Growth Trend
Global land and inland water area protected (UNEP-WCMC Protected Planet Report 2024)
Historical Timeline
Initial baseline for protected areas, mostly traditional national parks
CBD Aichi Target 11 sets 17% terrestrial goal for 2020
Over 25 million km² under protection globally
Official Protected Planet Report confirms 17.6% coverage; momentum builds for 30x30 target
Key Insights
Biodiversity Hotspots
Protected areas safeguard habitats for 80% of terrestrial species. Priority zones include the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asian rainforests.
The 30x30 Target
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets 30% terrestrial protection by 2030, requiring an expansion of 12.4 percentage points globally.
Indigenous Stewardship
Territories managed by Indigenous peoples encompass 40% of protected lands worldwide and exhibit higher biodiversity health than state-only reserves.
Sources & Citations
UNEP-WCMC Protected Planet
Official UN Environment Programme and IUCN database measuring global protected area coverage.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
Global treaty setting Target 3 (30x30) for terrestrial and marine conservation.
World Bank Indicators
Terrestrial Protected Areas (% of total land area)
Country-level statistical data on land conservation area proportions.