Protected Area targets have been set globally, regionally, and sometimes at a country level. During the last decade, the global protected area targets that all country signatories to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) committed to were the CBD's Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Specifically, Aichi Target 11 which stated that:
at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes by 2020.
The new Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted in December 2022 at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15). CBD country signatories have committed to implementing the protected area target (Target 3) of the new GBF by the year 2030. The text of Target 3 is below:
Ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular 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 consistent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities including over their traditional territories.
Regionally, the Micronesia Challenge aims to effectively conserve at least 30% of near-shore marine resources and 20% of terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020. An example of a country-based target is Fiji that aims to have 30% of reefs protected by 2015 and 30% of waters managed as a marine protected area network by 2020. During the 24th Micronesia Island Forum in 2019, the Leaders recognized the success in the first 15 years of the Micronesia Challenge and endorsed the new Micronesia Challenge 2030 goals to effectively manage 50% of marine resources, including the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and 30% of terrestrial resources by 2030.
Below are various efforts that have been carried out to assess global and regional progress towards the Aichi protected area targets. The paper by Govan (2009) is the most comprehensive assessment of marine protected areas (MPAs), including all LMMAs in the Pacific Islands. Govan’s data has now been incorporated into the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). Several of the papers below attempt to assess progress towards targets which relate to factors such as management effectiveness, biodiversity coverage, governance and finance etc.
As we move closer to 2030, further technical guidance on implementing the new GBF Target 3 that becomes available will be added to the resources section below. Furthermore, the resources section will be updated as needed to include any new papers or guidance related to taking stock of national, regional and global progress in implementing the GBF Target 3.
Cook Islands State of Environment (SOE) report
The 2018 SOE is a new baseline for future reports and can help the Cook Islands with national regional and international reporting obligations including multi-lateral environmental agreements.Available onlineCall Number: 333.7209623 COO, [EL]ISBN/ISSN: 978-982-04
Cook Islands GEF 7 Project Document
Official project document for the Cook Islands national project under GEF-7 programming, project title: Enhancing Biodiversity considerations and effective protected area management to safeguard the Cook Islands integrated ecosystems and species. Annexes not in
Cook Islands GEF-7 Project ENUA Progress Reports
This project aims to reduce and mitigate negative environmental impacts of the key development sectors (agriculture, infrastructure, tourism), which were recognized in the 2018 State of Environment Report as the main national drivers of biodiversity and habitat degradation.The Cook Islands GEF-7
Cost-effective priorities for the expansion of global terrestrial protected areas: Setting post-2020 global and national targets
Biodiversity loss is a social and ecological emergency, and calls have been made for the global expansion of protected areas (PAs) to tackle this crisis. It is unclear, however, where best to locate new PAs to protect biodiversity cost-effectively.
COVID-19 and protected areas: Impacts, conflicts, and possible management solutions
During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, management authorities of numerous Protected Areas (PAs) had to discourage visitors from accessing them in order to reduce the virus transmission rate and protect local communities.
Creating a National Coral-Focused Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Fiji to Prevent Coral Species Extinction in the Face of Rapid Climate Change: Applying the UNESCO-Endorsed “Reefs of Hope” Ocean Decade Action
In the face of recent setbacks to coral reef conservation and restoration due to intensifying marine heat waves, new coral-focused strategies have been developed to accelerate natural processes of coral reef adaptation and recovery.
Cultural ecosystem services and the conservation challenges for an Indigenous people's aquatic protected area practice.
Globally, protected areas associated with sacred sites and cemeteries are an emerging area of research. However, they are biased toward terrestrial systems.
Current Recorded Cook Islands Terrestrial Protected Areas. (NES 2011)
The SOE uses the 2011 report by Cook Islands to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to identify the country’s terrestrial protected areas.
Current trends and future directions for integrating social values into mangrove restoration
Despite the recent rise in mangrove restoration projects, the extent to which many projects include social dimensions remains contested, with limited research informing insights from on-ground projects.
Current trends suggest most Asian countries are unlikely to meet future biodiversity targets on protected areas
Aichi Target 11 committed governments to protect ≥17% of their terrestrial environments by 2020, yet it was rarely achieved, raising questions about the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework goal to protect 30% by 2030.
