Protecting 30% of the planet by 2030
In December 2022, nations finalized the most ambitious strategy in our history to protect the planet’s biodiversity, ratifying a plan to safeguard at least 30% of the Earth’s surface by 2030 (30x30).
The 30x30 goal is a response to the mounting evidence that the loss of biodiversity presents an existential threat to human prosperity and security. Under the status quo, a million species are facing the threat of extinction, many within decades, and a significant majority of the planet’s surface has been severely altered by humans.
Scientists have said protecting at least 30% of the planet by decade’s end is the bare minimum we must do to slow the loss of wildlife and wild places – and maintain biodiversity on Earth.
Source: Protected Planet, as of January 2023. Data includes terrestrial and marine protected areas, in addition to “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs).
As of January 2023, only 17 percent of the planet’s land and 8.3 percent of its ocean is protected, according to the Protected Planet database.
ADDITIONAL 30x30 RESOURCES
Banner photo credit: David Garcia
“Earth’s wild places cannot be saved by the hands of a few. The fate of our natural world depends on our collective ability to conserve our planet and share its bounties with one another.”
HANSJÖRG WYSS
(Photo credit: Daniel Rosengren)
