Skip to content

Social implications of the 30×30 global conservation target

Published Article

Global

Publication date: May 12, 2026

File format: URL

View resource

Countries have committed to conserving at least 30% of the world's land and waters by 2030. Now, research shows that its success hinges as much on social choices as ecological ones.

Subject Tags

  • Indigenous Peoples
  • Policy
  • Biodiversity

30x30 is both an ecological and social goal

By James Fitzsimons, Senior Advisor, Global Protection Strategies

Read the full story

Abstract

Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to increase global protected and conserved area coverage to at least 30% by 2030. The impact on people, whether positive or negative, will depend on the social context of additional areas and how they are governed and managed. Here, we show that Target 3 could affect large and socially diverse populations under different implementation scenarios. Nearly half the human population lives within 10 km of areas included in a scenario maximising biodiversity representation. Four percent live near areas included in an Indigenous and traditional territories-based scenario, including many in areas with low Human Development Index scores (74%) and high participation in wild harvesting (91%). A scenario prioritising nature’s contributions to people is intermediate on all measures. Our results demonstrate that Target 3 is a highly ambitious social as well as ecological target, requiring an equally ambitious commitment to development funding and support for local residents.

Citation

Fajardo, J., Bingham, H.C., Brockington, D. et al. Social implications of the 30×30 global conservation target. Nat Commun 17, 4067 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71860-8

TNC Authors