Canada’s 30x30 Conservation Target
As of 2022, Canada has protected 13.7% of land.
About
Under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Canada has committed to protect 30% of our land, water and marine areas by 2030 in order to respond to two of our planet’s largest environmental threats: climate change and biodiversity loss.
Reaching this target will require commitment at all levels of government. Municipalities are key players because they can bring this broad national concept to their local tangible conservation areas that people know, love, and want to protect.
Requirements
Areas to be conserved under this pan-Canadian framework must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Have clearly defined geographic boundaries
- Achieve in-situ conservation of biodiversity
- Prohibit actions incompatible with conservation
- Are intended to be protected in perpetuity
Sites that meet this criteria can either be designated a Protected Area, if the primary purpose is conservation, or Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECM), if the primary purpose is not conservation but still provides conservation outcomes.
Municipalities who are willing to recognize their conservation areas under this national standard will get to highlight how their local actions contribute to a global environmental movement. The 30×30 target will only be achieved through a collaborative effort at all levels of government, and with a wide range of conservation stakeholders, including land trusts, and conservation organizations.
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We believe in the major opportunity for municipalities to showcase their conservation efforts on a national platform. This is where biodiversity can be protected, where conservation lands can be connected, and Canadians can gain an appreciation for their local natural wonders.
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