Natural solutions: protected areas helping people to cope with climate change

摘要

The Aichi Targets agreed at the 10th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity at Nagoya, Japan, in 2010 lay out a roadmap and strategic plan to improve conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity by 2020. Target 11 specifically identifies the need to expand the number and area of protected areas to at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water habitats (from 12.7%) and 10% of marine areas (from c. 1%). A further 17 of the 20 targets are also related directly to the expansion and improved management of protected areas. Protected areas are the cornerstones of biodiversity conservation but generating support for more conservation areas will require stronger social and economic arguments to engender the political support to move fine words to effective action.