Countries’ pledges could bring land protection close to 30%

Protecting 30% of the world’s land and inland waters by 2030 remains within reach, according to a new Campaign for Nature assessment. The opportunity now is to turn promises into places where wildlife can thrive.

The assessment puts current protected or conserved coverage at around 20%. Delivering existing, quantified government commitments could take that to approximately 27%. More than 50 countries and territories already report land coverage of at least 30%.

This does not mean the world is on course at its current pace. Many commitments still need mapped plans, funding and implementation. Ocean pledges lag further behind, reaching only about 12% by 2030 if delivered.

The global biodiversity agreement also requires effective management, connected habitats and respect for Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ rights. Its guidance says recognising traditional territories must include free, prior and informed consent.

So success involves more than drawing boundaries on a map. But the existing commitments offer a substantial starting point: delivering them would bring much more land and freshwater into conservation, and the global target considerably closer.

Sources

• Campaign for Nature — New analysis finds protecting 30% of the planet by 2030 remains within reach – but ocean protection is lagging
• Convention on Biological Diversity — Target 3: Conserve 30% of Land, Waters and Seas