In 2010, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity set forth a series of ambitious global conservation goals. A recent progress report showcases how far we’ve come in meeting these goals, as well as the challenges still ahead.
Convention on Biological Diversity: An Overview
The Convention on Biological Diversity is a legally binding treaty that has been in effect since 1993, with all but a few countries, including India, having ratified it. The treaty, under the United Nations Environment Programme, seeks to conserve biodiversity across the globe. It operates from its Secretariat base in Montreal, Canada.
The treaty includes supplementary agreements such as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources. These protocols aim at protecting biodiversity from potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. It also establishes a framework for equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization.
About the Protected Planet Reports
These reports, drafted every two years, are a joint effort between the United Nations Environment Programme, World Conservation Monitoring Centre, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the National Geographic Society. The reports assess the state of protected and conserved areas around the world. The 2020 report is the first to include data on “Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures” (OECMs) alongside protected areas. OECMs are areas credited for effectively conserving biodiversity outside of established protected zones.
Aichi Biodiversity Target 11
A key element of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 was the Aichi Biodiversity Target 11. The goal was to have 17% of land and inland water ecosystems and 10% of coastal waters and oceans conserved by 2020.
Findings of the Report
Progress has been made since 2010, with 82% of countries and territories increasing their share of protected areas and OECMs. Protected areas globally have expanded by almost 21 million km2. Since being recorded in 2019, OECMs have added another 1.6 million km2 to global conservation efforts.
However, these advances have not come without challenges. Effectiveness assessments have only been completed for less than one fifth of protected area coverage, and not all meet full effectiveness standards. Furthermore, data on governance diversity and quality for these areas is still lacking.
Protected Area in India
India’s network of 903 protected areas covers about 5% of the country’s total geographical area. These areas include National Parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves, Reserved and protected forests, Conservation reserves and community reserves, and Private protected areas. In these zones, human intervention and resource exploitation are strictly controlled.
Way Forward
To address current weaknesses, there is a need for greater application of global standards for effectiveness, such as the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas. Recognizing the role that protected and conserved areas play in climate change mitigation and other global challenges can provide a strong impetus to invest in more effective national and global networks.
Last Modified: February 13, 2024