Once we recognize that “the same human activities that drive climate change and biodiversity loss also drive pandemic risk through their impacts on our environment”, the synergies in our response to the threats are obvious.
Solutions based in nature must be coordinated and aligned to address underlying drivers. As the world continues to reel from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a more opportune moment for governments to recognize and firmly establish the centrality of nature for a healthy planetary future.
The upcoming 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the impending commitments to biodiversity conservation by governments should reflect the pandemic’s influence on replacing ‘business as usual’ with a bold approach that positions Protected and Conserved Areas at the forefront of global biodiversity and climate policy deliberations.
Global interest and ambition toward achieving protection and conservation of at least 30 percent of the planet by 2030 will require an unprecedented level of innovation, collaboration, and commitment across a broad spectrum of stakeholders. Transformative approaches to governance and management—going beyond traditional protected areas to include Indigenous lands and other areas that qualify as ‘Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures’ (OECMs) or Conserved Areas—are essential to expand the protected and conserved area estate.
There are clear lessons and experiences from the field that can help inform approaches to achieving the 30x30 target.
Expanding rights-based approaches to the governance and management of Protected and Conserved Areas will be essential. Research during the pandemic confirms the importance of self-empowerment and the recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Indigenous communities from Nakorotubu District in Fiji maintained a large Conserved Area they established with the tourism sector despite having no visitors to the park as a consequence of the COVID-19 crisis.
Securing communal land titles of the Bunong indigenous ethnic minorities in and around Cambodia’s Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary and formally acknowledging their territorial rights guarantee that village families will continue to have access to forest resources, and strengthens their legal standing to defend their land from encroachment and appropriation by outsiders, and supports their role as stewards of forest ecosystems.
Inclusive governance mechanisms that are informed and adaptive can elevate the governance and management roles for Indigenous Peoples and local communities while achieving conservation outcomes.
The importance of sustained efforts to secure large intact landscapes to stem biodiversity loss, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and reduce the risks of future pandemics has never been clearer.
We know that at least 35 percent of the world’s remaining intact forest landscapes are managed or owned by Indigenous Peoples. In addition, some 2,175 mammal species—around half of the total species accurately mapped—have 10% or more of their ranges in Indigenous Peoples’ lands, making the lands’ protection critical to conserving thousands of Threatened and Endangered species.
The Greater Madidi-Tambopata landscape stretching from Peru to Bolivia covers approximately 14 million hectares, 6 national and 5 sub-national protected areas, 2 potential OECMs, 8 indigenous territories and communities of 10 indigenous groups. WCS has been working in this landscape for two decades to support efforts by Indigenous People to secure legal recognition and management of their ancestral territories.
In addition to conserving large intact landscapes, we must also develop successful conservation models in human-dominated landscapes, such as the densely populated Western Ghats (India), by protecting forest fragments, restoring habitats, enhancing connectivity, and actively engaging communities.
Marine biodiversity in the densely populated Bay of Bengal is vital to Bangladesh’s food security and economy. The establishment of two MPAs covering almost 5 percent of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) involved cooperation between local communities and the government. A Citizens Science Fishermen Safety Network will balance human demands with the protection of some of the world’s most threatened marine megafauna.
Privately Protected Areas governed by individuals or groups of individuals, NGOs, corporations, religious, or research entities represent another rapidly growing conservation approach. While they are an essential component in achieving the 30x30 target, they remain underrepresented in national protected area systems. Privately Protected Areas can also protect (smaller) key habitats for species or as corridors connecting larger protected areas, especially in human-dominated landscapes.
So too are Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), such as between the Ministry for Forest Economy (MEF) of the Congolese Government and WCS for the long-term management and financing of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park to establish a park management entity under a 25-year agreement.
Achieving the CBD’s post-2020 ambitious targets requires reconsideration of traditional approaches to area-based conservation. Rights-based approaches must be scaled up to diversify governance and management regimes, strengthen existing models, and build new paradigms. Ultimately, it will be of little value to reach 30x30 if we don’t place emphasis on ‘quality’ and ensure that existing and new protected and conserved areas are maintaining natural values and delivering ecosystem services.
About the author
Madhu Rao is Regional Advisor for the Asia Program at WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society). Based in Singapore, she serves as Advisor to the secretariat of the Asian Species Action Partnership (ASAP), an IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) initiative to catalyse conservation action for Critically Endangered species in the ASEAN region and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore. Madhu is a candidate for Chair, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas.
