What is 30×30?
Picture colourful coral reefs abundant with life, ancient forests with fresh air and rivers where you can see fish darting around. These aren’t just pretty pictures; they are vital ecosystems we’re racing to save. And 30×30 is our roadmap. This framework aims to protect 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland waters and marine ecosystems by 2030.
Savannas, deserts, Mediterranean scrub, temperate grasslands, tundra, tropical rainforest, temperate deciduous forests and taigas are types of terrestrial ecosystems.
Rivers, wetlands, lakes, estuaries, peatlands and brackish rivers (where salt and freshwater mix) are examples of inland water ecosystems.
Coral reefs, mangroves, kelp forests, open ocean, salt marshes, mudflats, Antarctic, Arctic, abyssal plain (water column and sea floor from 3,000 to 6,500m), hydrothermal vents and rocky and sandy shores are types of marine ecosystems.
What is 30×30 apart of?
Now that we know what 30×30 is, it is essential to understand where it has come from. 30×30 is the third target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). In 2022, COP15 set this goal. This framework has 23 targets. Experts have called it “the world’s most ambitious conservation target to date.”
Originally, we had eight years to reach this target, and now we have five years. This urgency fuels our drive to protect our ecosystems. In this post, I will explore the current global status of 30×30, what countries are leading the change, why we need this change, discuss the benefits and challenges and how you can help your local ecosystems thrive.
Who has agreed to 30×30?
In 2022 the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People announced that 116 countries have pledged to protect 30% of our planet by 2030.
You can find if your country has a national target set to support 30×30 on the Convention on Biological Diversity page.
Ghana, Kenya, Iran, Pakistan, Hungary, Costa Rica, Ireland and Sweden show a strong commitment to the 30×30 target by establishing numerous national targets.
How much of the world is protected?
With 116 countries pledging their support, you may wonder how much of the world is protected? In 2021, 22.5 million km2 (16.64%) of terrestrial and inland waters have been protected around the world. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reports that only 28.1 million km2 (7.74%) of the marine ecosystems have been protected.
We still have a long way to go to get to 30% protection of terrestrial, inland water and marine ecosystems.
Why has 30×30 been Established?
The planet is losing the biodiversity of all living organisms at an alarming rate. Between 1970 and 2020, monitored wildlife populations have shrunk by 73%, with freshwater populations declining by a staggering 85%. Terrestrial populations have also seen a significant drop of 69%, while marine populations have decreased by 56%.
Populations in Latin America and the Caribbean have seen a decline of 95%! Africa (76%) and Asia and Pacific (60%) also seeing high levels of their populations shrinking according to the WWF 2024 Living Planet Report. These places are seen along the equator which is where tropical rainforests are found. These rainforests hold 80% of the world’s known species in only 6% of the lands surface. So, we must work on increasing the protection of these places especially.
Why do we need healthy ecosystems?
The alarming decline in biodiversity shows the need for healthy ecosystems. But apart from the intrinsic value of nature, why do we need healthy ecosystems?
I believe that every living thing has value on this planet and should be able to live in its habitat peacefully whether humans see a use in it. These species have their intrinsic value.
The ways we put a monetary value to ecosystems is through the services they provide us. Because without these ecosystems nothing would be able to survive.
It’s very important to protect all ecosystems, for example, the ocean and Amazon rainforest provide us with most of our oxygen. Which is one of the most basic needs for all life.
Ecosystem services
There are four main types of ecosystem services. These are the ways we all benefit from ecosystems every single day.
Provisioning Services
Think about where your food comes from. The water we drink and the wood to build our homes? That is all thanks to our natural world. These are what we call provisioning services, as they are the direct gifts the ecosystem gives us.
Regulating Services
These services need healthy ecosystems to work. For example, pollination from animals and insects, carbon sequestration to offset climate change and mangroves protecting coastal regions from floods.
Cultural Services
These are untouchable benefits people get from ecosystems. For example, nature tourism, photography, aesthetics and the spiritual benefit of being in nature. Also, certain animals, plants and places are sacred in indigenous cultures around the world. These services are harder to monitor than the other three.
Supporting Services
These services allow ecosystems to thrive. They provide us with provisioning, regulating and cultural services. Processes like decomposition, photosynthesis, the water cycle, the carbon cycle and the nutrient cycle, create this group.
What are the benefits of 30×30
By understanding the vital ecosystem services nature gives us, you may wonder what are the positive impacts we will get from implementing 30×30?
A key strength of the 30×30 concept is that it is simple on the surface for the public to understand. This allows more people to feel involved with what is happening in the world with biodiversity.
The 30% protection target by 2030 is a starting point. There may need to be more protection of our Earth in the future. But if we can get all the countries that have signed to have 30% protection this is moving in the right direction. While 30×30 isn’t legally binding for the countries that adopt this framework, the countries may add 30×30 targets into their laws and policies. Also, other international agreements have 30×30 targets in place, which the countries agree to incorporate once they sign the agreement.
Protection of Species
Imagine a future where you can spot fish from the riverbank, where rainforests are safe havens for hundreds of species, and where you can see whales from any coastline. That is the promise of 30×30. By protecting these important areas, we’re giving these species a fighting chance.
