30×30 Resources
What is 30×30?
The 30×30 goal—to protect 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030—is a cornerstone of international efforts to halt and reverse nature loss this decade.
The goal, agreed upon by 196 countries under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in 2022, aims to curb biodiversity loss, safeguard vital ecosystems, and combat climate change. It emphasizes the importance of conserving ecologically representative and well-connected areas while respecting the rights and leadership of Indigenous peoples and local communities.
Why Do We Need It?
Nature provides the essential foundations for all life on Earth, including our own. From the air we breathe and the water we drink to the food we eat and the climate-regulating ecosystem services we rely on, there is no substitute for the natural world. These life-sustaining benefits are irreplaceable and increasingly under threat.
Yet today, just 17% of land and 8% of oceans are under protection—far short of what’s needed. Time is running out.
To protect at least 30% of the planet’s land and sea by 2030, world leaders must work in partnership with one another, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and civil society. In addition to formally designated protected areas and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), a third, equally vital pathway to achieving the 30 by 30 target lies in recognizing and supporting the traditional governance and biodiversity stewardship of Indigenous and local communities.
30%
by 2030
The Goal
Achieving this ambitious goal requires transformative change, and that means grounding our actions in the best available knowledge.
SPACES understands that and is built on the cutting-edge research of leading global experts, offering the robust scientific foundation needed to guide effective, inclusive, and lasting conservation solutions.
Key Milestones On The Road to 30×30
In December 2022, all parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity agreed to include the 30 by 30 target in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The Global Ocean Alliance has now reached 77 member countries, all of which are committed to protecting at least 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030.
94 countries have now signed the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature, committing to significantly increase the protection of the world’s land and ocean areas.
More than 120 countries have now joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People to champion and ensure the successful implementation of the global target to protect or conserve at least 30 percent of the world’s land and ocean areas by 2030.
In November 2024, the United Nations conference on biodiversity established a subsidiary body that will include Indigenous peoples in future decisions on nature conservation.
Resources
Resources on 30×30, best practices and implementation
A selection of scientific research backing 30×30