Protected areas represent one of the main strategic solution to stop the current biodiversity crisis (the impending Sixth Mass Extinction). However, there is broad consensus and scientific evidence that not enough land and sea is yet protected to achieve international targets on ‘significantly reducing’ biodiversity decline, nor to protect habitats critical to maintaining a safe planetary operating space.
Today only 15 percent of land and 6 percent of our ocean are protected. It is far from being enough. Millions of animal species and over 10,000 endangered species survival depend upon the urgent creation of vital protected areas around the globe, both on land and sea.
Endangered Species International (ESI) has been working hard each day to protect rainforests, oceans, wetlands, rivers and other habitats. Creating and managing effectively protected areas are the core of our conservation work by fully integrating and respecting indigenous leadership and indigenous rights. We can protect at least 30% of the planet by 2030, but we need your help.
President Biden has committed to protecting 30% of the U.S.’s marine territory, part of the growing “30 x 30” movement to protect 30% of the global ocean by 2030. Other countries like France have announced the same. However, protection in the most critical areas of the world like the Amazon, Congo Basin, the Coral Triangle in Southeast Asia needs organizations like ESI to achieve conservation goals.
To commit to protecting at least 30% of the planet by 2030, support us to create new and effective protected areas where the funds are lacking like in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. There, we can protect millions of hectares of rainforests, coral reefs, deep ocean and more.
Costs
The investment needed to implement the 30% target through protected areas ranges from $103 billion per year to $178 billion per year depending on the implementation scenarios chosen on land and sea. This is a mere fraction of the military spending of the world; In 2020, it rises to almost $2 trillion! Basically, it is all possible and very achievable.
Protecting 30% of our planet will have huge beneficial outcomes. They include:
The extinction of a large percentage of species has been stopped and prevented;
Species populations are recovering around the planet;
The extent and quality of ecosystems and their services are stabilized or increasing with 2018 as a baseline year;
Degraded ecosystems are restored to maintain ecological function and the provisioning of ecosystem services.
What can you do now?
Sign the petition either as an individual or as an organization. https://www.campaignfornature.org/petition
Support ESI now on a monthly basis to join the implementation for a robust global deal for nature.
Spread the words and share our page to your family and friends.
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