Such a sanctuary system represents a cornerstone goal of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a 196-member international treaty that aims to halt the escalating global biodiversity crisis. Negotiators will decide in December 2022 on the final shape and scope of this “30x30” target, which some scientists describe as a “moonshot” challenge.
The new 68-page paper, published in the journal Science on April 22, 2022, synthesizes the most recent research on marine conservation to create a global blueprint and toolkit for countries to implement the 30x30 goal.
The analysis and recommendations outlined in the paper were collectively developed and peer-reviewed by more than 75 scientists and policy experts, led by the marine science center of The Pew Charitable Trusts and researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
“Negotiations under the Convention on Biological Diversity offer governments the historic opportunity to achieve the 30x30 goal, safeguarding the world’s oceans and their multitude of benefits and values for future generations,” said Rashid Sumaila, a co-lead author of the paper and the Canada Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Ocean and Fisheries Economics at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries.
The authors emphasized the importance of creating marine protected areas in areas that maximize the benefits people get from nature, such as fisheries production and protection from storm damage.
“As scientists, we felt we needed to bring the best and most up-to-date scientific knowledge to negotiators about how to achieve the 30x30 goal in the most effective and equitable way,” said David Obura, a co-lead author of the paper and director of the Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (CORDIO) East Africa regional program. “We hope that the guidance we provide will help ensure that the 30x30 deal can succeed in meeting its conservation goals.”
The study included the following recommendations for effective marine protected area design:
The paper suggests that governments adopt a “two-pronged” approach to achieving the 30x30 target: countries can either expand existing marine protected areas or create new ones—or a combination of both.
A substantial proportion of the 30% total should encompass highly protected “no-take” zones where extractive activities, including fishing, mining, and oil and gas drilling, are prohibited. These zones should be strategically placed to ensure that they provide sufficient habitat protection for species at risk.
The authors also advocate for safeguarding ecologically or biologically significant marine areas, including sites such as coral reefs, seamounts, and areas with high levels of endemism (species found nowhere else on Earth).
They note that the design and management of marine protected areas should draw on and respect the knowledge of Indigenous peoples and local communities.
“Countries have made significant progress toward creating marine protected areas to safeguard the oceans, but there’s still much to do to meet the 30x30 goal,” said Beth O’Leary, manager of global ocean legacy at The Pew Charitable Trusts and co-lead author of the paper. “With concerted global action and sound ocean governance, we can protect significant areas of the world’s oceans by 2030 and safeguard the incredible biodiversity and ecological resilience of these amazing ecosystems.”
