At the UN Biodiversity Summitt (COP15) in 2022, the UK committed to protecting and conserving a minimum of 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030.  This commitment, widely known as “30by30” is part of the UK’s broader environmental goals, outlined in the 2023 Environmental Improvement Plan and also supports a wider global target agreed at COP15 to protect nature and biodiversity worldwide (specifically, target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework). 

Shortly before the conclusion of COP16 in Cali, Colombia, the Government published its vision for delivering on the UK’s 30by30 target on land and the criteria for land and inland water areas that can contribute towards this target. 

Criteria 

The publication is intended to set a clear and consistent standard for land contributing towards the 30by30 target, meaning that all 30by30 areas will need to meet the prescribed criteria. 

This includes the confirmation that 30by30 areas should be making progress towards in-situ conservation outcomes, being the “effective management, creation, or restoration of natural or semi-natural habitats, and a species in their natural settings”. 

The three criteria which land must meet in order to contribute towards the 30by30 target in England will be: 

• Purpose: “Will the purposes or management objectives for this area ensure the delivery of in-situ conservation outcomes?”

The area’s purpose must include in-situ conservation and the delivery of in-situ conservation outcomes, even if this is not its primary or sole purpose. Other purposes must not prevent or significantly limit the delivery of these outcomes. It is expected that nature-based solutions such as peatland restoration projects will support areas reaching the 30by30 target.

• Protection: “Is the conservation of this area secured for at least 20 years, through legal or other effective means?”

Each 30by30 area should be able to demonstrate that their in-situ conversation activities may be sustained over at least 20 years.  Each area must also be able to demonstrate that the area will be “protected against loss or damage to important biodiversity values, through legal or other effective means”.  The publication suggests that these means could include protected area designations, conservation covenants, and long-term ownership or management obligations.

• Management: “Are management measures being implemented, with appropriate monitoring, evaluation and learning in place to assess progress and inform future management?”

30by30 areas must be managed effectively to ensure they can show progress towards in-situ conservation outcomes.  Monitoring should be carried out to track progress against baselines. Key metrics include there being a management plan or similar that is designed to deliver in-situ conservation outcomes, and the area’s governance or ownership having “the ability to implement reasonable management actions to achieve in-situ conservation outcomes”. 

An area must meet all 3 criteria in order to contribute towards the 30by30 target and this information is going to be used to pilot the 30by30 assessment and reporting process (commencing later this year) with full guidance expected to be published in 2025.

Which land is affected?

The publication indicates that land both inside and outside Protected Areas must meet the criteria to contribute towards the 30by30 target (and be considered a 30by30 area).  In England, Protected Areas include sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), Ramsar sites (i.e. protected wetland sites), special areas of conservation (SACs), special protection areas for birds (SPAs), National Nature Reserves, and national parks, landscapes and broads. This land, as well as land outside of these areas, will form part of the Nature Recovery Network, which the Government describes as “our growing national network of wildlife-rich places”. 

Around 7.1% of land in England is already recognised as counting towards the 30by30 commitment.  Of this, 6.4% is made up of SSSIs in a favourable or unfavourable recovering condition, and 0.7% is made up of additional areas outside of SSIs such as public woodland.   Therefore, this announcement reflects a significant expansion of the land which will be included in the delivery of the 30by30 target. 

How can additional land get involved? 

As noted above, additional land, i.e. land which is not within a Protected Area, may also contribute towards the 30by30 target.  There are two routes into the 30by30 programme for additional land: 

1. Self-assessment: This allows land to be brought forward by landowners and managers.  Natural England will approve the land’s contribution towards the 30by30 target. 
2. Internal assessment: This will build on data held by DEFRA and its delivery bodies to identify potential areas and assess them. This is intended to minimise the burden on landowners and managers. 

The Government will begin carrying out pilots with land partners in relation to both of the proposed 30by30 assessment routes and the reporting process from Autumn 2024. 

Next Steps

The Government’s publication offers further direction in respect of how 30by30 will be delivered in England however much of the detail is still to be confirmed.  In the coming months, the publication of a 30by30 strategy is expected which will hopefully shed some further light on how the programme is intended to work in practice.  As noted above, 30by30 assessment and reporting process pilots will begin with land partners from Autumn 2024 however it may be some time before the programme is properly fleshed out and landowner and occupiers’ obligations are fully understood. 

We note that the announcement only covers the delivery of 30by30 in England, and therefore it remains to be seen how the target will be delivered in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 

If you would like any advice on 30by30 or other nature-based solutions, please visit our website or contact Helena Sewell or Andrew Parmar-Yee.