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Recognition that the quantity of intact ecosystems present on a landscape is as vital as the quality stretches back to at least the early 1970 with research that concluded when approximately half of wetlands are degraded, ecological functionality precipitously declines. Over the decades, the hypothesis was tested across numerous landscape types, eventually culminating in Reed Noss’ conclusion (1994) that a healthy biosphere requires at least half of nature to remain intact. In the early 2000s numerous NGOs began to adopt this spatial target as the necessary goal for global conservation, including the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and the WILD Foundation. In 2009, the 9th World Wilderness Congress convened in Merída, Mexico and resulted in a global call for the protection of half of Earth’s lands and seas. Over a decade later, E.O. Wilson popularized this area-based target with the publication of his book Half Earth.

In more recent years, a global survey of conservation scientists (Woodley 2019) found that nearly 70% believed we must protect at least half of Earth’s lands and seas, making this target the scientific consensus.

We believe that it is the IUCN’s responsibility, especially as the world begins to prepare the agenda that will shape 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework, to educate leaders around the world on what the actual scientific area-based target is, providing them with pathways to achieve the half target that also strengthen and support Indigenous land tenure for conservation outcomes.

REFERENCES:

Odum, H.T. and Odum, E. (1972.) Natural areas as necessary components of man’s total environment. Reprinted from the Thirty Seventh North American Wildlife Conference. Wildlife Management Institute, Washington, D.C. January 10: https://www.emergysociety.com/wp-content/uploads/OdumEP-and-HT-Odum.1972.Natural-Areas-as-Necessary-Components-Mans-Total-Emnviro.pdf

Noss, Reed F., and Allen Y. Cooperrider. (1994.) Saving Nature’s Legacy: Protecting and Restoring Biodiversity. Washington, DC: Island Press.

Woodley, S. et al. (2019.) Area-based conservation beyond 2020: A global survey of conservation scientists. Parks Vol. 25. 2 November 2019: https://naturebeyond2020.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Woodley-et-al-survey-PARKS-25.2-Proof-5.pdf