in 2030, 30 percent of the land will have to be protected area

The nearly 200 countries attending the United Nations Biodiversity Summit in Montreal agreed on measures to protect ecosystems and animal and plant species. After nearly two weeks of negotiations, an agreement was reached. It was agreed, among other things, that by 2030 at least 30 percent of all land and water on earth must be protected areas.

Now nearly 16 percent of land and inland waters and just over 8 percent of seas and oceans have officially protected status. state. In the near future, especially areas important for biodiversity will have to contend with protective measures, says the agreement.

It is unclear what exactly they look like. However, it is stressed that the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities must be respected.

Countries also agreed that the risk of human-induced species extinction in 2050 should be ten times lower than today.

Only Congo did not support the agreement, dissatisfied with the proposals on the financing of the measures. The agreement states that countries must make more money available for biodiversity conservation in the coming years.

Rich countries are projected to pay about $20 billion a year by 2025. By 2030, it should have risen to at least $30 billion. In total, some 200 billion dollars must be available that year, also with the help of private money and funds, among others.

Mexico’s representative called on countries to accept the accords after Congo’s objections. His request was met with a standing ovation. Shortly thereafter, the Chinese president of the summit concluded that the agreement had been adopted.

Biodiversity refers to all life on earth: from plants and animals to microorganisms and fungi. In recent decades, biodiversity has declined rapidly as various species of animals and plants have disappeared and existing populations are declining.

Some scientists fear that the so-called sixth wave of extinction, or a wave of mass extinction, has begun. The fifth wave of extinction dates back to 66 million years ago when the dinosaurs went extinct.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) calls the deal a major milestone in a response, but cautions that it stands or falls with implementation.

According to the Nature organization, for example, no mechanism has been agreed in the agreement that could compel governments to act if goals are not met. “Governments have picked the right side of history in Montreal, but that history will judge us all if we fail to deliver on today’s promises,” said WWF director Lambertini.

The biodiversity summit in the Canadian city of Montreal began less than three weeks after an agreement was reached in Sharm-el-Sheikh on measures to combat climate change. At the climate summit in Egypt, agreements were made, among other things, on a global fund for climate damage.

Climate and biodiversity cannot be seen separately, said Naturalis director and natural capital professor Koos Biesmeijer rather against the NOS. He argued that biodiversity is needed to fight climate change.

On the contrary, climate measures can help preserve biodiversity enormously. Biesmeijer: “Forests and peat bogs store a lot of CO2. If we preserve them, it will also be good for the plant and animal species in that area.”