The World is Doing Well to Protect Valuable Ecosystems

A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) suggests that the world is well on track to meet a 2020 target for the expansion of protected ecosystems. This should come as a bit of surprise for many groups, who have been pressing the argument that officials aren't doing enough to protect declining species.

The report was released today during the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Parks Congress, and not only details the rate at which protected areas are being expanded, but also contains recommendations from investigating experts on how specific protected regions can effectively keep valuable ecosystems and species safe.

According to the report, a whopping 15.4 percent of terrestrial land and inland waters (streams, lakes, etc) are now under some form of ecological protection. Meanwhile, 3.4 percent of the globe's oceans have some form of legislative safeguard.

The report also details that since 2010, the additional protective borders ecosystems have gained is 6.1 million km² - nearly equivalent to the size of Australia.

Thse efforts also indicate that the world's governments are well on their way to reaching the a 2020 protection goal of at least 17 percent of the world's terrestrial areas and 10 percent of marine areas - especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem preservation.

UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner added in a briefing that governments should be willing to protect vital regions not only to help preserve life, but to ensure the health of vital economies.

"Protected areas...  play a vital economic role through the valuable ecosystem services they provide, from supplying water and timber, to sustaining tourism," he explained.

However, Steiner also pressed the point that the 2020 goal can be most helpful to the globe if regional protection is tackled in a comprehensive manner. According to the report, many countries have still made limited progress in involving local communities and gaining a deeper understanding on how ecosystems affect their people.

"As we work toward a comprehensive climate agreement, with the next meeting shortly taking place in Lima, and shape the post-2015 sustainable development agenda, it is crucial to expand protected areas in a targeted manner - thus supporting efforts to tackle climate change, and protecting biodiversity and the ecosystem services that sustain all of us," he said. "This report shows that the will to do so is present."

Now, Steiner argues, the world just needs to focus funding and efforts for the challenge ahead.