A recently published report reveals that safeguarding approximately 30% of the world’s land and sea offers substantial benefits, outweighing the associated costs by a significant margin of 5 to 1.

The report delves into the far-reaching impacts of protected areas and national parks across several critical sectors, such as agriculture, fisheries, and nature conservation.

The authors demonstrate that conserving roughly one-third of the global land and marine areas could yield an economic output ranging from US$ 64 billion to US$ 454 billion per annum by 2030. Moreover, the findings underscore that the protection of forests and mangroves has the potential to avert economic losses stemming from climate change, amounting to up to US$ 534 billion annually by 2050.

Protecting nature

The study’s findings reveal that improving nature protection can play a pivotal role in mitigating the impact of climate change, curbing pollution, and alleviating water insecurity in rural regions.

Nonetheless, the existing extent of safeguarded territories falls short of the potential, with just 15% of the world’s land and 7% of the sea currently under protection. This situation has been further exacerbated since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, as recent research indicates that protected areas have experienced diminishment on nearly every continent to accommodate developmental activities and mining operations.

To unlock the maximum economic benefits derived from preserving natural areas, countries must make substantial investments. The study suggests that by 2030, an annual investment of at least US$ 140 billion is essential to bolster and expand protected regions. As it stands, these areas receive a meager US$ 24 billion in funding each year.

“This new report provides exactly the type of data that we and other countries need. It gives us a concrete idea of how much it would cost to protect at least 30% of the planet’s land and ocean and, more importantly, it tells us that the benefits of this protection far outweigh the costs,” said Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, the Costa Rican Environment and Energy Minister and incoming CEO of the Global Environment Facility.

“Now that we know what is needed, all countries must increase their financial commitments and work with businesses and philanthropies to increase investment in the protection of nature.”