Climate Change Mitigation
Did you know that protecting our special ecosystems also helps tackle one of the world’s biggest challenges, climate change. Some main ecosystems that help us absorb and store more CO2 are forests, oceans, wetlands, mangroves and peatlands. For example, when we protect vegetation and soil, 3.9 Giga tons (or 3.9 billion tons) of Carbon dioxide can be captured.
Abundant communities of life help these ecosystems to thrive, which can also increase resistance to climate-related events like floods, erosion and desertification.
Enhancing Human Wellbeing
There is no doubt that being in nature is good for you. One study looking at results from many studies on green spaces and mental health. States that getting 20 to 90 minutes of nature-based activities, like gardening and exercising in the outdoors are effective for improving mental health in adults. Including those who currently have mental health problems.
Supporting United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG)
You may have heard that protecting nature also connects to things like ending poverty and ensuring everyone has clean water. That is true and 30×30 supports 10 of the UNSDGs.
- No Poverty
- Good health and wellbeing
- Gender equality
- Clean water and sanitation
- Reduced inequalities
- Sustainable cities and communities
- Climate action
- Life below water
- Life on land and
- Peace, justice and strong institutions
What are the challenges surrounding 30×30
The benefits of 30×30 are clear, but achieving this goal is not going to come without the challenges that we will have to solve. So, what are some of the obstacles that we face in implementing this framework?
The need for targeted protection: Focusing on Biodiversity Hotspots
If you have been travelling or watching nature documentaries, you will see a pattern where biodiversity is rich in tropical areas like the Amazon rainforest. While it is lacking in cold arctic regions of Alaska or dry and hot places like the Sahara Desert in Egypt. This means 30×30 isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Therefore, scientists argue that to protect biodiversity, we must protect a larger area of our rich biodiverse ecosystems of our planet compared to others. This could mean we need to protect more than 30% of the habitat in some countries.
Economic Considerations: Supporting Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Many biodiverse nations, particularly those in low- and middle-income regions, may lack the resources to fully protect their ecosystems. This can lead to economic challenges associated with land protection. This can increase tension between economic development and conservation priorities, leading to competing land uses.
If some farmland was going to be converted back to conservation land or if governments establish laws to protect more of the remaining ecosystems, this could change the accessibility for food, timber and other services for these communities. These countries could experience economic challenges from land use changes as many people rely on farming for their income. Low- and middle-income countries may need support from high-income countries to help protect their conservation land, while supporting local farmers and communities. So, people, animals and nature can live in balance.
Empowering Local Voices: Prioritising Indigenous and Local Community-led Conservation
Governments cannot use 30×30 as an excuse to avoid returning land to indigenous people and local communities (IPLCs) worldwide. IPLC-led conservation should help give more rights to Indigenous people, along with resources and funding from governments. Indigenous communities have strong traditional ecological knowledge, which makes them natural leaders in conservation work when properly supported.
Ensuring a Diverse Range of Ecosystems
Countries need to make sure they are protecting a wide range of ecosystems. In New Zealand, where I live, we have already conserved over 30% of our terrestrial land, which is amazing! However, most of our highly protected environments are our mountainous regions with snow, ice and beech forest. We are conserving around half of the remaining beech forests.
Yet, we are currently only conserving less than 10% of the lowland conifer broadleaf forests, swamps and mangroves. These coastal lowland regions are more suitable for farming, industry and urban development, making ecosystem protection difficult. We need to work to change this, as our lowland ecosystems have a much higher percentage of New Zealand’s biodiversity compared to our mountainous regions. Therefore, even with 30% of our terrestrial ecosystems protected, we must work on conserving at least 30% of our lowland ecosystems, up from less than 10%.
Effective Protection and Active Management
We must effectively protect National Parks and Marine Protected Areas. Active Management will require legal protection and monitoring for illegal activities like poaching and overfishing. We must also monitor the populations of species and habitats to assess their health and condition. Effective protection can create many jobs for people around the world, who can be paid from tourism dollars.
How can you help 30×30
Addressing the challenges surrounding 30×30 is going to take a collective effort from everyone. So, how can you help today to contribute to the success of 30×30?
- Research your country’s current protection statistics and see what 30×30 goals they have planned or are implementing.
- Vote for leaders in government and/or local council who you think will have the greatest positive impact on your local ecosystems.
- Start a conversation about 30×30 with those close to you. When we raise awareness together, we can show governments this matters to us.
- Are you ready to make a difference right now? Start by researching local or international foundations that align with your values. Consider donating because even a small donation can go a long way to helping research or protecting an animal.
- Search for your local environmental groups online or by social media. Many have volunteer days which are easy to join. Or if you can’t find a group, make your own Facebook page and organise a beach or neighbourhood cleanup. Everything makes a difference!
My Final Thoughts
Every action you take towards positive change, no matter how small will make a difference.
While governments and communities must address certain challenges before fully implementing 30×30 protection, immediate action is critical. The 2024 Living Planet Report has a quote that sums it up pretty well. “It is no exaggeration to say that what happens in the next five years will determine the future of life on Earth.”
We need to put the earth back into a healthy balance, so I want this quote to inspire you into action. And to quote the Queen of nature herself Jane Goodall “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you must decide what kind of difference you want to make”
Thank you for reading this blog post. Please leave a comment below and tell us: How much of your country is protected in Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial areas? What actions is your country taking to increase protection? And what kind of difference do you want to make today?
Georgia xo
