft decision submitted by the President" (PDF). Convention on Biological Diversity. 18 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Biodiversity strategy for 2030". European Commission. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  15. ↑ Bomas, Wiebke (11 July 2023). "EU likely to miss conservation targets – catching up needs more rangers". European Ranger Federation. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  16. ↑ Magee, Caolán (12 July 2023). "Europe agrees landmark nature and climate deal after tense negotiations". CNN. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  17. ↑ Symons, Angela (2024-06-17). "Newly approved Nature Restoration Law a 'vital boost' to biodiversity". euronews. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  18. ↑ "Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad". The White House. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful" (PDF). US Department of Interior. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  20. ↑ "Executive Order N-82-20" (PDF). State of California. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  21. ↑ "30x30 California". 30x30 California. California Natural Resources Agency. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  22. ↑ "Les aires protégées pour protéger la biodiversité, la solution miracle ?". www.20minutes.fr (in French). 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  23. ↑ Kareiva; Lalasz; Marvier (2012). "Conservation in the Anthropocene: Beyond Solitude and Fragility". Breakthrough Journal. 2: 29–37.
  24. ↑ Counsel, S (March 7, 2022). "Conservationists claim 30x30 is supported by science. It isn't". REDD-Monitor.
  25. 1 2 "« Protéger » 30% des terres d'ici 2030 : un désastre pour les peuples et une mauvaise idée pour la planète". Amnesty International (in French). 2022-12-02. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  26. ↑ Noss; Dobson; Baldwin; Beier; Davis; Dellasala; Francis; Locke; Nowak; Lopez; Reining; Trombulak; Tabor (2012). "Bolder Thinking for Conservation". Conservation Biology. 26 (1): 1–4. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2011.01738.x .
  27. ↑ "FNLC Critical of the Continued Marginalization of Indigenous Peoples at COP15". UBCIC. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  28. ↑ "The Global Biodiversity Framework's "30x30" Target: Catchy slogan or effective conservation goal?". International Institute for Sustainable Development. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  29. ↑ Einhorn, Catrin (2022-12-19). "Nearly Every Country Signs On to a Sweeping Deal to Protect Nature". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  30. ↑ Greenfield, Patrick; Weston, Phoebe (2022-12-19). "Cop15: historic deal struck to halt biodiversity loss by 2030". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  31. ↑ Greenfield, Patrick (2022-12-19). "Objection by DRC sours 'paradigm-changing' Cop15 biodiversity deal". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-08-21.
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