30 by 30
international ecological preservation initiative
30 by 30 (or 30 × 30) is a global initiative for governments to designate 30% of Earth's land and ocean area as protected areas by 2030. The target was proposed by a 2019 article in Science Advances, "A Global Deal for Nature: Guiding principles, milestones, and targets", highlighting the need for expanded nature conservation efforts to mitigate climate change. Launched by the High Ambition Coalition in 2020, more than 50 nations had agreed to the initiative by January 2021, which had increased to more than 100 countries by October 2022.
US$5 billion in funding for a project called the "Protecting Our Planet Challenge" was announced for the initiative in September 2021.
In December 2022, 30 by 30 was agreed at the COP15 meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and became a target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This includes the G7 and European Union.
The initiative has attracted controversy over indigenous rights issues.
As of May 2026, 17.3% of terrestrial land and inland waters and 9.8% of marine areas are protected. Including OECM's (Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures) the percent of protected areas are 18.4% of terrestrial and inland waters and 10.0% of marine areas.
Global
30 by 30 is the third of 23 global biodiversity targets for 2030 in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in December 2022:
Ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, recognizing indigenous and traditional territories, where applicable, and integrated into wider landscapes, seascapes and the ocean, while ensuring that any sustainable use, where appropriate in such areas, is fully consistent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, including over their traditional territories.
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