According to a progress report by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 17.6% of land and inland waters and 8.4% of the ocean and coastal areas globally fall within protected and conserved areas. The report finds that progress must accelerate to protect 30% of the Earth by 2030 – Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

The Protected Planet Report 2024 is the first publication “to fully assess the global status of protected and conserved areas in the context of [GBF] Target 3.” Based on the latest official data reported by governments and other stakeholders to the Protected Planet Initiative, the report assesses progress towards 30% coverage as well as the full scope of other elements Target 3, including on improving the quality of protected and conserved areas globally.

The report finds that protected and conserved area coverage is expanding around the world, and while 30% coverage is a global target, 51 countries and territories already have networks of protected and conserved areas that exceed 30% coverage on land. In 31 countries, networks of protected and conserved areas exceed 30% at sea. However, to reach the 30% target in each realm globally, an additional 16.7 million square kilometers (12.4%) of terrestrial and inland waters, and 78.3 million square kilometers (21.6%) of marine and coastal areas still need to be included in protected and conserved area networks.

The report further finds that the connectivity of the global system of protected and conserved areas needs to be improved, with only 8.52% of land being both protected and connected.

The report reveals that to date, “177 countries and territories have completed and reported protected area management effectiveness assessments for at least one protected area.” The report highlights the need for more data on the quality of governance, management, and the achievement of conservation outcomes, to fully understand progress towards the “effectiveness” aspects of Target 3.

In addition, the findings show that “[d]ata are limited on the extent to which protected and conserved areas are equitably governed.” According to the report, “[t]he vast majority of protected and conserved areas are governed by national governments and other state actors,” with limited recognition of non-state governance by Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

The Protected Planet Report was issued on 28 October, during the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia.

Protected Planet brings together government and stakeholder data on protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) and provides the basis for monitoring and reporting on progress towards international environmental goals, including GBF Target 3.

According to a UNEP press release, UNEP-WCMC releases the Protected Planet Report approximately every two years. Assessments are available for 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, and 2012. [Publication: Protected Planet Report 2024] [Executive Summary] [Digital Report]