In an effort to conserve the world’s plants and animals, governments have pledged to conserve 30% of the planet by 2030. Official figures suggest that attempts to reach this target on land have stalled, but a new study led by the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom shows an incredible 27% of land may already be conserved for biodiversity, if you also count areas that aren’t globally recognised, but still support wildlife. The research, published in Nature , cautions that there’s still work to be done, as many habitats remain overlooked.
Almost every country has agreed to conserve 30% of the land and sea by 2030, as part of international efforts to halt and reverse the biodiversity crisis. But the latest official count shows only 18.5% of the land is reported as being conserved, making the target seem a distant goal. Now, an international team of conservation experts has combined these global measures of protection with national data on conservation areas – in a study that brings the total to 26.8%.
“With four years to go, the terrestrial component of the 30% target seems out of reach. Our analysis suggests that much more of the land is in some type of conservation area than currently recognised” says lead author Helen O'Neill, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Institute of Zoology , London.
The research shows that we are closer to reaching critical conservation coverage targets than ever before, but huge gaps remain in the world’s network of protected and conserved areas. Many habitats – like grasslands and shrublands, which are home to uniquely adapted wildlife – have limited protection and more must be done to conserve them.
What’s more, for conservation to work, these sites must be well managed. Co-author Heather Bingham , who leads the Protected Planet Initiative at the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre , Cambridge, stresses that “conserving 30% of lands and seas is not sufficient on its own. The target also calls for these areas to be managed effectively for positive biodiversity outcomes, and to be placed where they will have the greatest impact for biodiversity.” This means they must be well connected, encompass diverse ecosystems, and be managed in ways that are fair for local people.
“We need much more effort to officially recognise the existing conservation areas that are currently only recorded in national datasets.” shares Bob Smith , Director of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology at the University of Kent (part of the London and Southeast University Group) , Canterbury, and the study's lead investigator. “We also need to focus much more on improving the effectiveness of all conservation areas, as increasing the area of land under conservation will do little unless these sites are effectively and fairly managed.”
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Nature
Meta-analysis
Not applicable
Global conservation area coverage substantially exceeds current estimates
14-Oct-2026
The authors declare no competing interests.