Avoiding an impending collision in international conservation

Abstract

There are long-standing tensions between 2 major move ments in international conservation: one emphasizes increasing the area set aside for conservation and the other empha sizes an inclusive, people-centered approach to conservation. The degree to which these movements harmonize or contra dict depends largely on how decision makers balance strictly protected areas (PAs) with flexible other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). OECMs while respecting the rights of Indigenous People and local communities (IPLCs) (CBD, 2022). The final wording is The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity’s Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) embodies elements of both movements. Target 3 (30×30) sets ambitious targets to protect 30% of inland water, land, and marine ecosystems by 2030 through a combination of PAs and Ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particu lar 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 consis tent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, including over their traditional territories.