Our review of the scientific evidence for large-scale percentage area conservation targets concluded: 1. The 17 per cent terrestrial and inland waters, and 10 per cent marine and coastal targets from Aichi Target 11 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 are not adequate to conserve biodiversity. 2. Percentage area targets cannot be considered in isolation from the quality considerations. Protected and conserved areas need to be selectively located, well governed, and effectively and equitably managed to conserve biodiversity. 3. There is no unequivocal answer for what percentage of the Earth should be protected. Estimates from studies considering a wide set of biodiversity values are very high; well over 50 per cent and up to 80 per cent. Studies that include a narrower subset of biodiversity values are lower, but rarely under 30 per cent, and always with caveats that they are incomplete estimates. Protected area conservation targets should be established based on the desired outcomes (e.g. halting biodiversity loss by 2030). 4. The global protection of a minimum of 30 per cent and up to 70 per cent, or even higher, of the land and sea on Earth is well supported in the literature. The call for 50 per cent of the Earth is a mid-point of these values and is supported by a range of studies. 5. Implementation of large global percentage area targets can be achieved through differentiating the kinds of areas that need protection at a national scale, supported by nationally determined contributions in accordance with local conditions.
This paper reviews the current status of Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 at the global level. Although there remain gaps in the coverage of ecological regions and areas important for biodiversity and ecosystem services, 10 per cent coverage of coastal and marine areas under national jurisdiction has already been surpassed. The full implementation of agreed national priority actions and other commitments, including those in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, will expand coverage of the global ocean beyond 10 per cent, and result in more than 17 per cent coverage of terrestrial and inland waters. These commitments will also lead to substantial progress in other elements of the Target. Appropriate recognition of other effective area-based conservation measures and governance types, inter alia, privately protected areas and territories and areas conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities, currently underreported in global assessments, would further improve the prospects for the achievement of Target 11. This will generate not only multiple benefits for the well-being of society by contributing solutions to the most important global challenges, but will also contribute to other Aichi Targets and globally agreed goals. Hence, concerted efforts by all stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of commitments towards achieving Target 11 will be a wise investment.
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