Social implications of the 30×30 global conservation target
Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to increase global protected and conserved area coverage to at least 30% by 2030. The impact on people, whether positive or negative, will depend on the social context of additional areas and how they are governed and managed. Here, we show that Target 3 could affect large and socially diverse populations under different implementation scenarios. Nearly half the human population lives within 10 km of areas included in a scenario maximising biodiversity representation. Four percent live near areas included in an Indigenous and traditional territories-based scenario, including many in areas with low Human Development Index scores (74%) and high participation in wild harvesting (91%). A scenario prioritising nature's contributions to people is intermediate on all measures. Our results demonstrate that Target 3 is a highly ambitious social as well as ecological target, requiring an equally ambitious commitment to development funding and support for local residents.
Authors
- Chris Sandbrook
- James Fitzsimons (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4277-8040)
- Alain Fréchette
- Priya Shyamsundar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8368-8581)
- David Mwesigye Tumusiime (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0171-5027)
- Janeth Lessmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1502-625X)
- Carolina Hazin
- Rebecca Chaplin‐Kramer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1539-5231)
- Josefa Cariño Tauli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0257-3908)
- Rachael Devorah Garrett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6171-263X)
- Rose Pritchard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6174-3460)
- Marion Pfeifer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6775-3141)
- Jasmin Upton
- Casey M. Ryan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1802-0128)
- Fred Onyai
- Ruth Pinto
- Milagre O. F. Nuvunga
- Javier Fajardo
- Julie G. Zaehringer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3253-5128)
- Forrest Fleischman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6060-4031)
- Heather C. Bingham (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0177-7666)
- Tobias Kuemmerle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9775-142X)
- Gary R. Watmough (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0657-2208)
- Dan Brockington (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5692-0154)
- Brian O’Donnell
Institutions
- University of Bern (CH)
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ES)
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES)
- The Nature Conservancy (US)
- University of Tasmania (AU)
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AU)
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (US)
- Deakin University (AU)
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (GB)
- University of the Philippines Baguio (PH)
- International Institute for Environment and Development (GB)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Kampala University (UG)
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
- Walter S. Johnson Foundation (US)
- Institute of Geography (KZ)
- Youth Development (US)
- Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ES)
- Conservation Leadership Programme (GB)
- MICAIA Foundation (MZ)
- Swiss Academy of Sciences (CH)
- Wyss Academy for Nature
- Makerere University (UG)
- Newcastle University (GB)
- Rights and Resources (US)
- University of Edinburgh (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2026-05-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71860-8
- Primary Topic
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- UK Research and Innovation
- Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
- Science for Nature and People Partnership
- Leverhulme Trust
- European Commission
- University of Edinburgh
- Economic and Social Research Council
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación