Biodiversité

Area-based conservation, including protected areas and OECMs, is the primary approach used to address biodiversity decline and now covers 8% of the world’s oceans and 17% of its lands. As it is set to diversify and expand under the 30x30 target to protect30% of the planet by 2030, we take stock of the approach, including its history in global policy and performance. We outline three priority directions to ensure area-based
conservation contributes to securing a sustainable and just future.

A ‘Blueprint’ to save critical ecosystems and stabilize the Earth’s climate.

More than two years in development, the Global Safety Net is the first comprehensive global-scale analysis of terrestrial areas essential for biodiversity and climate resilience, totaling 50.4% of the Earth's land. The report was published in Science Advances and highlights the importance of protecting and restoring the natural world to address three converging crises -- climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and the emergence of novel viruses such as COVID-19.