Study identifies diverse conservation methods to meet global biodiversity goals

A new international study published in Nature Communications indicates that achieving global biodiversity and climate goals requires a variety of conservation strategies beyond just expanding protected areas.

Researchers evaluated different land governance approaches across tropical forest landscapes, comparing protected areas, Indigenous lands, conservation-oriented forest concessions, logging concessions, and mining concessions. The findings show that while protected areas are the most effective tool for preventing deforestation, Indigenous lands and other well-governed measures provide essential complementary contributions to reducing carbon emissions.

The study offers scientific evidence to assist governments in meeting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, specifically Target 3, which aims to conserve at least 30 percent of the world’s terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine areas by 2030.