Protected Planet Report 2020

Chapter 1

Executive summary

Chapter 2

Introduction

Chapter 3

Coverage

Since 2010, over 21 million km² has been placed within protected and conserved areas, meaning that 42% of the area now within protected and conserved areas has been added in the last decade. As a result, the May 2021 WDPA and WD-OECM show that at least 22.5 million km² (16.64%) of land and inland water ecosystems, and 28.1 million km² (7.74%) of coastal waters and the ocean, are within protected areas and OECMs. It is expected that the percentage targets would be met or exceeded, at least on land, if OECMs and non-state protected areas were comprehensively mapped.

Chapter 4

Ecologically representative

Compared to 10 years ago, the world’s network of protected and conserved areas covers a more representative sample of ecoregions. Nevertheless, 55.5% of terrestrial ecoregions do not yet have 17% coverage, and 52.6% of marine ecoregions do not yet have 10% coverage. Among the ocean’s pelagic provinces, largely beyond national jurisdiction, only 10.8% meet the 10% coverage target. The percentage of ecoregions entirely outside protected and conserved areas is now low in the terrestrial realm, at 5.1%, but higher in the marine realm at 15.5%.

Chapter 5

Areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services

Protected and conserved areas increasingly cover areas of importance for biodiversity, with 65.5% of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) now partially or fully covered. However, 33.8% of terrestrial and inland water KBAs still lack coverage entirely, alongside 33.9% of marine and coastal KBAs. It remains challenging to assess coverage of areas of importance for ecosystem services.

Chapter 6

Effectively managed

Management effectiveness assessments have been conducted across 18.29% of the area covered by protected areas, below the 60% target set by Parties to the CBD. After 2020, there is a need to better monitor the effectiveness of protected and conserved areas more generally, through assessments of governance, management and conservation outcomes.

Chapter 7

Equitably managed

The quality of governance in protected and conserved areas, including equity, remains challenging to assess globally. Nevertheless, significant progress has been made since 2010 in developing tools to assess and enhance equitable governance. There remains a need for equitable recognition of the contributions of diverse groups to conservation, notably those of indigenous peoples, local communities and private actors.

Chapter 8

Well-connected

Since 2010, methodologies have been developed for the assessment of global connectivity on land. As of December 2020, 7.04% of the world’s terrestrial surface is both protected and connected, rising to 7.84% when OECMs are included. This figure is an improvement on 2018 figures, but remains below 17%. Methods to assess marine connectivity are being developed and refined.

Chapter 9

Integrated into the landscape and seascape

For biodiversity loss to be halted, protected and conserved areas must be accompanied by sustainable use across the wider landscape and seascape. They also need to be adequately taken into account across policies, sectors and international conventions. After 2020, greater efforts are needed to integrate protected and conserved areas alongside other land and water uses, including in national spatial plans.

Chapter 10

Beyond Aichi Target 11

The world has changed since Aichi Target 11 was adopted in 2010. Protected and conserved areas have proliferated, alongside information and tools to support their effectiveness. Nevertheless, the biodiversity crisis continues. The lessons of the past 10 years should be taken forward into the next decade, paving the way for more effective and equitable systems of protected and conserved areas.