Custodians of the globe’s blue carbon assets
Over the last decades scientists have discovered that seagrass meadows, tidal marshes, and mangroves – “blue carbon” ecosystems – are among the most intensive carbon sinks in the biosphere.
Data-driven approach for highlighting priority areas for protection in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction
One of the aims of the United Nations (UN) negotiations on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) is to develop a legal process for the establishment of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, in ABNJ.
Database of Global Data Sources for Biodiversity Conservation Monitoring
Here you can access a database created by the Group in collaboration with Re:wild as part of an inventory of available data sources.
Defining ‘science-based targets’
Setting targets for addressing major planetary concerns is an essential prerequisite for concerted global action (both inside and outside multilateral environmental agreements) and is necessarily a societal and political process, requiring negotiation and convergence among oftenconflicting intere
Designing and managing protected and conserved areas to support inland water ecosystems and biodiversity
Inland waters – such as rivers, lakes and other wetlands – are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. They are also the most threatened; almost one in three species is at risk of extinction and monitored populations of freshwater species have declined by 85% since 1970.
Designing gender-inclusive data systems in small-scale fisheries
Gender equality is a ubiquitous national goal, yet sectoral gender data gaps to support this goal persist.
Designing protected area networks that translate international conservation commitments into national action
Here we undertake a cost-effective approach to protected area planning in Guyana that accounts for in-country conditions.
Diverse values of nature for sustainability
Twenty-five years since foundational publications on valuing ecosystem services for human well-being addressing the global biodiversity crisis still implies confronting barriers to incorporating nature’s diverse values into decision-making.
Documenting biodiversity outcomes in marine fisheries management
This guidance suggests actionable ways fisheries managers can utilize the types of survey and monitoring data generally being collected in priority areas (i.e.
Draft for Discussion : Issues for consideration in the development of a Marine Protected Area Policy for Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is a Member of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF), and in order to support the marine biodiversity goals of the CTI Regional and National Plans of Action, one action they have prioritised, is the need to strengthen marine governanc
Draft Marine Bioregions of the Southwest Pacific
Marine spatial planning is underway now, or starting, in many Pacific Island countries.
ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC VULNERABILITY AND OPPORTUNITIES ASSESSMENT (ESVOA) SOUTH WEST BAY, MALEKULA
The objective of an Ecosystem and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) process is to generate a robust planning baseline to inform the identification of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) options for strengthening the socio-ecological resilience of communities to the impacts of cl
Ecological and Socioeconomic Vulnerability and Opportunities Assessment (ESVOA), North Pentecost
The objective of an Ecosystem and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) process is to generate a robust planning baseline to inform the identification of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) options for strengthening the socio-ecological resilience of communities to the impacts of cl
Ecological and Socioeconomic Vulnerability and Opportunities Assessment (ESVOA), Tenmaru, Malekula
he objective of an Ecosystem and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) process is to generate a robust planning baseline to inform the identification of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) options for strengthening the socio-ecological resilience of communities to the impacts of cli
Ecological and Socioeconomic Vulnerability and Opportunities Assessment (ESVOA), Wiawi, Malekula.
The objective of an Integrated Ecosystem Management Plan process is to generate a robust planning baseline to inform the identification of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) options for strengthening the socio-ecological resilience of communities to the impacts of climate change and other direct an
Ecological functional diversity predicts nutritional functional diversity in complex agroforests
Biodiversity loss and rising noncommunicable disease incidences are among the greatest global challenges we face.
Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) and Commercial Activities
- Deep Sea Mining contract areas in ABNJ
- Purse seiner pollution observer incidents across region
- Regional fishing vessel density
- Purse seiner pollution observer incidents and purse seiner vessel density
Ecosystem and Socio-Economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) : Solomon Islands, Vol 3 : Honiara
This report Volume 3 (of three volumes) prepared as part of the Solomon Islands Ecosystems and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) to assess and priortise climate change-related ecosystem-based adaptaton options for selected locations in Solomon Islands.
Ecosystem and socio-economic resilience analysis and mapping (ESRAM) : Solomon Islands, Volume 1 : introduction and national assessment
This report presents Volume 1 (of three volumes) prepared as part of the Solomon Islands Ecosystems and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) to assess and prioritise climate change-related ecosystem-based adapation options for selected locations in Solomon Islands.
