According to UN’s Environment report, almost 15% of the world’s terrestrial area is better safeguarded by conservation measures, as well as over 7% of the world’s oceans, ensuring the world is on track to meet important conservation aims, according to the latest Protected Planet Report.
By July 2018, more than 20 million km2 of the earth’s land surface and nearly 27 million km2 of marine areas had been designated as ‘Protected Areas‘, meaning the locations that receive protection to achieve the long-term conservation of nature.
In addition, marine protected areas are of a big importance because they boost the Blue Economy, as well as fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and coastal areas.
The Protected Planet Report, powered by the UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the National Geographic Society, reviews the progress of Aichi Biodiversity Target 11, which aims for the effective and equitable management of 17% of terrestrial and 10% of coastal and marine areas by 2020.
Protected Planet provides the essential information for decision-makers to base their decisions on achieving the existing targets, and most importantly to inform the approach for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework being discussed this week in Egypt.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
According to Neville Ash, Director of United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre, the continued safety of protected areas is of a big importance for the future biodiversity.
Trevor Sandwith, Director of IUCN’s Global Protected Areas Programme stated that there are still challenges concerning key features of Aichi Biodiversity Target 11, but the effort indigenous people and local communities have made should be recognised.
Finally, this shows a rise in 0.2% of terrestrial and 3.2% of marine areas since the last report was published in 2016. Every month, new areas are being added and the online version of the report provides the latest information, as world leaders work to fulfil their agreed goals by 2020.
For more information, see the PDF below.
