Current global marine protection targets aim to protect 10À30% of marine habitats within the next 3-5 years. However, these targets were adopted without prior assessment of their achievability. Moreover, ability to monitor progress towards such targets has been constrained by a lack of robust data on marine protected areas. Here we present the results of the first explicitly marine-focused, global assessment of protected areas in relation to global marine protection targets. Approximately 2.35 million km 2 , 0.65% of the world's oceans and 1.6% of the total marine area within Exclusive Economic Zones, are currently protected. Only 0.08% of the world's oceans, and 0.2% of the total marine area under national jurisdiction is no-take. The global distribution of protected areas is both uneven and unrepresentative at multiple scales, and only half of the world's marine protected areas are part of a coherent network. Since 1984 the spatial extent of marine area protected globally has grown at an annual rate of 4.6%, at which even the most modest target is unlikely to be met for at least several decades rather than within the coming decade. These results validate concerns over the relevance and utility of broad conservation targets. However, given the low level of protection for marine ecosystems, a more immediate global concern is the need for a rapid increase in marine protected area coverage. In this case, the process of comparing targets to their expected achievement dates may help to mobilize support for the policy shifts and increased resources needed to improve the current level of marine protection.

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Marine conservation lags behind terrestrial in the establishment of protected areas. This was recognized by the Convention on Biological Diversity, whose members, in 2004, agreed to establish "comprehensive, effectively managed, and ecologically representative" systems of marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2012. Halfway toward this target date, we look at the coverage of the world's 5045 MPAs from a biogeographic perspective. Only 4.09% of continental shelf areas are incorporated within MPAs, although coverage rises to 12.1% in a narrow coastal belt. Approximately half of all marine ecoregions have less than 1% MPA coverage across the shelf, but this is highly variable, and (8%) of ecoregions have >30% protection. Protection is greatest in the tropical realms, while temperate realms remain poorly represented. Given that that many sites lack effective management, even these low estimates of coverage are an optimistic measure of the extent of effective marine conservation.

Climate change is expected to alter the distribution of habitats and thus the distribution of species connected with these habitats in the terrestrial Barents Sea region. It was hypothesised that wild species connected with the tundra and open-land biome may be particularly at risk as forest area expands. Fourteen species of birds were identified as useful indicators for the biodiversity dependent upon this biome. By bringing together species distribution information with the LPJ-GUESS vegetation model, and with estimates of future wild and domestic reindeer density, potential impacts on these species between the present time and 2080 were assessed. Over this period there was a net loss of open land within the current breeding range of most bird species. Grazing reindeer were modelled as increasing the amount of open land retained for nine of the tundra bird species.

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The coverage of protected areas (PAs) is an indicator recommended by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to its parties for tracking progress towards the 2010 target to halt biodiversity loss. Data from the World Database on Protected Areas and other sources show that 10.6 percent (5 million hectares) of the area of Cameroon is covered by PAs. Of these, 45 percent (2.2 million hectares) of PAs coverage were designated after Cameroon signed the CBD. National parks cover 3.1 million hectares corresponding to 61 percent of the area protected with 11 of the 20 parks classified under IUCN category II. Forest and wildlife reserves comprise 940 242 and 869 428 hectares or 18 percent and 17 percent of land protected respectively. Nationally, Cameroon has invested efforts in attaining the Convention's target regarding PAs coverage and is equally involved with the creation of trans-boundary PAs.Couverture "Zone protégée" au Cameroun à la veille de la complétion du but de la Convention sur la biodiversité biologique de 2010 B. M. TAKEM, C. KAFFO et L. FISH La couverture de zones protégées (PAs) est un indicateur recommandé par la Convention sur la diversité biologique ( CBD) à ses membres pour surveiller le progrès effectué vers le but de 2010 de stopper la perte de la biodiversité. Les données de la Base de données mondiale sur les zones protégées, ainsi que d'autres sources, montrent que 10.6 % ( 5 millions d'hectares) de la surface camerounaise sont couverts par PAs. 45 % de celles-ci ( 2.2 millions d'hectares) avaient été désignés après que le Cameroun ait signé la CBD. Les parcs nationaux recouvrent 3.1 millions d'hectares, correspondant à 61% de la zone protégée, 11 des 20 parcs étant classifiés sous la catégorie II de l' IUCN. Les réserves de forêt et de faune comprennent 940 242 et 869 428 hectares, ou respectivement 18% et 17% de la terre protégée. Le Cameroun a investi des efforts à l'échelle nationale pour pouvoir atteindre le but de la Convention concernant la couverture PAs, et est tout autant engagé à créer des PAs traversant les limites.Cobertura de "áreas protegidas" en Camerún en el contexto de los objetivos para 2010 del Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica B.M. TAKEM 1,² , C. KAFFO y L. FISH La cobertura de áreas protegidas (AP) es un indicador recomendado a sus firmantes por el Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica (CDB), con el objetivo de controlar el progreso hacia la meta de detener la pérdida de biodiversidad para el año 2010. La información de la Base de Datos Mundial de Áreas Protegidas y de otras fuentes muestra que un 10,6 por ciento (5 millones de hectáreas) del área total de Camerún se encuentra cubierto por áreas protegidas. De éste 10,6 por ciento, el 45 por ciento (2,2 millones de hectáreas) fue designado después de que Camerún firmara el CDB. Los parques nacionales cubren 3,1 millones de hectáreas, correspondiendo al 61 por ciento del área protegida, con 11 de los 20 parques clasificados en la categoría II de la UICN. Los bosques y las reservas faunísticas componen 940,242 y 86...