Ecosystem and socio-economic resilience analysis and mapping (ESRAM) : Solomon Islands, Volume 2 : Wagina Island (Choiseul Province)
This report presents Volume 2 (of three volumes) prepared as part of the Solomon Islands Ecosystems and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) to assess and climate change-related ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) options in Solomon Islands.
Ecosystem and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) for Central Islands Province, Solomon Islands
The target area for the ESRAM assessment is the land- and seascape comprising Nggela Islands, Russell Islands and Savo Island. This is largely due to the very high biodiversity values of their terrestrial and marine areas.
Ecosystem and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) for Central Islands Province, Solomon Islands
The target area for the ESRAM assessment is the land- and seascape comprising Nggela Islands, Russell Islands and Savo Island. This is largely due to the very high biodiversity values of their terrestrial and marine areas.
Ecosystem and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) for three Communities of Southern Malaita & Maramasike Passage, Solomon Islands : Summary Report
This report presents a summary of an Ecosystem and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) project in three communities in South Malaita, Malaita Province in the Solomon Islands; Tapa'atewa, Eliote and Ori Pre.
Ecosystem and socio-economic resilience analysis and mapping Macuata Province Fiji
The ecosystem and socio-economic resilience analysis and mapping (ESRAM) is a baseline study to identify vulnerabilities in ecosystem services at national, provincial and community scales in Fiji.
Ecosystem and socio-economic resilience analysis and mapping Taveuni Island, Fiji
The ecosystem and socio-economic resilience analysis and mapping (ESRAM) is a baseline study to identify vulnerabilities in ecosystem services at national, provincial and community scales in Fiji.
Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Resilience Analysis and Mapping Navua catchment and Beqa lagoon 2024
This report presents the Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) prepared as part of Objective 4. ESRAM is a framework employed globally to evaluate and strengthen the resilience of both, natural ecosystems and the socioeconomic systems closely linked to them.
Ecosystem-based adaptation options assessment - Macuata province Fiji
This project identifies two Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) options that are organisational tools to strengthen the ability of the Government of Fiji to manage for the resilience and diversity of ecosystem services over time.
Ecosystem-based adaptation options assessment and masterplan for Honiara, Solomon Islands.
This report presents the Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Options Assessment and Masterplan for Honiara prepared as part of the Solomon Islands Ecosystems and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) to assess and prioritise climate change-related ecosystem-based adaptation options
Ecosystem-based adaptation options assessment and masterplan Taveuni Fiji
This project identifies a range of Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) options that support ecosystem function and the community's continued to access to ecosystem services.
Ecosystem-based Adaptation Options Assessment and Masterplan, Wagina
This report presents the Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Options Assessment and Masterplan for Wagina prepared as part of the Solomon Islands Ecosystems and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mapping (ESRAM) to assess and prioritise climate change-related ecosystem-based adaptation options f
eDNA metabarcoding as a biomonitoring tool for marine protected areas
Monitoring of marine protected areas (MPAs) is critical for marine ecosystem management, yet current protocols rely on SCUBA-based visual surveys that are costly and time consuming, limiting their scope and effectiveness.
Effectiveness of the world network of biosphere reserves in maintaining forest ecosystem functions
UNESCO biosphere reserves serve as learning areas for sustainable development, where preserving ecosystem functionality is an imperative. However, this critical assumption has yet to be thoroughly examined.
Eliminating invasive rats may restore nutrient flow across food chain networks in Seychelles
Ecosystems are characterized by interconnected structure and functions.
Enabling Pathways for Rights-based Community-led Conservation
The Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) recognizes that durable conservation outcomes cannot be achieved without the rights, leadership, and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities.
Engaging the tropical majority to make ocean governance and science more equitable and effective
How can ocean governance and science be made more equitable and effective? The majority of the world’s ocean-dependent people live in low to middle-income countries in the tropics (i.e., the ‘tropical majority’).
Engaging youth in biodiversity education through visual narrative
Engaging youth in early and sustained conservation education has important implications for promoting positive attitudes and behaviors in those who will become the future of conservation and management.
Enhanced regional connectivity between western North American national parks will increase persistence of mammal species diversity
Many protected areas worldwide increasingly resemble habitat isolates embedded in human-modifed landscapes. However, establishing linkages among protected areas could signifcantly reduce speciesloss rates.
